While the amount of hair babies are born with varies greatly, ranging from a full head of hair to very little, the total absence of hair from birth is a specific condition with a known cause.
What is Congenital Atrichia?
The complete lack of hair from birth is medically referred to as congenital atrichia. This is a distinct condition where hair follicles fail to develop or function, resulting in no hair on the scalp or body from birth.
The Primary Cause: Inheritance
Based on the information provided, congenital atrichia is usually an inherited condition. This means it is often passed down through genes from the parents.
Other Characteristics and Associations
Congenital atrichia can manifest in different ways:
- Isolated: It may occur as a standalone condition, meaning the absence of hair is the only notable characteristic [1].
- Associated with other anomalies: In some cases, congenital atrichia can be linked with other physical or developmental differences [2].
- Associated papular lesions: Individuals with congenital atrichia may also develop small, raised bumps (papular lesions) on areas like the face, neck, trunk, or limbs [3]. It's important to note that these lesions may not be present at birth but can appear later in life.
In summary, when a baby is born with a total absence of hair, it is typically due to congenital atrichia, a condition that is most often inherited.
