Characterization of tiger tail banding and hair shaft abnormalities in trichothiodystrophy

Trichothiodystrophy (TTD) was characterized by short, brittle hair with low cystine content and distinctive tiger tail banding under polarizing microscopy. The study examined hair samples from 14 TTD and 4 XP-TTD patients, revealing consistent tiger tail banding and various hair shaft abnormalities, such as trichoschisis and trichorrhexis nodosa-like defects. An inverse relationship was found between hair sulfur content and the percentage of hairs with abnormalities, highlighting sulfur's role in hair toughness. The study concluded that tiger tail banding and the percentage of hair shaft abnormalities serve as reliable diagnostic indicators for TTD, with no correlation found between photosensitivity or other abnormalities and hair shaft issues. Control groups, including 15 normal individuals and 12 XP patients, did not exhibit tiger tail banding.