Trichorrhexis nodosa Other names: Hair shaft fracture[1] Tricho-hepato-enteric syndrome: Microscopic analysis of the hair shaft showing breaks located at nodes in the hair (trichorrhexis nodosa) and longitudinal breaks. Trichorrhexis nodosa is a defect in the hair shaft characterized by thickening or weak points (nodes) that cause the hair to break off easily.[2]: 766 [3]: 636 This group of conditions contributes to the appearance of hair loss, lack of growth, and damaged-looking hair. There are two types.[4] ## Contents * 1 Symptoms * 1.1 Complications * 2 Causes * 3 Diagnosis * 4 Prevention * 5 Treatment * 6 Prognosis * 7 See also * 8 Notes * 9 References * 10 External links ## Symptoms[edit | edit source] Among the symptoms (and signs) for this condition are the following: * lack of apparent hair growth * hair appears patchy * hair breaks easily close to scalp * hair may have thickenings or nodes in the shaft * ends of hair thinned or split * whitish discoloration of hair tips * hair breaks easily at tips ### Complications[edit | edit source] This condition is not dangerous but may affect self-esteem. ## Causes[edit | edit source] Trichorrhexis may have a genetic basis but appears to be precipitated by environmental factors. Among Caucasians the defect often appears at the ends of the hair shaft with splitting of the ends, thinning and whitish discoloration. These conditions are directly related to environmental causes such as "perming", blow drying, aggressive hair brushing, and excessive chemical exposure. In some cases, trichorrhexis nodosa may be caused by an underlying disorder such as argininosuccinic aciduria, Menkes' kinky hair syndrome, Netherton's syndrome, hypothyroidism, or trichothiodystrophy. ## Diagnosis[edit | edit source] Examination of the hair shafts with a microscope may reveal changes of trichorrhexis nodosa. ## Prevention[edit | edit source] Avoid aggressive brushing and grooming, strong chemicals, permanents, straightening, and similar hair-damaging habits. ## Treatment[edit | edit source] Improving environmental factors will reduce damage to the hair. Gentle brushing with a soft brush should replace more aggressive brushing, ratting, or other procedures. Harsh chemicals such as hair straightening compounds and permanents should be avoided. The hair should not be ironed. Excessively harsh shampoo should be avoided. Hair conditioners should be used.[citation needed] ## Prognosis[edit | edit source] This condition is self-limiting. Improvements in grooming techniques and in environmental conditions will correct the abnormality. ## See also[edit | edit source] * Trichomegaly * List of cutaneous conditions ## Notes[edit | edit source] 1. ↑ "Trichorrhexis nodosa: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". medlineplus.gov. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019. 2. ↑ James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. (10th ed.). Saunders. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0. 3. ↑ Freedberg, et al. (2003). Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-138076-0. 4. ↑ James, William D.; Elston, Dirk; Treat, James R.; Rosenbach, Misha A.; Neuhaus, Isaac (2020). "33. Diseases of the skin appendages". Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology (13th ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier. p. 764\. ISBN 978-0-323-54753-6. Archived from the original on 2022-04-22. Retrieved 2022-04-20. ## References[edit | edit source] * MedlinePlus Encyclopedia: Trichorrhexis nodosa ## External links[edit | edit source] Classification| * ICD-10: L67.0 * ICD-9-CM: 704.2 * DiseasesDB: 29680 | External resources| * MedlinePlus: 001449 * v * t * e Disorders of skin appendages Nail| * thickness: Onychogryphosis * Onychauxis * color: Beau's lines * Yellow nail syndrome * Leukonychia * Azure lunula * shape: Koilonychia * Nail clubbing * behavior: Onychotillomania * Onychophagia * other: Ingrown nail * Anonychia * ungrouped: Paronychia * Acute * Chronic * Chevron nail * Congenital onychodysplasia of the index fingers * Green nails * Half and half nails * Hangnail * Hapalonychia * Hook nail * Ingrown nail * Lichen planus of the nails * Longitudinal erythronychia * Malalignment of the nail plate * Median nail dystrophy * Mees' lines * Melanonychia * Muehrcke's lines * Nail–patella syndrome * Onychoatrophy * Onycholysis * Onychomadesis * Onychomatricoma * Onychomycosis * Onychophosis * Onychoptosis defluvium * Onychorrhexis * Onychoschizia * Platonychia * Pincer nails * Plummer's nail * Psoriatic nails * Pterygium inversum unguis * Pterygium unguis * Purpura of the nail bed * Racquet nail * Red lunulae * Shell nail syndrome * Splinter hemorrhage * Spotted lunulae * Staining of the nail plate * Stippled nails * Subungual hematoma * Terry's nails * Twenty-nail dystrophy Hair| | Hair loss/ Baldness| * noncicatricial alopecia: Alopecia * areata * totalis * universalis * Ophiasis * Androgenic alopecia (male-pattern baldness) * Hypotrichosis * Telogen effluvium * Traction alopecia * Lichen planopilaris * Trichorrhexis nodosa * Alopecia neoplastica * Anagen effluvium * Alopecia mucinosa * cicatricial alopecia: Pseudopelade of Brocq * Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia * Pressure alopecia * Traumatic alopecia * Tumor alopecia * Hot comb alopecia * Perifolliculitis capitis abscedens et suffodiens * Graham-Little syndrome * Folliculitis decalvans * ungrouped: Triangular alopecia * Frontal fibrosing alopecia * Marie Unna hereditary hypotrichosis | Hypertrichosis| * Hirsutism * Acquired * localised * generalised * patterned * Congenital * generalised * localised * X-linked * Prepubertal Acneiform eruption| | Acne| * Acne vulgaris * Acne conglobata * Acne miliaris necrotica * Tropical acne * Infantile acne/Neonatal acne * Excoriated acne * Acne fulminans * Acne medicamentosa (e.g., steroid acne) * Halogen acne * Iododerma * Bromoderma * Chloracne * Oil acne * Tar acne * Acne cosmetica * Occupational acne * Acne aestivalis * Acne keloidalis nuchae * Acne mechanica * Acne with facial edema * Pomade acne * Acne necrotica * Blackhead * Lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei | Rosacea| * Perioral dermatitis * Granulomatous perioral dermatitis * Phymatous rosacea * Rhinophyma * Blepharophyma * Gnathophyma * Metophyma * Otophyma * Papulopustular rosacea * Lupoid rosacea * Erythrotelangiectatic rosacea * Glandular rosacea * Gram-negative rosacea * Steroid rosacea * Ocular rosacea * Persistent edema of rosacea * Rosacea conglobata * variants * Periorificial dermatitis * Pyoderma faciale Ungrouped| * Granulomatous facial dermatitis * Idiopathic facial aseptic granuloma * Periorbital dermatitis * SAPHO syndrome Follicular cysts| * "Sebaceous cyst" * Epidermoid cyst * Trichilemmal cyst * Steatocystoma * simplex * multiplex * Milia Inflammation| * Folliculitis * Folliculitis nares perforans * Tufted folliculitis * Pseudofolliculitis barbae * Hidradenitis * Hidradenitis suppurativa * Recurrent palmoplantar hidradenitis * Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis Ungrouped| * Acrokeratosis paraneoplastica of Bazex * Acroosteolysis * Bubble hair deformity * Disseminate and recurrent infundibulofolliculitis * Erosive pustular dermatitis of the scalp * Erythromelanosis follicularis faciei et colli * Hair casts * Hair follicle nevus * Intermittent hair–follicle dystrophy * Keratosis pilaris atropicans * Kinking hair * Koenen's tumor * Lichen planopilaris * Lichen spinulosus * Loose anagen syndrome * Menkes kinky hair syndrome * Monilethrix * Parakeratosis pustulosa * Pili (Pili annulati * Pili bifurcati * Pili multigemini * Pili pseudoannulati * Pili torti) * Pityriasis amiantacea * Plica neuropathica * Poliosis * Rubinstein–Taybi syndrome * Setleis syndrome * Traumatic anserine folliculosis * Trichomegaly * Trichomycosis axillaris * Trichorrhexis (Trichorrhexis invaginata * Trichorrhexis nodosa) * Trichostasis spinulosa * Uncombable hair syndrome * Wooly hair nevus Sweat glands| | Eccrine| * Miliaria * Colloid milium * Miliaria crystalline * Miliaria profunda * Miliaria pustulosa * Miliaria rubra * Occlusion miliaria * Postmiliarial hypohidrosis * Granulosis rubra nasi * Ross’ syndrome * Anhidrosis * Hyperhidrosis * Generalized * Gustatory * Palmoplantar | Apocrine| * Body odor * Chromhidrosis * Fox–Fordyce disease Sebaceous| * Sebaceous hyperplasia *[v]: View this template *[t]: Discuss this template *[e]: Edit this template