We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Loose anagen syndrome as a severity factor for trichotillomania.
- Authors
Thai, K-E.; Sinclair, R.D.
- Abstract
Loose anagen syndrome (LAS) is a condition of childhood where anagen hairs are easily and painlessly extracted. The condition is due to poor adhesion between the cuticle of the hair shaft and the inner root sheath. A 4-year-old girl presented with patches of hair loss and a clinical diagnosis of trichotillomania was made. A hair pull test extracted multiple hairs easily and painlessly. Light microscopic examination was consistent with LAS. A biopsy was performed, which showed features of trichotillomania. However, on request the child did not display sufficient dexterity to pull out her own hair. It was subsequently determined that her hair loss was likely to be due to a third person plucking out her hair. It appears that in this case the LAS was not the cause of her hair loss, but rather acted as a severity factor for trichotillomania by proxy in that the lack of pain on plucking the hairs removed the principle deterrent.
- Subjects
COMPULSIVE hair pulling; IMPULSE control disorders
- Publication
British Journal of Dermatology, 2002, Vol 147, Issue 4, p789
- ISSN
0007-0963
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1046/j.1365-2133.2002.04923.x