Short Anagen Syndrome

I have a daughter that since birth, she has had a problem with hair growth. She was bald at birth, and didn't start getting any sign of hair except fuzz until about 2. Her doctor kept telling me "Give it time, it will grow in." Well, by the time she started nursery school at 4, she looked like what most children at birth or at 1 would look like. She then saw a Dermatology Hair Specialist at Yale, who said she probably had loose anagen syndrome, but I don't believe she has that. I can pull her hair, and it won't fall out. I believe she has Short Anagen Syndrome, which means that the growth phase of her hair is short. Example, most people have a hair phase of 3-10 years, that means their hair will grow and in 3-10 years that hair will fallout. With Short Anagen Syndrome, the hair phase is more like 3 months to one year. In the literature, it mentions that it is possible that she will outgrow this when she goes through puberty. She is 10 now, no signs of puberty yet. Still has very little hair. It looks like the hair of a 3 year old. At least we live in a small town and she has been with the same classmates since nursery school and they really don't notice this. To offset this, she discovered "headbands" in second grade, the ones that have fabric and hang down her back. This kinda makes her feel like she has "long hair". She has a beautiful girly face, too. So, we wait, and pray... Could be worse, she could have a life threatening disease. It's only hair. I have noticed that all of her close friends have hair down to their backs! Anybody else have a little girl with this condition? Every once and awhile I check the web to see if there is any treatments, but it is not a well known disease. They do not even know what causes it, therefore no treatment.

Hi,

I just came back from a doctor yesterday and my little girl now three and a half has the same syndrome. I was also comforted and told that with the onset of puberty this would normalize. Supposedly a medicine called minoxidil (atleast that's what its called here in Europe) should help. I've not looked into it yet though. Want to make sure that there are no serious side effects.

I know how you feel though. All her friends have really long hair and my daughter constantly gets asked whether shes a boy.

Glad to have found someone who understands me! But you are right...it is only hair! Could be way worse.

Please let me know if you get any news....or if you just wanna talk.

Hi Emsmama,

I grew up with hair like you are describing.  Just recently I saw a dermatologist that said I "probably" have short anagen syndrome.  It was very hard for me growing up but now I think there are so many cute, short (and even thin!) hair styles that I think our daughters will be just fine with.  I have an 18 month old daughter who has such little hair that it is making me nervous.  I always dreamed of having a little girl with long, thick hair!!  It definitely isn't growing at the rate of all the other babies I know.  (Just fuzz.)  I don't know if short anagen syndrome is genetic (or how it is passed) but I am very concerned that my daughter has this.  Is there any way you could provide a photo?  I'm just curious what her hair looks like and if it compares to mine as a child (or my daughters).

Best of luck to you!!

inday

I have a ten year old daughter with the same symptoms as you describe.  I have used biotin and silica vitamiins and I have seen condsiderable progess but still not a "normal" ten year old's hair.  I have a 12 and 9 year old with long thick hair.  My question is is your dauther's hair curly.  The hair that she does have is really curly and has darkened over the last couple of years.  She is very far away from puberty, she is really small.  We have gone to several dermatoligists and had blood work, etc.   Everything else is normal and she is learning to live with what she has been given.  Has anyone with short anagen syndrome outgrown this?

My daughter hasnt been diagnosed because anytime i have brought it up to a doctor they have dismissed it. "Give her a daily multi" which i thought made sense because she also had pica. that did no good with either. the pica went away eventually but the hair situation stayed the same. it just wouldnt grow!

Edited by iamoph - January 14 2010 at 2:02am