Hair Loss

Arch Dermatol.2009;145:1123

Practical guidelines for evaluation of loose anagen hair syndrome.

Cantatore-Francis JL, Orlow SJ.

Edited for hair loss blog

OBJECTIVES: To better categorize the epidemiologic profile, clinical features, and disease associations of loose anagen hair syndrome (LAHS) compared with alternative causes of childhood hair loss. ..snip.... RESULTS: Approximately 10% of all children with alopecia had LAHS. The mean age at onset differed between patients with LAHS vs patients without LAHS, with 3 years being the most common age at onset for patients with LAHS. All but 1 of 37 patients with LAHS were female. The most common symptom reported was thin, sparse hair. Family histories were significant for LAHS and for hair loss due to alopecia areata. In 32 of 33 patients, trichograms showed typical loose anagen hairs. Two children had underlying genetic syndromes. No associated laboratory test result abnormalities were noted among patients who underwent testing. CONCLUSIONS: Loose anagen hair syndrome is a common cause of nonscarring hair loss in young girls with a history of sparse or fine hair. ..snip...