TLDR Monilethrix causes fragile, patchy hair loss.
Monilethrix is a rare genetic hair disorder characterized by a beaded appearance of the hair shaft, leading to hair fragility and patchy dystrophic alopecia. This case report described an 8-year-old Kashmiri boy with diffuse hair loss since infancy, confirmed to have monilethrix through light microscopy showing characteristic hair shaft nodes and internodes. The condition, often inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, can also occur sporadically. There is no specific treatment, but avoiding hair trauma and using topical minoxidil have shown some improvement. The boy had normal development and no other systemic abnormalities.
23 citations,
January 2011 in “International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology” Minoxidil 2% effectively treats Monilethrix without side effects.
74 citations,
July 2008 in “Journal of Dermatological Case Reports” Trichoscopy is a quick and easy way to diagnose most genetic hair problems without invasive methods.
44 citations,
January 2005 in “Dermatology” Hair problems can be caused by genetics or the environment, and treatment should focus on the cause and reducing hair damage.
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.
33 citations,
March 2006 in “Seminars in cutaneous medicine and surgery” The document explains how to identify different hair problems using a microscope.
26 citations,
July 2019 in “Dermatology and Therapy” The conclusion is that genetic testing is important for diagnosing and treating various genetic hair disorders.
