TLDR Loose anagen hair syndrome causes easily pulled, thin hair in kids but is harmless and temporary.
Loose anagen hair syndrome was characterized by thin and sparse hairs that could be easily extracted with mild traction, primarily affecting children. A trichogram revealed that at least 70% of the hairs were loose anagen hairs lacking inner and outer sheaths, with a ruffled cuticle at the proximal portion. Although the condition was benign and self-limited, it often caused concern for parents and needed to be differentiated from telogen effluvium and trichotillomania.
6 citations
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December 2004 in “Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia” Some family members had a condition with both loose hair and unique eye changes, possibly indicating a new type of ectodermal dysplasia.
84 citations
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April 2002 in “Archives of Dermatology” Loose anagen hair syndrome may be caused by keratin gene mutations.
24 citations
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September 1997 in “PubMed” Loose anagen hair can appear at any age and may improve over time.
19 citations
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April 1995 in “Clinical Genetics” Two siblings were the first reported cases of inheriting both eye coloboma and loose anagen syndrome together.
55 citations
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October 1992 in “Archives of Dermatology” Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome is a hereditary condition causing hair loss in children due to abnormal hair follicles.
85 citations
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February 1989 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Children with loose anagen hair have easily pluckable hair due to root sheath problems, and it might improve without treatment.