Diseases That Turn African Hair Silky

In a Nigerian tertiary hospital study involving 5612 dermatology patients, researchers identified that AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, pulmonary tuberculosis with cachexia, and Behçet's disease were associated with a change in African hair texture to a silky wavy form. Out of 338 patients aged 16-68 years with these diseases, 86 (25.4%) exhibited the hair texture change. The change occurred insidiously in patients with AIDS and Behçet's disease, but was more dramatic following telogen effluvium in the other diseases. Significant laboratory findings included anemia of chronic illness, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and mild hypocalcemia. The study suggests that these diseases should be considered in cases of hair texture changes and alopecia without scalp abnormalities, although the mechanisms behind these changes remain unclear, warranting further research.