Hair & Nails

Question 1

What are the two types of hair follicles

Answer 1

Terminal (larger, thicker hairs)
Vellus (short fine hairs)

Question 2

What happens to some vellus hairs through puberty?

Answer 2

they become terminal hairs (ex: in the anxillae)

Question 3

What condition is characterized by a transition from terminal to vellus hairs

Answer 3

androgenic alopecia (thick hairs turn fine)

Question 4

What condition is characterized by a transition from vellus to terminal hairs

Answer 4

Hirsutism (fine hairs turn thick)

Question 5

What happens in the anagen phase

Answer 5

hair is growing

Question 6

What happens in the catagen phase

Answer 6

hair is transitioning to telegen

Question 7

What happens in the telegen phase

Answer 7

hair is resting

Question 8

What happens in the exogen phase

Answer 8

hairs are shedding

Question 9

What are the 3 “buckets” of hair loss

Answer 9

Scarring alopecia (cicatricial), nonscarring alopecia, structural acquired disorders

Question 10

Cicatricial (scarring) alopecias are characterized by _______ and result in (permanent/temporary) hair loss

Answer 10

inflammation, permanent

DDx: tinia capitis

Question 11

What to look for if you suspect cicatricial alopecia

Answer 11

-erythema, plaques/pustules/scaling, lesions, scarring
-may be smooth/shiny
-may be burning, itchy, painful

Question 12

What is this condition

Answer 12

cicatricial alopecia

Question 13

What patterns are present in non-scarring alopecias

Answer 13

focal hair loss (patches)
patterned hair loss
diffuse loss

Question 14

What is this condition

Answer 14

androgenic alopecia

Question 15

What is the #1 cause of hair loss in adults

Answer 15

androgenic alopecia

Question 16

What are the characteristics of androgenic alopecia

Answer 16

• hair grows thinner/finer/shorter
• terminal follicles transform to vellus-like follicles
• slow progression
• paternal inheritance

Question 17

What is this condition

Answer 17

female pattern hair loss (androgenic)

Question 18

What are the red flags of androgenic alopecia

Answer 18

• folliculitis
• excoriations
• erythematous, scaly scalp

Female specific
- hirsutism
- acne
- obesity
- menstrual abnormalities

Question 19

What is the hair pull test

Answer 19

grasping of 50-60 hairs close to the skin surface and tugging (repeat in several areas)

Positive test if more than 6 hairs easily extracted

Question 20

Is the hair pull test usually negative or positive in androgenic alopecia

Answer 20

Usually negative

Question 21

What is this condition

Answer 21

hypertrichosis (can be a side effect of Minoxidil - Rogaine)

Question 22

What is this condition

Answer 22

traction alopecia

Question 23

What is this condition

Answer 23

alopecia areata

Question 24

What is this condition

Answer 24

alopecia areata totalis (whole head involved)

Question 25

What is this condition

Answer 25

Alopecia areata universalis

Question 26

Characteristics of alopecia areata

Answer 26

• autoimmune
• inflammatory cells target follicles
• nonscarring
• # 1 cause of hair loss in kids
• can come and go
• associated with other autoimmune diseases and stress
• hair pull test POSITIVE

Question 27

What are these “exclamation point hairs” associated with

Answer 27

alopecia areata

Question 28

Normal hair loss per day

Answer 28

100-200

Question 29

Telogen Effluvium characteristics

Answer 29

• sudden diffuse shedding from abnormal shift in hair cycle
• loss of hair at the root, not follicle
• positive hair pull test
• triggered by something in the past 2-4 months and often resolves within a year

Question 30

What is this condition

Answer 30

telogen effluvium

Question 31

what is this condition

Answer 31

subungual hematoma

Question 32

What is this procedure and what does it treat

Answer 32

procedure: trephination
indication: subungual hematoma

Question 33

What is this condition

Answer 33

green nail syndrome (aka Chloronychia)

Question 34

What is the medical term for split ends

Answer 34

trichoptilosis