LS3 THE CHILD WITH FUNNY HAIR

Sinclair R, University of Melbourne Dept. of Dermatology, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

Study of children with funny hair and the production of complete catalogues of the various developmental, structural and functional abnormalities is a critical aspect of future hair research.

Funny hair in children may be the result of an abnormality in the hair fibre structure, the root sheaths, the lipid exocuticle or hair follicle as a consequence of a genetic mutation or polymorphism.  By defining the clinical phenotype of these children and the hereditary basis of these disorders, gene discovery techniques can be used to identify the genotype and gene products, and define the molecular basis of these disorders.

Careful clinical observation of pseudo-hermaphrodites helped define the pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia, and ultimately has enabled new treatment avenues for both this condition and for hirsutes.  Similar careful study of children with funny hair can advance our understanding of hair biology. Knowledge about the molecular basis of fibre production, fibre strength and fibre anchorage into the hair follicle could lead to a diverse range of new therapies for disordered follicle function and fibre production and also facilitate innovation in fibre technology.

Clinical and genetic research undertaken in Australia in Menke’s, Monilethrix, Trichothiodystrophy, Pili Annulati and Loose Anagen Syndrome as well as alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia can be used to illustrate this theme. The pivotal role of clinicians in this process relies on good systems to catalogue the disorders, which are still evolving.