Short Anagen Hair Syndrome

In 2013, a case of Short Anagen Syndrome (SAS) was reported in a 3-year-old Hispanic girl with a history of short hair since birth, excessive shedding, and no need for a haircut. SAS is characterized by a decreased duration of the anagen phase of the hair cycle, leading to persistently short hair and increased shedding, but without hair shaft abnormalities. The condition is usually benign and tends to improve after puberty, although some cases have shown improvement with treatments like minoxidil and cyclosporine. This case was notable as most SAS cases had been reported in Caucasian blond-haired girls, making it the first reported case in a Hispanic dark-haired girl in the English medical literature. Diagnosis of SAS was made through clinical and dermoscopic examination, showing telogen hairs with tipped points, indicating the hair had never been cut. The condition is differentiated from loose anagen syndrome by the timing of hair shedding and is thought to be sporadic, although some familial cases suggest possible autosomal dominant inheritance.