Hair symptoms are common in many types of ectodermal dysplasia, but their presence and severity can vary significantly depending on the specific condition affecting you or your family. Below, we outline some of the most typical ways hair can be affected, to help you better understand what to look out for.

It’s important to remember that many of these symptoms can also occur independently of ectodermal dysplasia, or as part of other conditions.

Scalp Hair Symptoms

Hair on the scalp may be affected differently than hair elsewhere on the body (such as eyebrows, eyelashes, or body hair). Some changes may be noticeable at birth, while others only become apparent later in life.

Common scalp hair symptoms in ectodermal dysplasia include:

• Absent or very sparse hair

• Slow-growing hair

• Fine, fragile, or lightly pigmented hair

• Coarse or unruly hair

• Hair that is dry or difficult to manage

• Hair that sticks out in all directions

• Hair that’s difficult to comb or style

• Dryness caused by underdeveloped or absent oil glands

In many cases, hair grows slowly, so individuals may not need haircuts as often as others in the family. After puberty, some people notice an improvement in hair thickness and density, along with darkening of the hair — though it’s rare for someone with ED to develop a full head of thick hair.