[Loose anagen hair].

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dermatology
• Hair Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Loose anagen hair of childhood (LAH) is a rare, non-scarring alopecia observed in children.
• It is characterized by the painless shedding of anagen hairs.

Observation:

• A 5-year-old girl presented with easily pluckable, painless hair.
• Patchy occipital alopecia without scalp inflammation or scarring was observed.
• Trichogram revealed a predominance of anagen hairs lacking external root sheaths.

Findings:

• Histological examination indicated abnormal premature keratinization of the inner root sheath.
• This defect impairs the anchoring function of the hair shaft within the follicle.
• This leads to the characteristic painless hair shedding.

Implications:

• LAH is a distinct clinical entity requiring differentiation from other pediatric alopecias like alopecia areata and trichotillomania.
• Understanding the pathophysiology aids in accurate diagnosis and management.
• Further research into the genetic and molecular basis of LAH is warranted.