Alopecia atreata

Question 1

What is alopecia

Answer 1

Autoimmune disease with inflammatory cells targeting the hair follicles, preventing hair growth

Question 2

What are types of alopecia?

Answer 2

Totalis = whole scalp hair loss
Universalis = whole body hair loss

Question 3

What is presentation of alopecia

Answer 3

Isolated patches of hair loss, well defined
Exclamation mark hairs
Sudden onset
Itching

May have autoimmune history and preceding stressful event

Question 4

What are DDx for alopecia?

Answer 4

Non-scarring hair loss e.g. telogen effluvium
Scarring hair loss e.g discoid cutaneous lupus, folliculitis, lichen planus, fungal infection

Drug induced e.g. chemo

Vitamin deficiencies

Trichotillomania

Question 5

How is alopecia diagnosed?

Answer 5

Clinical diagnosis

hair pull test, exclamation mark hairs

Can also do skin biopsy, dermoscopy, autoimmune bloods, fungal microscopy