TLDR A 2-year-old girl had a hair disorder not shared by her identical twin.
Loose anagen syndrome (LAS) is a hair disorder characterized by insufficient anchoring of the hair follicle to the scalp, often due to an autosomal dominant or sporadic mutation in the gene encoding keratin 6. This case report described a 2-year-old girl with LAS type B, which typically presents in young, light-haired girls as unruly, uncombable hair with diminished growth. Interestingly, her identical twin sister was unaffected. The diagnosis was confirmed through a painless hair pull test, which showed anagen hairs with ruffled cuticles on trichoscopy, thus avoiding unnecessary referrals and diagnostic tests.
59 citations,
June 2008 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” The article explains the genetic causes and symptoms of various hair disorders and highlights the need for more research to find treatments.
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 2021 in “Dermatology online journal” One twin girl has Loose anagen syndrome with poorly anchored hair, diagnosed with a simple hair pull test, while her identical twin does not have the condition.
November 2019 in “Harper's Textbook of Pediatric Dermatology” Understanding normal hair growth and loss in children is key to diagnosing and treating hair disorders.
44 citations,
November 1998 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology” Accurate diagnosis is key for treating different kinds of hair loss, and immune response variations may affect the condition and treatment results.
