TLDR A 6-year-old girl's inability to grow her hair long was due to Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome, which causes hair to shed easily and may improve with age.
A 6-year-old girl with a history of hair that would not grow past her jawline was diagnosed with Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome (LAHS), a condition characterized by easily shed anagen hairs, a ruffled proximal cuticle, absent inner root sheath, and misshapen hair bulbs. The syndrome, which can be familial or sporadic, is believed to result from improper cornification of the inner root sheath, leading to poor anchoring of the hair. LAHS is categorized into three subtypes based on hair appearance and can affect any ethnicity or hair type, though it predominantly occurs in blonde female children. There is no evidence supporting the use of biotin for this condition, but some improvement may occur with age. The patient's hair pull test resulted in the painless removal of over 40 hairs, supporting the diagnosis.
13 citations,
July 2016 in “Pediatric Dermatology” Loose Anagen Syndrome is more common in females and may be inherited, often confused with other hair disorders, and lacks evidence for biotin treatment effectiveness.
8 citations,
August 2013 in “Pediatric Dermatology” Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome is found in black-haired Indian children and is often missed, especially in boys.
31 citations,
January 2011 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Loose anagen hair syndrome is caused by structural abnormalities in the hair follicle's inner root sheath.
239 citations,
July 2002 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” Low iron and L-lysine levels can cause hair loss in women, and increasing these nutrients can reduce hair shedding.
8 citations,
August 2013 in “Pediatric Dermatology” Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome is found in black-haired Indian children and is often missed, especially in boys.
47 citations,
December 2020 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” The document concludes that understanding and treating hair loss requires recognizing its various types and using appropriate diagnostic tools and treatments.
1 citations,
September 2015 in “Clinics in Dermatology” The guide helps doctors diagnose hair problems by suggesting a thorough patient history, physical exams, and various diagnostic tools.
40 citations,
July 2017 in “Frontiers in Medicine” Early and personalized treatment for hair loss in young people is crucial to prevent permanent damage and should include psychological support.
January 2017 in “Springer eBooks” The document explains various skin conditions and their treatments.
