TLDR A 9-year-old Hispanic girl has Uncombable Hair Syndrome, which may improve with age and biotin treatment.
A 9-year-old Hispanic girl presented with unmanageable hair, diagnosed as short anagen syndrome at age 3. Examination revealed dry, light brown hair with triangular and kidney-shaped shafts. The diagnosis was revised to Uncombable Hair Syndrome, an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by dry, unruly hair with a grooved and flat surface. Scanning electron microscopy, the gold standard for diagnosis, was unavailable, so transverse sectioning was used. Treatment included biotin and minoxidil. The condition typically improves with age, and biotin can help make hair more manageable. No other physical or neurological symptoms were present.
33 citations
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June 2016 in “Pediatric Dermatology” Some congenital hair disorders improve in childhood or with treatments like minoxidil and retinoids, while others like Netherton syndrome and trichothiodystrophy have a poor prognosis.
14 citations
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June 2016 in “Pediatric Dermatology” Some congenital hair disorders improve with age and can be managed with treatments like minoxidil, retinoids, supplements, and gentle hair care, but there's no cure.
68 citations
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August 2012 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Dermatoscopy is a useful tool for diagnosing hair disorders and can help choose samples for more detailed analysis.
59 citations
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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.
49 citations
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April 2007 in “Pediatric Dermatology” Biotin improved hair appearance in uncombable hair syndrome but didn't change hair structure.
8 citations
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May 2005 in “The American journal of dermatopathology/American journal of dermatopathology” The hair defect is due to abnormal inner root sheath keratinization.
2 citations
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July 2021 in “Actas dermo-sifiliográficas/Actas dermo-sifiliográficas” Hair shaft disorders are diagnosed through examination and history, with general care and some treatments offering improvement.
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.
February 2022 in “Actas dermo-sifiliográficas/Actas dermo-sifiliográficas” Hair shaft disorders, often due to genetics or environment, lack specific treatments but can be managed with gentle hair care and may improve with age or topical treatments.
59 citations
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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.
3 citations
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November 2021 in “Applied Microscopy” Hair microscopy is a simple and cost-effective method to help diagnose systemic diseases in children.
