Hair All Morphologies

Specific conditions involving the Hair

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Attachments   Pediculosis capitis,Piedra

Fragile Hair   Menke's diseaseMonilethrix,Netherton's syndrome,Pili torti,Trichothiodystrophy

Green hair   Copper

Heterochromia   Flag sign of Kwashiorkor and Marasmus

Lighter colored hair   Phenylketonuria

Loose hair   Loose anagen syndrome

Silver Grey hair   Chediak-Higashi syndrome

Uncombable   Felting,Uncombable hair syndrome

White Forelock   Piebaldism,Wardenburg's syndrome

Whitening   Canites

Whorled   Scalp whorls

Localised hair loss has three common possibilities,alopecia areata,tinea capitis and trichotillomania.In alopecia areata the area of hair loss is complete,the involved area is smoothe and the hairs may be broken at the edges.The bald area is not inflammed.In tinea capitis the area is never completely bare,the hairs are broken,there may be scale on the surface and signs of scalp inflammation.In trichotillomania the hairs may be broken and the pattern of loss is unusual.The scalp may show inflammation around recently traumatically removed hairs.

Management-Take scrapings if scaly for fungal culture and include a few hairs.Do a hairpull test to see if the hairs around the bare area come out from the base with a telogen bulb on the end,a feature typical of alopecia areata.

Rare causes-Incontinentia pigmenti,nevus sebaceous,post tick bite,follicular mucinosis,Ofugi' disease,localised morphea,aplasia cutis,post herpes zoster,meningocoele,

Modified from Regional Dermatology Gary M White