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Pseudopili annulati in a dark-haired individual: a light and electron microscopic study
1National Skin Centre and Department of Pathology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Pediatric Dermatology
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Pseudopili annulati, a rare hair condition, is identified for the first time in a Chinese girl. This hair disorder causes a distinctive ringed appearance due to light reflection on twisted hair shafts.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Trichology
- Medical Genetics
Background:
- Pseudopili annulati is a rare, benign hair shaft anomaly characterized by a distinctive ringed or banded appearance.
- Previous case reports have primarily documented this condition in individuals with lighter hair types.
Observation:
- This report details the first documented case of pseudopili annulati in a dark-haired individual of Chinese ethnicity.
- The affected hair exhibited an elliptical shape and significant twisting along its longitudinal axis.
- A characteristic banded appearance was observed due to the reflection of incident light from flattened hair segments.
Findings:
- Microscopic examination revealed the banding effect was most prominent under polarized light and absent under transmitted light.
- Transmitted light microscopy showed the hair shaft appearing dark with regular variations in thickness, forming fusiform segments.
- Advanced scanning and transmission electron microscopy confirmed no structural abnormalities in the hair cuticle or cortex.
Implications:
- This finding expands the known phenotypic spectrum of pseudopili annulati, particularly concerning hair pigmentation.
- It highlights the importance of considering pseudopili annulati in the differential diagnosis of hair shaft abnormalities, irrespective of hair color.
- Further research may elucidate potential genetic or environmental factors contributing to pseudopili annulati in diverse populations.