How does Ehlers-Danlos affect hair?

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) can affect hair in several ways, including:

Hair loss (the most common)

• hair thinning or hair loss can occur on the scalp and body
• decreased scalp hair
• sparse hair
• general hair growth changes.

This is the most commonly seen in EDS patient.

Other less common ways EDS can affect hair are: 

Hair follicle size

One’s hair follicles may appear differently compared to those of a healthy person.

This is seen in patient with Kyphoscoliotic EDS (kEDS) due to Follicular hyperkeratosis, also known as keratosis pilaris (KP), which causes small, rough bumps to appear on the skin.

Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a skin condition characterized by excessive development of keratin in hair follicles, resulting in rough, cone-shaped, elevated papules. This results in the openings often being closed with a white plug of encrusted sebum.

Hirsutism

Abnormal growth of hair on a person’s face and body.

Excessive hair growth

Less-frequent findings include generalized hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth)