Idiopathic Trichoclasia

The condition presents as patches of varying size often exhibiting minute dots in the skin, following hair shaft severance at or just above scalp level (idiopathic means unidentified cause).
This condition could be attributable to:
 i)    immobilisation in a supine position.
 ii)   the wearing of tight fitting bands, helmets and some items of head gear.
 iii)  the habitual twisting of one lock of growing hair shafts.
iv)  scratching.

Examination may also reveal hair shafts with fractures and /or brush-like distal ends (reminiscent of trichorrhexis nodosa) but with a maximum length of 6 mm.
The surrounding skin may be normal or lichenified.
The condition is not gender or age related

                                                                         THE TRICHOLOGICAL SOCIETY