Kinking hair explained
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| Synonyms: | Acquired progressive kinking of hair |
Kinking hair, or acquired progressive kinking of hair, is a skin condition primarily reposted in postpubescent males with androgenetic alopecia, presenting with gradual curling and darkening of the frontal, temporal, auricular, and vertex hairs which, under the microscope, show kinks and twists with or without longitudinal grooving.[1] [2] [3]
Signs and symptoms
Kinking hair is characterized by acquired curling of the hair. The hair might appear frizzy or lusterless. Increased hair shedding is usually the most problematic symptom.
Causes
The cause of hair kinking remains a mystery.[4] It has been suggested as a potential mechanism that hair kinking is a hair cycle disease associated with dysregulation in the inner root sheath of the hair bulb and the shortening of anagen hairs.[5]
Diagnosis
The diagnostic criteria for kinking hair is as follows:[5]
- an acquired, bounded patch of woolly, dull hair in the frontal, temporal, or parietal regions that is not associated with prior trauma. Hair that is twisted, tortuous, and uneven, with the initial twist showing 2-4 cm after the hair emerges.[5]
- A periodic decline in the diameter of the hair shaft, observed under optical microscopy, with flattened and expanded sections alternating.[5]
- A spindle-shaped widening with sporadic fractures, a partial twisting of the hair on its longitudinal axis with a 180-degree rotation, and an increased number of cuticular cells per diameter in the twisted sections were observed using scanning electron microscopy.[5]
See also
Further reading
- Mortimer . Peter S. . Acquired Progressive Kinking of Hair: Report of Six Cases and Review of Literature . Archives of Dermatology . 121 . 8 . 1985-08-01 . 0003-987X . 10.1001/archderm.1985.01660080085020 . 1031 . 4026340 . none.
- Bagazgoitia . Lorea . Aboín . Sonsoles . Whisker hair (acquired progressive kinking of the hair): An indication for finasteride 1 mg? . International Journal of Trichology . Medknow . 8 . 1 . 2016 . 24–25 . 0974-7753 . 10.4103/0974-7753.179391 . free . 27127372 . none. 4830168 .
External links
Notes and References
- Freedberg, et al. (2003). Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill. .
- James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. (10th ed.). Saunders. .
- Tosti A, Piraccini BM, Pazzaglia M, Misciali C . Acquired progressive kinking of the hair: clinical features, pathological study, and follow-up of 7 patients . Arch Dermatol . 135 . 10 . 1223–6 . October 1999 . 10522670 . 10.1001/archderm.135.10.1223 . free .
- Civas . Ekrem . Demirci . Gulsen Tukenmez . Rapid onset acquired progressive kinking of the hair: Scanning electron microscopic findings in a woman . Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology . Scientific Scholar . 87 . 2021-03-23 . 0378-6323 . 10.25259/ijdvl_677_20 . 281–284. free . 33769738 .
- Balsa . Raúl E. . Ingratta . Stella Maris . Alvarez . Alberto G. . Acquired kinking of the hair: A methodologic approach . Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology . Elsevier BV . 15 . 5 . 1986 . 0190-9622 . 10.1016/s0190-9622(86)70281-8 . 1133–1136. 3771867 .
