Hair fibrous protein compositions in some hereditary hair abnormalities determined by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Uncombable hair syndrome: A clinical report

Uncombable hair syndrome, also named "pili trianguli et canaliculi" or "cheveux incoiffables", is a rare structural anomaly of the hair shaft first reported in 1973. Both inherited and sporadic forms have been described, characterized by dry and frizzy scalp hair that is impossible to comb. Diagnosis is suspected clinically and confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The condition is usually isolated, however, several physical abnormalities can be associated. We report the case of a 2(1/2) year old-girl presenting isolated uncombable hair syndrome suspected clinically and confirmed by scanning electron microscopy.

Pili Trianguli et Canaliculi Is a Defect of Inner Root Sheath Keratinization

A 4-year-old Caucasian girl with pili trianguli et canaliculi had distinctive findings. These included unique ultrastructural alterations consisting of tonofilament-desmosomal detachment and tonofilament clumping within inner root sheath cells. We believe that the hair anomaly in this condition may be due to a compromised cytoskeleton with subsequent configurational changes of the inner root sheath. Despite these configurational changes keratinization of the inner root sheath occurs. As inner root sheath keratinization typically precedes keratinization of the hair shaft, the abnormally configured inner root sheath determines the surface characteristics of the hair shaft in pili trianguli et canaliculi.