The information provided on this page is for informational purposes only. The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) does not endorse the information presented. The content has been gathered in partnership with the MONDO Disease Ontology. Please consult with a healthcare professional for medical advice and treatment.
PrintWoolly hair nevus (WHN) is a rare non-familial hair anomaly characterized by kinky, tightly coiled, and hypopigmented fine hair with an average diameter of 0.5 cm, noted, since birth or during the first two years of life, in a localized circumscribed distribution on the scalp. Occassionally, WHN grows in areas observed to be alopecic in the neonatal period. WHN can be associated with features like ocular defects (persistent pupillary membrane, retinal defects), precocious puberty, and epidermal nevi.
The Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) has information and resources for patients, caregivers, and families that may be helpful before and after diagnosis of this condition. GARD is a program of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
View reportOrphanet has a summary about this condition that may include information on the diagnosis, care, and treatment as well as other resources. Some of the information and resources are available in languages other than English. The summary may include medical terms, so we encourage you to share and discuss this information with your doctor. Orphanet is the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research and the Health Programme of the European Union.
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