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MAJ Curt P. Samlaska, MC
USA Department of Dermatology Walter Reed Army Medical Center Washington, DC 20307-5001

Arch Dermatol. 1989;125(8):1144.

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In Reply.—

We wish to thank Dr Williams for her insightful comments. The study of trichoglyphics was established in animals with subsequent comparisons made with those patterns seen in human beings. This is best exemplified in the classic treatise by Kidd¹ comparing follicular patterns in apes and man. These comparative observations are the cornerstone of our current understanding of scalp pattern development in man. Descriptive names for diseases seen in human beings (ie, Michelin tire baby, blueberry muffin baby, and pine cone man) are well established in the medical literature. These descriptive names are a tremendous aid in remembering the various disorders as opposed to diseases named after principal investigators.

Dr Williams is correct, genetic contributions cannot be absolutely excluded. In addressing genetic contributions for scalp pattern development, a number of points need to be kept in mind. Mendelian inheritance patterns have been implicated in frontal hair patterns, but have . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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