Monilethrix: Value of dermoscopy

Hanane Chahoub¹, Ibtissam Al Faker², Farah Marraha², Youness Benyamna², Najlae Rahmani², Soukaina Kabbou², Yasmine Rkiek², Salim Gallouj²

¹Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Center of Tangier, Tetouan, Al Hoceima, Morroco, ²Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tangier, Morocco

Corresponding author: Hanane Chahoub, MD

How to cite this article: Chahoub H, Al Faker I, Marraha F, Benyamna Y, Rahmani N, Kabbou S, Rkiek Y, Gallouj S. Monilethrix: Value of dermoscopy. Our Dermatol Online. 2021;12(e):e89.

Submission: 08.06.2021; Acceptance: 25.11.2021

DOI: 10.7241/ourd.2021e.89

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Monilethrix is a rare genodermatosis, typically transmits in autosomal dominant mode characterized by hair fragility and hair shaft dysplasia, which is responsible of hypotrichosis or alopecia [1].

The term comes from latin for “monile), meaning necklace and greek for “thrix” meaning hair [2].

Dermoscopy still necessary for confirmation of monilethrix diagnosis and in differentiating it from other causes of hypotrichosis.

We report the case of a 8 year-old male born of a non consanguineous marriage was brought by her mother with complaints of fragile hair and hypotrichosis since 6 months of age.

There was a similar history in the family members: his mother, brother and two maternal uncles.

Examination revealed short and rough hair, easily breakable over the scalp and eyebrows with multiple discrete keratotic papules all over the scalp, neck and limbs (Figs. 1a and 1b).

Figure 1: (a and b) Hypertrichosis with discrete keratotic papules all over the scalp.

Dermoscopy signs include (Fig. 2):

Figure 2: Trichoscopy: Broken hairs – Epileptical nodes with intermittent constrictions -Anisotrichosis.

Broken hairs revealing a beaded appearance.

Epileptical nodes with intermittent constrictions giving appearance of “regular bended ribbon”, which is a characteristic sign.

We also found black dots and anisotrichosis as a non specific signs.

A therapeutic treatment with topical minoxidil was conducted.

REFERENCES

1. Zhi HL, Liu ZH. Monilethrix. CMAJ. 2018;190:E912.

2. Arif T, Majid I, Ishtiyaq Haji ML, Samoon N. Monilethrix – Case report of a rare disease. Our Dermatol Online. 2015;6:46-8.

Notes

Source of Support: Nil,

Conflict of Interest: None declared.