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Trichoschisis
Trichoschisis is very similar to trichoclasis. It is a sudden
hair shaft break across the diameter of the fiber. The difference
is that in Trichoschisis there is a localized absence of the cuticle
at the site of the fracture. This form of clean break in hair fiber
is usually seen in people who have congenitally abnormal hair growth,
as in trichothiodystrophy, or sometimes those who excessively manipulate
their hair and strip away the cuticle. Absence of cuticle in focal
areas along a hair shaft creates weak spots. Any tension created
in the hair through styling, brushing or combing may cause the fibers
to snap at these weak points.
Weak focal areas of hair fiber can develop through a breakdown
in the strength and integrity of the hair. Disruption of chemical
bonds in hair, particularly involving low sulfur content and reduced
presence of cysteine in the fiber. This deficiency may develop congenitally
in people that cannot metabolize sulfur properly. It also develops
in people who dye, bleach or remove their hair using depilatory
creams. Treatment involves improving metabolism of sulfur or if
it is an acquired condition, reduction in hair manipulation.
Trichoschisis
references
- Meyvisch
K, Song M, Dourov N. Review and new case reports on scanning
electron microscopy of pili annulati, Monilethrix and Trichothiodystrophy.
Scanning Microsc. 1992 Jun;6(2):537-41.
- Itin
PH, Pittelkow MR. Trichothiodystrophy: review of sulfur-deficient
brittle hair syndromes and association with the ectodermal dysplasias.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 1990 May;22(5 Pt 1):705-17.
- Whiting
DA. Structural abnormalities of the hair shaft. J Am Acad Dermatol.
1987 Jan;16(1 Pt 1):1-25.
- Brown AC, Belser RB, Crounse RG, Wehr
RF. A congenital hair defect: trichoschisis with alternating
birefringence and low sulfur content. J Invest Dermatol. 1970
Jun;54(6):496-509.
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