Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome in Black-Haired Indian Children
August 2013
in “
Pediatric Dermatology
”
TLDR Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome is found in black-haired Indian children and is often missed, especially in boys.
The study conducted over two years from October 2010 to October 2012 explored the prevalence of Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome (LAHS) in black-haired Indian children, a demographic where the condition was previously not commonly reported. Out of 526 children under 12 years old who were examined for nonscarring hair loss and other related symptoms, 8 children (1.5%) were diagnosed with LAHS. The findings indicated an equal prevalence among males and females, with the affected children's ages ranging from 2 to 10 years and a mean age of 4.6 years. Diagnosis was made through clinical examination, hair pull test, and trichogram, with a diagnostic criterion of having 70% or more loose anagen hairs. The study concluded that LAHS is present in dark-skinned children and that it is often underdiagnosed, particularly in boys, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness and proper counseling as the condition tends to improve with age.