38. hair loss

Question 1

differentials for hair loss

Answer 1

Male pattern baldness
Alopecia areata
Effects of chemotherapy and radiation
Systemic causes (e.g. thyroid disorders, SLE)
Trichotillomania

Question 2

what is alopecia

Answer 2

presumed autoimmune condition causing localised, well demarcated patches of hair loss.

Question 3

o/e alopecia

Answer 3

well demarcated patches of hair loss. At the edge of the hair loss, there may be small, broken ‘exclamation mark’ hairs

Question 4

prognosis alopecia

Answer 4

Hair will regrow in 50% of patients by 1 year, and in 80-90% eventually.

Question 5

treatment options alopecia

Answer 5

topical or intralesional corticosteroids
topical minoxidil
phototherapy
dithranol
contact immunotherapy
wigs

Question 6

what is trichotillomania

Answer 6

compulsive pulling out of hair