Heritable disorders of hair

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Dermatology
• Medical Science

Background:

• Hair quality and quantity changes are common in hereditary syndromes.
• Existing classifications for hair disorders are unsatisfactory due to rarity and poor understanding of pathophysiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and arbitrarily group heritable hair disorders.
• To provide a framework for understanding genetic hair conditions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review.
• Arbitrary classification of heritable hair disorders into five categories.

Main Results:

• Heritable hair disorders are grouped into five classes: primary hair shaft disorders, alopecia without associated defects, ectodermal dysplasias, changes in hair color, and ectopic hair.

Conclusions:

• A proposed classification system for heritable hair disorders.
• Highlights the need for further research into the pathophysiology of these rare conditions.