obsolete Hair nevus

Hair Nevus: A Rare Skin Condition

A hair nevus, also known as woolly hair nevus, is a rare and benign skin condition characterized by an abnormal growth of hair on the scalp or other areas of the body. This condition is usually present at birth or develops in early childhood.

Key Features:

• Abnormal hair growth on the scalp or other areas
• Hair can be unruly, tightly coiled, or curly
• Can be localized to a specific area or spread across multiple areas
• May be associated with other skin conditions, such as folliculitis or hypertrichosis

Types of Hair Nevus:

There are several types of hair nevi, including:

• Congenital panfollicular nevus (CPFN): A rare condition characterized by the presence of congenital, large, elevated, and pigmented skin lesions.
• Epithelioid and spindle cell nevus: A type of skin tumor that can be benign or malignant.

Causes and Risk Factors:

The exact cause of hair nevi is unknown. However, it is believed to be a genetic condition, with some cases being inherited from parents.

Symptoms and Diagnosis:

Symptoms of hair nevi may include:

• Abnormal hair growth on the scalp or other areas
• Hair can be unruly, tightly coiled, or curly
• May be associated with other skin conditions

Diagnosis is typically made through clinical examination and histological examination of a biopsy sample.

Treatment and Management:

There is no specific treatment for hair nevi. However, in some cases, laser therapy may be used to reduce the appearance of abnormal hair growth.

References:

• [10] Woolly hair nevus is a rare disease whose diagnosis is challenging.
• [13] A woolly hair nevus (epidermal nevus) is a noncancerous (benign) patch of skin caused by an overgrowth of skin cells.
• [14] Woolly hair nevus (WHN) is a rare non-familial hair anomaly characterized by kinky, tightly coiled, and hypopigmented fine hair with an average diameter of 0.5 cm.

Obsolete Hair Nevus Signs and Symptoms

The obsolete hair nevus, also known as epidermal nevus syndrome (ENS), presents with a variety of signs and symptoms. These can vary greatly depending on the specific type of ENS and the presence and extent of associated extra-cutaneous symptoms.

• Skin Lesions: The most common sign of ENS is the presence of skin lesions, which can be flat or raised, smooth or rough, and may have a variety of colors (1).
• Hair Abnormalities: Some individuals with ENS may experience hair abnormalities, such as coarse surface hairs (6), kinky, tightly coiled, and hypopigmented fine hair (4), or curly or coiled hair (7).
• Skin Color Changes: Skin color changes can also occur in individuals with ENS, including brown to bluish-black color (1, 5) or a shade of brown (2).
• Hair Growth Patterns: In some cases, the hairs may grow in an abnormal pattern, such as increased hair growth (hypertrichosis) near the larger nevus (1, 5).

Other Associated Symptoms

In addition to these signs and symptoms, ENS can also be associated with other extra-cutaneous symptoms, including:

• Seizures: Some individuals with ENS may experience seizures (14).
• Intellectual Disability: In rare cases, ENS may be associated with intellectual disability (14).

Important Note

It's essential to note that the obsolete hair nevus is a rare condition, and not all individuals will exhibit these signs and symptoms. A proper diagnosis can only be made by a qualified healthcare professional.

References:

[1] - Context 5 [2] - Context 2 [3] - Context 4 [4] - Context 6 [5] - Context 14

Based on the provided context, it appears that diagnostic tests for hair nevi have evolved over time.

Traditional Diagnostic Methods

In the past, laboratory tests such as echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, abdominal ultrasound, and ophthalmological exam were used to rule out other conditions (1). However, these tests are not specifically related to diagnosing hair nevi.

Current Diagnostic Approaches

Today, a thorough dermatological examination is considered essential for diagnosing hair nevi (3). This may involve dermoscopy, which uses a special magnified lens to examine the skin (12).

Specific Tests for Hair Nevus

For hair nevus specifically, a diagnosis may involve:

• A thorough medical history and physical examination
• Dermoscopy: examining the skin using a special magnified lens
• Skin biopsy: to rule out other clinical conditions

It's worth noting that the etiology of diffuse partial woolly hair and of sporadically occurring woolly hair nevi is unknown (3).

References

1. Laboratory tests, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, abdominal ultrasound, and ophthalmological exam were all normal.
2. A rare nevus disorder characterized by the presence of epidermal nevi consisting of depigmented hypertrichosis manifesting with long, soft, white hair which grows from dilated follicles and follows Blaschko's lines.
3. The etiology of diffuse partial woolly hair and of sporadically occurring woolly hair nevi is unknown.
4. A thorough dermatological examination.
5. Dermoscopy: It is a diagnostic tool where a dermatologist examines the skin using a special magnified lens.
6. Your healthcare provider may perform additional tests to rule out other clinical conditions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

Citations:

[1] - 1 [2] - 2 [3] - 3 [4] - 12 [5] - 5 [6] - 12

Based on the provided context, it appears that there are limited treatment options for hair nevi, and most of them are not specifically targeting the condition.

• Topical 1% everolimus cream has been used to treat a patient with a nevus, resulting in a reduction in size [1].
• Minoxidil 5% topical solution has been shown to improve short anagen hair naevus [5].
• However, there is no universally accepted treatment regimen for epidermal nevi, and medications have no role in the diagnosis or management of melanocytic nevi [4].

It's worth noting that some treatments mentioned are more focused on managing symptoms rather than directly treating the condition. For example:

• Corticosteroid therapy, tretinoin, oral retinoids, and surgery are mentioned as potential treatment options for epidermal nevi, but their effectiveness is not specifically stated [6].
• Photodynamic therapy has been suggested as a potential treatment modality for large lesions in cosmetically sensitive areas, but larger studies are needed to confirm its efficacy [7].

Overall, it seems that there is limited information available on the drug treatment of hair nevus. The most promising option appears to be topical minoxidil 5% solution, which has been shown to improve short anagen hair naevus.

References:

[1] Context result 1 [4] Context result 4 [5] Context result 5 [6] Context result 6 [7] Context result 7

Differential Diagnosis of Obsolete Hair Nevus

The differential diagnosis of an obsolete hair nevus, also known as a hair follicle nevus, involves considering various conditions that may present with similar characteristics.

• Trichofolliculoma: This is a benign hamartoma that can be confused with a hair follicle nevus. It typically presents with a central cyst or canal and may require deeper levels to diagnose.
• Accessory Tragus: This condition also features increased vellus hairs, but it often includes other types of tissue such as mature adipose tissue or cartilage. The location around the ear can be helpful in distinguishing it from a hair follicle nevus.
• Acquired Progressive Curling of the Hair: This is a rare condition that involves curling of the hair, which may be mistaken for a hair follicle nevus.
• Allotrichia Circumscripta Symmetrica: This is another acquired condition characterized by symmetrically distributed patches of hair loss or thinning, which can be confused with a hair follicle nevus.

Key Features to Consider

When attempting to diagnose an obsolete hair nevus, the following features should be taken into account:

• Location: Hair follicle nevi are typically found on the face.
• Hair Characteristics: The presence of vellus hairs rather than terminal hairs can be a distinguishing feature.
• Dermoscopic Findings: Dermoscopy may reveal neither a central opening nor a cyst, which can help differentiate it from trichofolliculoma.

References

• [5] Hair follicle nevus has been variously defined as a specific type of neoplasm with follicular differentiation or as a synonym for trichofolliculoma; the latter view has predominated in recent years.
• [10] Hair follicle nevus (HFN) is a rare hamartoma occurring on the face that shows follicular differentiation. Previously, HFN was confused with trichofolliculoma, a benign hamartoma that should be differentiated from HFN.
• [13] A nevus sebaceous is a congenital hamartoma usually found on the head and neck, with a prevalence of 0.3% in newborns. It consists of hyperplasia of the sebaceous glands with overlying alopecia, as mature hair follicles are absent.

Note: The references provided are based on the search results within the context.