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Tapered
fracture hair
Tapered fracture hairs are hairs that have broken off to leave
a tapered point. These points often lack any cuticle such that the
tips just consist of exposed hair cortex. Tapered hairs develop
first as focal constrictions in normal growing hairs. These constrictions
are points of weakness where the hair fiber can break. When the
hair breaks it forms a tapered point.
Tapered hairs can be found in varying numbers in several types
of alopecia. Tapered hairs are most often seen in hair conditions
involving anagen effluvium hair loss such as chemotherapy. They
can also sometimes be seen during the progression of the conditions
alopecia areata and acquired progressive kinking of the hair.
Tapered hairs are the result of cell proliferation inhibition in
the root of the hair. Without new cells being made, the hair fiber
gets progressively thin, a constriction develops. Anything that
slows down or stops cell proliferation (mitosis) can lead to tapered
hairs.
Diffuse alopecia involving tapered hairs can only be remedied
by removing the precipitating factor. For example, stopping chemotherapy
will allow cell proliferation in the hair follicles to recover and
fiber production should resume.
Tapered
fracture hair references
- Pierard
GE. [Structure and pathogenic interpretation. Acquired dystrophies
of the hair]. Ann Dermatol Syphiligr (Paris). 1975;102(2):137-43.
- Stroud JD. Hair-shaft anomalies. Dermatol
Clin. 1987 Jul;5(3):581-94.
- Jackson D, Church RE, Ebling FJ. Alopecia
areata hairs: a scanning electron microscope study. Br J Dermatol.
1971 Sep;85(3):242-6.
- Coupe RL, Johnston MM. Acquired progressive
kinking of the hair. Structural changes and growth dynamics of
affected hairs. Arch Dermatol. 1969 Aug;100(2):191-5.
- Pierard G. [Structure of bayonet hairs].
Arch Belg Dermatol Syphiligr. 1972 Oct-Dec;28(4):359-61
- Fairlamb DJ.Hair changes following cytotoxic
drug induced alopecia. Postgrad Med J. 1988 Nov;64(757):907.
- Pinkus F. Über eine noch nicht beschriebene
Art menschlicher Kopfhaare, Bajonethaare. Dermatologica. 1910;17:253-61.
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