Common causes of hair loss – clinical manifestations, trichoscopy and therapy

Abstract

The field of hair disorders is constantly growing. The most important hair diseases are divided in non‐ cicatricial and cicatricial ones. Non‐cicatricial alopecia are more frequent than cicatricial alopecia. The first step is to obtain a good history and physical examination. Laboratory testing is often unnecessary, while trichoscopy is fundamental for all hair diseases. Scalp biopsy is strongly suggested in cicatricial alopecia and in doubtful cases. Androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, trichotillomania are common causes of non‐ cicatricial alopecia. Frontal fibrosing alopecia, discoid lupus erythematosus, lichen planopilaris, follicullitis decalvans are some of the most common forms of cicatricial hair loss. Many treatments are available, and a prompt diagnosis is very important for the prognosis.

Alopecia areata – Aktuelles Verständnis und Management

“…Die diffuse AA ist durch diffusen Haarausfall gekennzeichnet und tritt häufiger bei Frauen zwischen 20 und 40 Jahren auf [32,33]. Einige Autoren vertreten die Auffassung, dass es sich bei DAA und AAI um zwei verschiedene Entitäten handelt [34,35]. Andere atypische Haarwuchstypen wie konzentrischer oder targetoider Haarwuchs sind zwar sehr selten, aber in Einzelfällen berichtet worden [36].…”

Pigtail hairs in syphilitic alopecia

“…10,11 Exclamation mark hairs (pathognomonic of AA) were not observed, and the different size hairs of the patient contrast with hairs broken at the same level in AA. 6,11 (a) (b) Trichoscopy is a useful tool for the diagnosis of hair disorders. With this report, we add pigtail hairs to the list of hair abnormalities previously described in SA.…”

Alopecia areata – Current understanding and management

“…Diffuse AA is characterized by diffuse hair loss and is more common in women between 20 to 40 years [32,33]. Some authors suggested DAA and AAI to be two separate entities [34,35]. Though very rare, other atypical hair regrowth patterns such as concentric or targetoid regrowth have been reported as isolated cases [36].…”