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Living with Pure hair and nail ectodermal dysplasia

A rare inherited condition with very sparse hair and abnormal nails, present from birth or infancy.

Understanding Pure hair and nail ectodermal dysplasia

Pure hair and nail ectodermal dysplasia is a rare inherited condition with abnormal nails and severe thin hair.

Hair loss is mainly on the scalp, but eyelashes and eyebrows may also be affected. GARD lists onset in the newborn or infant period.

Signs & symptoms

GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition yet. The summary describes these features:

  • Abnormal nails (onychodystrophy)
  • Severely thin hair (hypotrichosis), mainly on the scalp
  • Sparse eyelashes and eyebrows in some people

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.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Genetic specialists (geneticists); Skin, hair, and nail specialists (dermatologists)
Expert care
Expert lists: National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias
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 National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias and other patient organizations
  • 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
Is genetic testing available to find the cause?
How should hair and nail care be handled?
Should I see a skin doctor (dermatologist)?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn and as an Infant
InheritanceAutosomal Dominant, Autosomal Recessive

GARD says gene changes cause this condition. It lists autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive inheritance, and says the summary describes autosomal dominant transmission.

GeneticSkin

Also known as: hair-nail ectodermal dysplasia; hned; phned

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Pure hair and nail ectodermal dysplasiaGARD ID 16680 · 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 Pure hair and nail ectodermal dysplasia.

Explore the Pure hair and nail ectodermal dysplasia blog

Explore research for Pure hair and nail ectodermal dysplasia

Explore actively recruiting Pure hair and nail ectodermal dysplasia studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Pure hair and nail ectodermal dysplasia 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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