Small cracks starting in the cuticle and splitting the hair entirely are known as brittle hair, fragilitis crinium or:

• A. Pityriasis
• B. Trichoptilosis
• C. Trichorrhexis nodosa
• D. Pityriasis steatoides

Answer: (B)

Cracks that begin in the cuticle and cause the hair to split into two or more parts describe split ends, the condition known scientifically as trichoptilosis. This happens when the outer protective layer of the hair (the cuticle) is damaged or dry, making the ends weak and prone to fraying and breaking. Overprocessing, heat styling, chemical treatments, and rough brushing all contribute to this kind of damage, which is why you often see the ends looking visibly split and fragile.

The other terms refer to different scalp or hair issues. Pityriasis describes scaly scalp conditions like dandruff; trichorrhexis nodosa refers to weak points along the hair shaft that form nodes and fracture in a different pattern; pityriasis steatoides is seborrheic dermatitis with oily scales on the scalp. None of these describe split ends the way trichoptilosis does.