Toddler Born With Rare Hair Syndrome Is One Of Roughly 100 Confirmed Cases Worldwide

Aug 08, 2022 by apost team

A 17-month-old-baby has gone viral for her wild mane! Layla Davis has been diagnosed with Uncombable Hair Syndrome. According to RareDiseaes.info, Uncombable Hair syndrome is a rare disorder affecting the hair shafts. The disease is often characterized by the color and texture of the hair. Most people suffering from this rare disorder have wheat-colored blond or silvery-blond hair that sticks straight up and will not lay down flat.

In addition, their hair is often described as being coarse and dry. In an interview with USA Today, Dr. Luis Garza, a dermatology professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, explained that this condition is not dangerous, but instead, it's a genetic disease that directly affects how the hair grows from the scalp. "Normally, hair grows in a cylinder shape, and if you cut the bottom of it, you would see a circle," Garza told the outlet. "With this condition, when you cut it, it doesn't look like a circle but looks like a triangle with a funny groove in it." The different pattern in which the hair grows directly affects the person's ability to maintain it.  

According to Garza, Uncombable Hair Syndrome is so rare that less than 1 out of 1,000 people will have it. However, Layla is one of the 100 confirmed cases in the world with this rare disorder. In an interview with Daily Mail, Layla's mother, Charlotte Davis, explained how much of a relief it was to finally diagnose her daughter's condition and the fun nicknames her wild locks have inspired. 

Charlotte shared with the Daily Mail that her daughter Layla's hair started changing the older she got. 

"She was fluffy from when she was about one," The mother of two told the outlet. "And then after that it started growing more and more outwards."

Charlotte admitted that she was "in denial" originally and assumed that eventually, her daughter's hair "was going to go flat." Layla being diagnosed with Uncombable Hair Syndrome came as a relief to the devoted mother.

"I am really proud to get the diagnosis because it's so rare," Charlotte shared. "Part of the reason I delayed getting her tested for it is because there's only one hundred people with it in the world - the chances of having it are so slim."

Layla's wild tresses have earned her a couple of funny nicknames. Charlotte told the outlet that she often calls her daughter nicknames such as Boris Johnson and Albert Einstein.

Although Layla is only a toddler, Charlotte has noticed that the 17-month-old has begun noticing her hair more, mainly because people have started drawing attention to it. 

"I don't know if it's because other people ruffle and touch her hair, but she's started doing it herself," Charlotte explained.

"I have a little boy who is two and [he] has noticed his hair isn't the same," she continued. "And sometimes he will stroke his hair and then her hair."

As her daughter grows up and becomes more aware of her differences, Charlotte hopes that she learns how "awesome" her differences make her. "I don't think she realises how awesome it is," She said. "I just want her to grow up and know it is awesome even though she looks different to other people."

According to scientists, the condition may spontaneously go away by the time the child reaches adolescence. As it is such a rare syndrome, research is still ongoing as to the causes. 

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Have you heard of Uncombable Hair Syndrome before? Let us know, and be sure to pass this article along to family and friends who want to see this toddler's epic hairdo!