Circle hairs are not rolled hairs

Abstract

Circle hairs are rarely reported. In this disorder of hair growth, the hairs grow in a perfect or nearly perfect circle in a subcomeal location. There is no associated follicular abnormality or inflammatory component. The circle hairs are interspersed among normal straight hairs. 1, 2 Rolled hairs, a common disorder of hair growth, are associated with follicular hyperkeratosis, keratin plugging, and sometimes inflammation. The condition is usually associated with keratosis pilaris, but it has also been associated with corticosteroid therapy, xerosis, neurodermatitis, and palmoplantar keratoderma.3, 4 The terms circle hairs and rolled hairs are commonly used interchangeably, but they denote clearly distinct entities. We describe five patients with circle hairs and discuss a possible pathogenic mechanism.