Alopecia

Question 1

What are the two main divisions of alopecia?

Answer 1

scarring (destruction of hair follicle)

non-scarring (preservation of hair follicle)

Question 2

Give examples of scarring alopecia

Answer 2

trauma/burns
radiotherapy
lichen planus
discoid lupus
untreated tinea capitis

Question 3

give examples of Non-scarring alopecia

Answer 3

male-pattern baldness

drugs: cytotoxic drugs, carbimazole, heparin, oral contraceptive pill, colchicine

nutritional: iron and zinc deficiency

autoimmune: alopecia areata

telogen effluvium

hair loss following stress

trichotillomania

Question 4

What is alopecia areata and how is it characterised

Answer 4

autoimmune condition
- localised, well demarcated patches of hair loss
- at edge of hair loss, there may be small, broken ‘exclamation mark’ hairs

Question 5

What percentage of patient with alopecia areata will regrow their hair?

Answer 5

• 50% of patients by 1 year
• 80-90% eventually

Question 6

What treatments can be used for alopecia areata?

Answer 6

• topical or intralesional steroids
• topical minoxidil
• phototherapy
• dithranol
• contact immunotherapy
• wigs