Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome: Treatment with Systemic Minoxidil Characterized by Marked Hair Color Change

In 2018, a case study was conducted on a 6-year-old girl suffering from loose anagen hair syndrome, a disorder causing abnormal hair anchorage. The patient initially received topical minoxidil 5% solution twice daily, which reduced hair shedding and increased volume over 18 months. However, uneven hair length persisted. At age 11, the patient was given oral minoxidil 0.5 mg daily, which improved shedding and hair density in an even pattern within 3 months. Interestingly, the treatment also resulted in a change in hair color from reddish-brown to light brown. After 12 months, the minoxidil treatment was stopped when hair density and length normalized. There was no recurrence of the syndrome after 12 months of follow-up. The study suggested that minoxidil's possible mechanisms of action include increased local cutaneous blood flow, prolonged keratinocyte lifespan, and increased cell proliferation and DNA synthesis in follicular and perifollicular keratinocytes.