Hair Follicle Miniaturization in a Woolly Hair Nevus
March 2016
in “
American Journal of Dermatopathology
”
TLDR The boy with woolly hair nevus had thinner hair and abnormal hair follicles, which improved with treatment but worsened when treatment stopped.
The document describes the case of an 11-year-old boy with woolly hair nevus, which is characterized by a patch of tightly curled hair. The boy experienced hair thinning but no other abnormalities. Examination showed hair follicle miniaturization in the affected area, with an equal number of vellus and terminal hairs (T:V ratio of 1:1) compared to a 7:1 ratio in normal scalp, and a lower anagen to telogen ratio (A:T ratio of 4.2:1) versus 8:1 in the control scalp. The woolly hairs were also thinner and had an abnormal cuticle. Treatment with topical minoxidil 5% improved the condition, but symptoms returned after stopping the treatment. This case highlights the importance of considering woolly hair nevus in diagnoses of scalp disorders with miniaturization.
