What if everyday of your life your hair was such a tangled mess that you literally COULD NOT comb or brush it? Just imagine how this could affect your self-image. Considering how important hair is to our overall appearance, it could be psychologically devastating.
This is not a what if scenario for people with Uncombable Hair Syndrome (or UHS), a genetic condition that makes hair unable to be groomed. UHS is the next topic in the Beauty Brains’ Cosmetic Diseases and Disorders series.
What Is UHS
Uncombable Hair Syndrome was discovered by French researches in the early 1970s. They termed it “cheveux incoiffables” but it is also sometimes referred to as spun-glass hair. The disease is characterized by scalp hair that has an irregular structure and that is arranged in haphazard bundles that are impossible to comb. Fortunately, UHS is not a common phenomenon; there have only been about 60 cases reported in the journal literature between 1973 and 1998.
What Are The Symptoms
UHS usually starts in early in childhood. Initially the hair looks thin and glassy, then it becomes drier, curlier, and lighter in color. Eventually it becomes increasingly uncombable. The condition only affects scalp hair; pubic and arm pit hair are unchanged. Hairs afflicted with this disease have two defining features that can be seen under high magnfication: one is a triangular, or almost kidney bean cross-section. The other is a longitudinal groove or canal that runs along the length of the hair.
Partial baldness is also a possible side effect because the hair is not always properly anchored in the hair follicle properly. Unlike some of the other conditions that affect hair combabilty, UHS is NOT associated with physical, neurologic, or mental abnormalities.
What Does UHS Look Like
You can follow the links below to see examples of this condition. It`s really amazing how glass-like the hair is; it`s easy to see how the disease has earned the nickname spun glass hair.
How Is UHS Treated?
There is no certified treatment for Uncombable Hair Syndrome but there has been at least one report in the literature that daily doses of biotin can make the hair more pliable and easier to comb. However, this treatment did not restore the proper shape of the hair. Another article mentions the possible use of silver nitrate compresses, mycolog ointment, and occasional antibiotics but there is no real evidence that any of these are effective. Fortunately, it`s not uncommon for the condition to automatically reverse itself with advancing age.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I heard biotin makes your hair grow faster too. Is this true?
My son was diagnosed with UHS when he was about 1 year. His peditrician had never heard of it. It was suggested by both his pumanologist and eye doctor. He was diagnosed by a doctor specializing in hair. However, he has an extremely receding hairline, which I have not seen or read about this happening with others with the syndrome. My son is now 20 and I am pleased to say that his hair did in fact straighten out to a degree. He is still bothered by the receded hairline however.
Hey, grow locs or relax it straight or braids or twists if it is such a problem. That’s what we of the kinky (z pattern) flat hair strands do if we can’t bear the look of kinky flat hair strands in a straight circular or oval hair strand dominated world. OR, you just embrace what genetics gave you and rock the hair hair as it is. Thinking of it as a problem will make you treat it like it’s a problem instead of the beauty that it can be … well at least my afro speaks to me and tells me so.
Then again, this hair may just be really really special and apart from other types of hair to the point that you just can’t treat it like “kinky” hair types. *shrugs*
i dont know how old this article is but for years now since i started doing my hair im 17, started doing my hair since i was 13, i have found that the left side of my hair is straighter can take rougher combing, and wont fall out, but when you get to the right side of my hair its the opposite. My right side is so sensitive and hurts so much no matter how slowly i comb it. Also when it do comb it so much hair falls out and the hair on my right side is curlier and not as thick. I am Ethiopian and alot of what ive read abput UHS has been found in people of european descent. Its wierd because i thought i had discovered a medical mystery myself.
i dont know how old this article is but for years now since i started doing my hair im 17, started doing my hair since i was 13, i have found that the left side of my hair is straighter can take rougher combing, and wont fall out, but when you get to the right side of my hair its the opposite. My right side is so sensitive and hurts so much no matter how slowly i comb it. Also when it do comb it so much hair falls out and the hair on my right side is curlier and not as thick. I am Ethiopian and alot of what ive read abput UHS has been found in people of european descent. Its wierd because i thought i had discovered a medical mystery myself.
how can i get rid of this problem and check if i really do have uhs?
my daughters both have this disease we are going to a specialist at the end of this week. the thing with UHS is that the hair doesn’t really grow, my oldest will be 6 and has NEVER had her hair cut it just bairly site at her shoulders, on top of that she can’t wear her hair down because it never “lays down flat” it looks like she got shocked with electricity, and from putting her hair up it breaks from being so brittle. i know that this is just hair, but when you have little girls, and they just want to have long hair like the other girls do, it is hard. hopefully our specialist will help us. some of you wanted to know how to diagnose this. we want to a dematlogist and know a hair shaft spaecialist.
I have a problem with calling this a “disease”. My hair may be funky but not diseased! Glass hair is soft as kitten fur and can look good if you do it right.
Best UHS styles for men, cut it short and let it spike out. Use a little hard jell if desired. For longer hair just go with the tangles. Wash and blow dry with a convertible sports car! Do use quality hair products because breakage can be an issue.
The idea of “treatment” is especially disturbing. Embrace what you got and don’t let some doctor try to fix what ain’t broke!
My daughter just turned 5 and was diagnosed with UHS when she was 2. We have learned to cope and have found a very cute short hair cut for her. We have to keep her hair short due to her hair being very brittle, but she has received hundreds of compliments on her hair. When she was diagnosed she was in the hospital for a different life threatening matter and the doctors kept fussing over her hair because they had never seen it before. They finally brought the state dermatologist in who was amazed to see UHS. She said that it had been about 8 years since she had seen UHS but she knew right away what it was. My daughter gave hair samples and had pictures taken for scientific research purposes.
It’s like afro-textured hair just in non-African people (maybe just a little less wiry). So it’s a condition, not a disease. I think they just have to treat their hair differently, like using black hair products and whatnot. But that’s just my conclusion.