Alopecia

Question 1

What is alopecia?

Answer 1

Hair loss from part of the head or body.

Question 2

What are the two broad categories of alopecia?

Answer 2

Scarring (Cicatricial) and Non-scarring (Non-Cicatricial).

Question 3

What are the main causes of alopecia?

Answer 3

Pattern hair loss, infections, drugs, trauma, telogen effluvium, autoimmune disorders.

Question 4

What hormone is associated with male pattern baldness?

Answer 4

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Question 5

What are some possible causes of female pattern hair loss?

Answer 5

The exact cause is unclear, but hormonal and genetic factors may play a role.

Question 6

What infection can cause alopecia?

Answer 6

Tinea capitis (fungal infection), dissecting cellulitis, secondary syphilis.

Question 7

What is folliculitis and how does it relate to alopecia?

Answer 7

Inflammation of hair follicles; e.g., Demodex folliculitis can cause hair loss.

Question 8

What are some medications that can cause hair loss?

Answer 8

Beta blockers, statins, metformin, steroids, chemotherapy drugs, anticonvulsants.

Question 9

What type of trauma can lead to alopecia?

Answer 9

Traction alopecia (tight hairstyles), frictional alopecia (rubbing), trichotillomania (hair pulling).

Question 10

What is telogen effluvium?

Answer 10

A condition where a large number of hairs enter the resting phase, causing excessive shedding.

Question 11

How does pregnancy affect hair loss?

Answer 11

Postpartum hair loss occurs due to a drop in estrogen levels, especially around the hairline and temples.

Question 12

What is Clomiphene and its effect on hair?

Answer 12

A fertility drug that can cause hair loss similar to postpartum shedding.

Question 13

What is alopecia areata?

Answer 13

An autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss.

Question 14

What are the three main types of alopecia areata?

Answer 14

Alopecia areata monolocularis (one location), totalis (entire scalp), universalis (entire body).

Question 15

What is scarring alopecia?

Answer 15

Alopecia with permanent hair loss due to hair follicle destruction and scarring.

Question 16

What systemic conditions are associated with hair loss?

Answer 16

Iron deficiency, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, malnutrition, liver disease.

Question 17

At what age does pattern hair loss commonly occur?

Answer 17

50% of men and 25% of women by age 50.

Question 18

What are the clinical features of alopecia areata?

Answer 18

Well-defined, non-inflammatory, non-scarring hair loss patches, often on the scalp.

Question 19

What are exclamation mark hairs?

Answer 19

Short broken hairs tapering towards the scalp, seen in alopecia areata.

Question 20

What is the prognosis of alopecia areata?

Answer 20

Small patches usually regrow, but larger patches or early onset have a worse prognosis.

Question 21

What autoimmune diseases are associated with alopecia areata?

Answer 21

Thyroid disease, Down syndrome.

Question 22

What is the typical pattern of male androgenetic alopecia?

Answer 22

Bitemporal recession followed by crown involvement.

Question 23

What is the typical pattern of female androgenetic alopecia?

Answer 23

Often diffuse thinning rather than distinct bald spots.

Question 24

What are some basic investigations for alopecia?

Answer 24

FBC, iron studies, thyroid function tests, syphilis serology, autoantibody screen.

Question 25

What is the hair pull test used for?

Answer 25

Assessing the anagen to telogen hair ratio in hair loss conditions.

Question 26

What tests are useful for diagnosing fungal causes of hair loss?

Answer 26

Scalp scrapings and plucking for mycology.

Question 27

When is a scalp biopsy indicated for hair loss?

Answer 27

In suspected scarring alopecia or unclear cases.

Question 28

What is the main goal of alopecia treatment?

Answer 28

Address the underlying cause and manage symptoms.

Question 29

What are some psychological interventions for alopecia?

Answer 29

Counseling and setting realistic expectations for treatment.

Question 30

How is alopecia areata treated?

Answer 30

Topical or intralesional corticosteroids.

Question 31

What is the first-line treatment for male pattern baldness?

Answer 31

Finasteride (oral) and minoxidil (topical).

Question 32

What treatment options are available for female pattern hair loss?

Answer 32

Minoxidil (topical), antiandrogens (e.g., cyproterone acetate).

Question 33

What non-medical options exist for alopecia management?

Answer 33

Wigs, hair transplants, scalp surgery.

Question 34

What is traction alopecia and how can it be prevented?

Answer 34

Hair loss from tight hairstyles; prevention involves avoiding excessive tension.

Question 35

Which medications can cause permanent hair loss?

Answer 35

Some chemotherapy drugs, anabolic steroids.

Question 36

What lifestyle modifications can help with hair loss?

Answer 36

Balanced diet, stress management, avoiding harsh hair treatments.

Question 37

What is frictional alopecia?

Answer 37

Hair loss due to repeated rubbing, e.g., from tight socks or headgear.

Question 38

What is the difference between cicatricial and non-cicatricial alopecia?

Answer 38

Cicatricial results in permanent scarring; non-cicatricial does not.

Question 39

How does iron deficiency contribute to hair loss?

Answer 39

It disrupts hair growth cycles, leading to shedding and thinning.

Question 40

What is the relationship between thyroid disorders and hair loss?

Answer 40

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause diffuse hair thinning.

Question 41

What is minoxidil and how does it work?

Answer 41

A topical treatment that prolongs the anagen phase and increases hair growth.

Question 42

What is finasteride and its mechanism of action?

Answer 42

A 5-alpha reductase inhibitor that reduces DHT levels to slow hair loss.

Question 43

Why is finasteride not commonly used in women?

Answer 43

It can cause hormonal side effects and is not FDA-approved for female hair loss.

Question 44

What is the role of corticosteroids in alopecia treatment?

Answer 44

They reduce inflammation in autoimmune hair loss like alopecia areata.

Question 45

What are some signs of alopecia areata progression?

Answer 45

Patchy hair loss expanding over time, nail pitting.

Question 46

What is the primary autoimmune mechanism behind alopecia areata?

Answer 46

T-cell-mediated attack on hair follicles.

Question 47

What are dermoscopic findings in alopecia areata?

Answer 47

Yellow dots, black dots, and exclamation mark hairs.

Question 48

Can alopecia areata spontaneously resolve?

Answer 48

Yes, small patches often regrow without treatment.

Question 49

How does chemotherapy cause hair loss?

Answer 49

It targets rapidly dividing cells, including hair follicle cells.

Question 50

What is radiation-induced alopecia?

Answer 50

Hair loss following radiotherapy to the scalp.

Question 51

What is the primary goal of scalp surgery for alopecia?

Answer 51

Hair restoration through transplants or scalp reduction.

Question 52

What role do antiandrogens play in female pattern hair loss?

Answer 52

They reduce androgen effects on hair follicles.

Question 53

What are some dietary recommendations for hair loss?

Answer 53

Iron-rich foods, adequate protein intake, omega-3 fatty acids.

Question 54

What is the difference between hirsutism and hypertrichosis?

Answer 54

Hirsutism is male-pattern hair growth in women; hypertrichosis is excessive hair growth not following male patterns.

Question 55

What is the most common cause of male pattern baldness?

Answer 55

Genetic predisposition and DHT effects on hair follicles.