Hair and Nails Flashcards
what is effluvium (defluvium)?
loss of hair
what is alopecia?
condition resulting from effluvium
what are the 2 forms of alopecia?
cicatricial- scaring, evidence of tissue destruction and inflammation
non-cicatricial- non-scaring and no tissue destruction
Etiology of scaring alopecia?
it is secondary to damage or destruction of the hair follicle by inflammation, infectious, non-infectious, and other pathologic processes (neoplasms, physical or chemical agents, dermatoses)
How do you diagnose scaring alopecia?
skin biopsy and fungal culture
How do you manage scaring alopecia?
it is permanent once the scaring occurs, but if the dx is made early in the inflammation stage the scaring mat be prevented
What are the types of diffuse non-scaring alopecia?
Androgenetic telogen effluvium anagen effluvium endocrinopathies secondary to systemic disease
what are the types of patchy alopecia?
Alopecia Areata
Trichotillomania
secondary to syphilis
Hx of non-scaring alopecia?
current or recent illness, weight loss, recent childbirth, drug injestion, hair dressing procedures, family history of baldness
Lab tests for alopecia?
CBC, ferritin, serum iron, TIBC, VDRL,RPR, thyroid panel, microscopic exam of hair and fungal culture, ANA, hormone studies for androgen axcess
what is androgenic alopecia (AGA)?
male pattern baldness and the most common cause of non-scaring alopecia, more common after menopause in women because estrogen is protective
etiology of AGA?
genetic predisposition and action of the androgen on the hair follicle (eventually the follicle atrophies completely)
distribution in males?
receding anterior hairline, M-shaped recession, bald spot occurs on posterior crown (spares the sides)- happens after puberty
female distrobution?
general thinning of the crown
how do you diagnose AGA?
by H and P, pattern of alopecia and family incidence of AGA. in females check the ROS for androgen excess (acne, hirsutism)
Is the course more gradual or acute?
gradual over years to decade
How do you manege AGA?
no effective therapy topical minoxidil antiandrogens wigs hair transplantation preopecia- stops androgen to work on hair follicle and so it stops the loss
what is telogen effluvium?
transient increased shedding of normal club hair (telogen) from resting scalp follicles secondary to increased shift of anagen hairs into catagen and tologen. causes increased daily hair loss and thinning
etiology and patho of TE?
factor the affect follicle growth- pregancy, surgery, traumatic injury, significant weight loss, fever
precipitating event precedes hair loss 6-16 weeks
* 3 mo post partum, you loose a ton of hair
how do you diagnose TE?
history, clinical finding, trichogram
what is the distribution of TE?
diffuse
prognosis of TE and how do you treat it?
complete re-growth in 4-6 months (may take up to 1 year)
reassurance! (no tx)
what it trichotillomania?
self induced hair loss
females > males
primarily in children
etiology of tricho?
habit tic, child fiddles, and twists hair, which causes it to fall out and break off
in adults it is associated with depression or phychosis