Introduction
Other forms of hair matting
Demographics
Causes
Clinical features
Complications
Diagnosis
Differential diagnoses
Treatment
Outcome
Acute hair matting is a rare acquired condition that presents as a sudden solid mass of permanent matting of scalp hair on the vertex in otherwise healthy individuals. The process of hair matting is similar to the process of ‘felting’ seen in the wool and textile industries, where adjacent fibres are compacted due to surface scratching and abrasion.
In acute hair matting, the hair twists irregularly and is severely entangled, forming a stiff tightly packed mass of keratin over the head cemented together with dirt and exudates.
Acute hair matting is also called plica neuropathica, plica polonica, and bird’s nest hair.
Credit: Thomas Salmon Creator: Felicità Sartori; Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Less extreme forms and deliberate forms of hair matting are known as felted hair, dreadlocks or jata and appear in many cultures, including those of Indian and African peoples (see Hair care practices in women of African descent). These forms of hair matting can be worn for a variety of reasons, including religious or spiritual convictions, ethnic pride and political purposes.
Credit: Pracownik Katedry Historii Medycyny Collegium Medicum Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons.
Acute hair matting is most commonly seen in women with long curly hair, with longitudinal splitting and weathering of the hair, as this type of hair tends to mat easily.
Traditionally, it has been thought that people with ‘hysterical tendencies’ or poor mental health are more prone to acute hair matting.
The term ‘plica polonica’ came from the 19th century Polish tradition of wearing tight fur caps and not washing the hair. This contributed to a muddy, filthy and malodorous compact mass over the head, frequently associated with lice infection and boggy inflammation in the scalp. Another contributing factor was sweating, which moistened the hair enough to allow the head covering to serve as a frictional force that helped create the acute hair matting.
Acute hair matting may be due a combination of physical, chemical and behavioural factors. These include:
Acute hair matting presents with a stiff prominent and impenetrable mass of matted hair and, in many cases, is associated with a foul smell.
The main complication of acute hair matting is bacterial infection, especially impetigo.
Acute hair matting is diagnosed by its appearance. Trichoscopy may be used to detect small tufted knots, hair twisting, nits and lice infestations.
Some specific hair-styling habits, such as applying sticky substances over the hair or deliberate hair matting — dreadlocks — can be mistaken for acute hair matting.
The main differential diagnoses for acute hair matting are:
The treatment of acute hair matting is usually difficult.
Treatment involves the manual separation of the twisted hairs by using an organic solvent in the early stages of matting, or cutting out the matted hair. It may involve:
Prevention of acute hair matting includes proper hair care measures, such as:
Individuals whose long hair has a tendency to mat should refrain from piling their hair over the crown while washing and backcombing, and avoid rotatory rubbing of hair.
The prognosis of acute hair matting is good, especially if it is treated early.
