A Rare Hair Loss in Children: Monilethrix

June 2017 in “ Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ”

Monilethrix hair fragility alopecia hair breakage keratotic follicular papules dermoscopy elliptical nodes hair shafts hypertrichosis topical minoxidil Rogaine

TLDR Monilethrix is a rare, inherited condition causing fragile hair and hair loss, with no cure but some treatments may help.

Monilethrix is a rare, hereditary hair shaft disorder characterized by hair fragility and alopecia due to hair breakage. It presents with extremely fragile, short hair emerging from keratotic follicular papules, especially in the occipital region. Diagnosis is confirmed through dermoscopy, which reveals regular elliptical nodes and constrictions on the hair shafts. A case of a 7-year-old boy with this condition showed diffuse hypertrichosis and short, sparse hairs without scalp scarring. Treatment with topical minoxidil led to mild improvement. The condition has variable expression and no cure, though some treatments may improve hair growth.