Learn About Autosomal Recessive Hypotrichosis
Autosomal recessive hypotrichosis is a condition that affects hair growth. People with this condition have sparse hair (hypotrichosis) on the scalp beginning in infancy. This hair is usually coarse, dry, and tightly curled (often described as woolly hair). Scalp hair may also be lighter in color than expected and is fragile and easily broken. Affected individuals often cannot grow hair longer than a few inches. The eyebrows, eyelashes, and other body hair may be sparse as well. Over time, the hair problems can remain stable or progress to complete scalp hair loss (alopecia) and a decrease in body hair.
Autosomal recessive hypotrichosis can be caused by mutations in the LIPH, LPAR6, or DSG4 gene. These genes provide instructions for making proteins that are involved in the growth and division (proliferation) and maturation (differentiation) of cells within hair follicles. These cell processes are important for the normal development of hair follicles and for hair growth; as the cells in the hair follicle divide, the hair strand (shaft) is pushed upward and extends beyond the skin, causing the hair to grow. The proteins produced from the LIPH, LPAR6, and DSG4 genes are also found in the outermost layer of skin (the epidermis) and glands in the skin that produce a substance that protects the skin and hair (sebaceous glands).
The worldwide prevalence of autosomal recessive hypotrichosis is unknown. In Japan, the condition is estimated to affect 1 in 10,000 individuals.
This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.
Brett King is a Dermatologist in Fairfield, Connecticut. Dr. King is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Autosomal Recessive Hypotrichosis. His top areas of expertise are Alopecia Areata, Autosomal Recessive Hypotrichosis, Vitiligo, and Alopecia Universalis.
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Amy Mcmichael is a Dermatologist in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Dr. Mcmichael is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Autosomal Recessive Hypotrichosis. Her top areas of expertise are Autosomal Recessive Hypotrichosis, Alopecia Areata, Graham-Little-Piccardi-Lassueur Syndrome, and GAPO Syndrome. Dr. Mcmichael is currently accepting new patients.
New York University
Mario Lacouture is a Dermatologist in Garden City, New York. Dr. Lacouture is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Autosomal Recessive Hypotrichosis. His top areas of expertise are Autosomal Recessive Hypotrichosis, Hartsfield Syndrome, Alopecia Areata, and Basal Cell Skin Cancer.
Summary: Hair and skin play major roles in protecting the body, and maintaining their health is essential. Poor hair and skin health have become increasingly common due to the stress associated with modern lifestyles. Effective and time-efficient treatments for hair and skin health remain limited. Although hair loss, baldness, and skin issues are not life-threatening, managing these conditions is important...
Summary: The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a non-ablative 1470 nm laser in treating scarring alopecia in adults. The study will also investigate the biochemical molecular pathways involved in laser therapy by analyzing hair follicle gene expression before and after laser treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does a non-ablative laser work to effectively t...
Published Date: April 01, 2013
Published By: National Institutes of Health