Do You Know This Syndrome? Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome in a Two-Year-Old Male Patient
January 2006
TLDR The document concludes that Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome is a benign condition where hair is thin and easily pulled out, often improving with age.
The document reports a case of Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome (LAHS) in a two-year-old male patient who presented with hair rarefaction in the vertex and occipital regions of the scalp, with hairs that could be easily extracted upon mild traction. The trichogram showed 100% anagen hairs without inner or outer sheaths, and many had a "loose sock" aspect. LAHS typically affects children, especially females, between two and six years of age, and is characterized by thin, sparse hairs that grow slowly and can be easily pulled out without pain. Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation and the presence of loose anagen hairs, with a trichogram showing at least 70% of hairs as LAH for a consistent diagnosis. The syndrome is believed to be caused by premature keratinization of the inner hair sheath, leading to poor adhesion between the hair cuticle and inner sheath. While there is no specific treatment for LAHS, the condition often improves with age, with hair becoming longer, denser, and darker in adolescence. The case study concludes that LAHS is benign and self-limited but should be differentiated from other conditions like telogen effluvium and trichotillomania.
