Woolly hair naevi with systematized linear epidermal naevus

Hair Follicle Miniaturization in a Woolly Hair Nevus: A Novel "Root" Perspective for a Mosaic Hair Disorder

Woolly hair nevus is a mosaic disorder characterized by unruly, tightly curled hair in a circumscribed area of the scalp. This condition may be associated with epidermal nevi. We describe an 11-year-old boy who initially presented with multiple patches of woolly hair and with epidermal nevi on his left cheek and back. He had no nail, teeth, eye, or cardiac abnormalities. Analysis of plucked hairs from patches of woolly hair showed twisting of the hair shaft and an abnormal hair cuticle. Histopathology of a woolly hair patch showed diffuse hair follicle miniaturization with increased vellus hairs.

Hair shaft abnormalities: Part II

The clinical and microscopic features are reviewed for trichothiodystrophy, woolly hair, uncombable hair, pili annulati, trichorrhexis invaginata and pseudomonilethrix.

Primary osteoma cutis--multiple café-au-lait spots and woolly hair anomaly

An 11-year-old girl with typical features of primary osteoma cutis is reported. She demonstrated multiple areas of subcutaneous, asymptomatic, slow-growing nodules, mostly localized at the extremities. Radiographic evidence of soft tissue calcification and histologic confirmation of ectopic bone formation was obtained. She also showed café-au-lait spots, woolly hair and intrauterine growth deficiency.

Lines of Blaschko

The lines of Blaschko represent a pattern followed by many skin disorders. We review the clinical and histologic features of X-linked, congenital/nevoid, and acquired skin diseases that follow these lines. We also include cutaneous disorders that have a linear distribution but do not follow Blaschko's lines. Finally, we differentiate Blaschko's lines from other patterns on the skin such as dermatomes and Langer's lines.

Woolly hair nevus

Woolly hair nevus is a rare, nongenetically determined condition in which unruly and tightly curled hair is localized on one or several areas of the scalp. We report the first case of woolly hair nevus with onset during adolescence. Marked improvement was evident 5 years after onset. Light microscopic examination of a biopsy specimen from the scalp showed a curved hair follicle. Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed slight fluting and marked flattening of the hair shafts. A discussion of these results and a comparison with those of the previously reported cases suggest that woolly hair nevus correlates with a variety of structural changes in the hair.

Woolly-hair nevus: report of a case associated with a verrucous epidermal nevus in the same area

We cared for a patient with woolly-hair nevus (WHN) with hair of reduced diameter seen as oval shaped on transverse section. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a longitudinal canal along the length of the hair shaft. Although the association of WHN and epidermal nevus has been described previously, this report of their localization in the same site is, to our knowledge, the first in the literature.

Epidermal nevi and the epidermal nevus syndrome. A review of 131 cases

One hundred thirty-one patients with epidermal nevi are reviewed. The commonest site of involvement was the head and neck, and 13% of patients had widespread lesions. Ages of onset ranged from birth to 14 years. A spread beyond the original distribution was noted in 37% of patients. Many clinical patterns occurred, including eight cases of inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus. A variety of other cutaneous abnormalities were found. Biopsies were performed in 41 cases. Three patients developed secondary tumors. One hundred nineteen of the patients were assessed for the presence of abnormalities in other organ systems. One or more abnormalities were demonstrated in 33% of patients, and in 5%, five or more abnormalities were detected. This study indicates that patients with epidermal nevi are at significant risk of having other abnormalities and warrant detailed initial assessment and close follow-up.

A family with diffuse partial woolly hair

We report a family of six individuals with an abnormality of scalp hair characterized by shorter, finer, kinky hairs interspersed with normal hair, throughout the scalp. The abnormality had gone unnoticed in four of the six individuals. Two complained of thinning of the scalp hair.