Alopecia areata (AA) is a T-cell mediated autoimmune disorder in which inflammatory cells attack the hair follicle, resulting in round, well-circumscribed patches of noncicatricial hair loss in normal appearing skin. AA affecting the beard area is well known and is referred to as AA of the beard (BAA) or AA barbae when involvement is limited exclusively to the beard. BAA has been documented in a select number of studies. We review the literature and discuss the clinical features, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of BAA. Clinical presentation of BAA can vary and manifest as single small areas of hair loss, multiple small or large simultaneous focuses, or total hair loss. Most patients are middle-aged males with focal patches of round or oval hair loss, mostly localized along the jawline. Patches are characteristically well circumscribed and smooth with white hair present at the periphery. Dermoscopic features of BAA include yellow dots, broken hair, and short vellus hairs. BAA may be associated with other autoimmune disorders, including atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and psoriasis. Many treatment modalities are available for BAA, and selection of a therapy depends on several factors, including disease activity, extent of area affected, duration of disease, and age of the patient. Topical corticosteroids are most commonly used as initial treatment, followed by intralesional steroids. Other therapeutic modalities are discussed.
Female patients with FFA are significantly more likely to have SLE. Patients with LPP (including CLPP and the FFA subtype) are less likely to have diabetes. Patients with CLPP excluding FFA are less likely to have hypertension, heart disease, and hypothyroidism.
Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp (EPDS) is a rare inflammatory skin disease that occurs mainly in elderly adults with a history of trauma to the scalp, but a few cases of EPDS in children have been reported. We report a rare case of EPDS after aplasia cutis congenita in a child.
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