Hair Conditions Flashcards
what are lanugo hairs
fine long hairs covering the foetus
- shed one month before birth
what are vellus hairs
fine, short hair covering lot of the body surface
- replace lanugo hairs before birth
what are terminal hairs
long, coarse hairs e.g. scalp and pubic area
what influences the growth of terminal hairs
androgen levels
what is anagen in the hair cycle
growing phase
what is catagen in the hair cycle
transitional phase
what is telogen in the hair cycle
resting phase
what part of hair cycle are the majority of hairs in
anagen
- approx 85-90% of hairs
what is telogen effluvium
diffuse hair loss as a result of stressful event (e.g. pregnancy) /severe illness
stress puts all hairs into the telogen phase (shedding) at same time
will the hair recover in telogen effluvium?
yes - hair will fully recover and normal hair cycle will resume within few months
what is alopecia areata
autoimmune hair loss - T cell destruction of hair follicles
presentation of alopecia areata
sudden patchy hair loss
broken exclamation mark hairs are seen in what condition
alopecia areata
treatment alopecia areata <50% hair loss
intradermal corticosteroid injections e.g. triamcinolone
- topical fluocinonide in kids
treatment alopecia areata >50% hair loss
topical immunotherapy e.g DPCP - causes contact allergic response to displace the autoimmune process causing the hair loss
what is androgenic alopecia
male pattern baldness - frontal receding + thinning of hair
treatment of androgenic alopecia
topical minoxidil
- vasodilator
what is hirsutism
male pattern of hair growth seen in females
- increased androgen levels
causes of hirsutism
familial adrenal hyperplasia / tumour PCOS hyperprolactinaemia glucocorticoids
hormone profile investigation for hirsutism
testosterone
DHEA - most abundant circulating steroid
SHBG - free androgen index
LH, FSH
what is trichotillomania
disorder where you pull out own hair
scaly itchy red patch of hair loss
likely to be?
tinea capitis
investigation for tinea wapitis
skin scraping
treatment tinea capitis
oral anti fungal - griseofulvin
