Plica neuropathica : Signs and symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Further reading Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Plica neuropathica

Medical condition for hair

Medical condition

Plica neuropathica
Other names	Plica polonica, bird's nest hair, felted hair, acute hair matting.
Specialty	Dermatology

Plica neuropathica, also known as felted hair, is a curling, looping, intertwisting, and felting or matting of the hair in localized areas of the scalp.^[1]^: 768

Signs and symptoms

Plica neuropathica appears as a compact mass of scalp hair that is twisted and irreversibly knotted, forming an impenetrable, firm to hard mass of keratin that is bonded together by exudates and debris.^[2]

Causes

It is unknown exactly how plica neuropathica develops. Nonetheless, it has been linked to the longitudinal splitting or weathering of the hair shaft as a result of severe friction, repeated use of harsh shampoos and cleansers, and/or long hair neglected or maintained poorly.^[3] A few risk factors for this ailment that have been documented include the use of shampoos containing cationic detergents, secondary scalp infections, or infestations of the scalp.^[4]

Treatment

The matted hair must be trimmed in order to treat plica neuropathica. Organic solvents can be used for manual separation in the early stages. Preventive hair care comprises routine hair washing with mild shampoos or cleansers, light combing and oiling to prevent matting, and routine hair cutting.^[3]

References

^ James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. (10th ed.). Saunders. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0.
^ Kumar, P.N. Suresh; Antony, Beena; Chakravarthy, Ashish; Koyamu, A.M. Kunhi (2024-03-14). "Plica neuropathica (Polonica) in schizophrenia - a case report and review of literature". Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 43 (3). Wolters Kluwer -- Medknow Publications: 281–283. PMC 2956158. PMID 21407871.
^ ^a ^b Gupta, LalitKumar; Balai, Manisha; Khare, AshokKumar; Mittal, Asit (2015). "Plica neuropathica". Indian Dermatology Online Journal. 6 (4). Medknow: 310–311. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.160304. ISSN 2229-5178. PMC 4513426. PMID 26225351.
^ Suresh Kuma, PN; Rajmohan, V (2012). "Plica neuropathica (polonica) in schizophrenia". Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 54 (3). Medknow: 288–289. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.102439. ISSN 0019-5545. PMC 3512374. PMID 23226861.