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Living with Pili annulati

A hair condition in which hair has light and dark bands, which may make it break more easily.

Understanding Pili annulati

Pili annulati, also called ringed hair disease, is a hair condition in which hair has a pattern of light and dark bands.

People may describe their hair as "striped" or as having silvery beads. It usually affects 20 to 80 percent of scalp hair but can affect facial and body hair too. Affected hair may break more easily. It is harder to see in people with dark hair. It often begins in childhood.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Hair with light and dark bands
  • Fine hair
  • Hair that breaks easily

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include genetic specialists and skin, hair, and nail specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Care & treatment

Care team
Genetic specialists (geneticists); Skin, hair, and nail specialists (dermatologists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Children's Skin Disease Foundation
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
How is ringed hair confirmed, and is a hair exam needed?
What hair care can help reduce breakage?
Could other family members have it too?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startChild
InheritanceAutosomal Dominant

GARD says changes in genes cause this condition but doesn't name a gene. It runs in some families in an autosomal dominant pattern, and some cases occur with no family history.

GeneticSkin

Also known as: ringed hair; ringed hair disease

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Pili annulatiGARD ID 4359 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Pili annulati.

Explore the Pili annulati blog

Explore research for Pili annulati

Explore actively recruiting Pili annulati studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Pili annulati with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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