Masquerading of Trichotillomania in a Family with Monilethrix
January 2011
in “
European Journal of Dermatology
”
TLDR It's important to consider genetic hair disorders when diagnosing hair loss.
The document discussed a case of trichotillomania, a condition characterized by compulsive hair pulling, in a family with a history of monilethrix, a rare genetic hair disorder. Monilethrix, first described in 1879, is an autosomal dominant condition caused by mutations in hair keratins, leading to a distinctive beaded appearance of the hair shaft. The study highlighted the diagnostic challenge of distinguishing between trichotillomania and monilethrix due to overlapping symptoms, emphasizing the importance of considering genetic hair disorders in differential diagnoses of hair loss conditions.
