Hair Shaft Disorders: A Rare Case Series

This document presents a case series of seven hair shaft disorders, including pili torti, trichorehexis nodosa, monilethrix, plica polonica, white piedra, trichoptilosis, and Tay’s syndrome. These disorders can cause changes in hair shaft texture, appearance, and manageability due to genetic disorders, diseases, or environmental factors. Hair shaft disorders are categorized based on whether they increase hair fragility. Diagnosis is aided by detailed patient history and microscopic or trichoscopic evaluation. The document emphasizes that many hair shaft disorders are often misdiagnosed as alopecias and do not respond to typical alopecia treatments because they may have underlying metabolic or genetic causes. Treatment involves addressing the underlying cause and advising patients to avoid hair trauma through practices such as ironing, chemical treatments, and curling.