Hair & pigment Flashcards
- hirsutism - hair loss - alopecia
what is melasma
symmetrical blotchy brownish facial pigmentation which occurs due to overproduction of the melanocytes in this area
known triggers for melasma
- sun exposure
- pregnancy (fades few months after delivery)
- hormone treatments (COCP, HRT)
- certain medications
- hypothyroidism
how might you work out the depth of the melasma lesion
Wood lamp which emits UVA1
management of melasma
- treat the associated irritant contact dermatitis
- life-long year round SPF 50
- Topical therapy e.g hydroquinone can prevent new pigment formation
- topical corticosteroids- can help to fade the pigment
what are the different classifications of vitiligo
nonsegmental, segmental, mixed and unclassified
clinical features of non segmental vitiligo
- symmetrical
- bilateral
- common sites are exposed areas e.g. face, neck, fingers
management of vitiligo
assess severity using clinical photographs
minimise skin injury (koebner phenomenon)
sun protection
topical therapies- corticosteroids 3/12 for trunk and limbs and tacrolimus/pimecrolimus for face
phototherapy twice weekly for 3/4 months (max 2 yrs)
systemic therapy: pulses of oral corticosteroids (3-6/12)
what is telogen effulivum
hair loss/shedding after acute physiological upset i.e illness, pregnancy- hair will continue to grow
in a women with hair loss what are the 4 systems you must consider/ask about
- endocrine- cushings. thyroid disease, PCOS
- Fe deficiency- menstruation, dietary (other causes)
- post-menopausal
- idiopathic/familial traits
what is the progression in symptoms of alopecia areata
- lose darker hairs first leaving zones of white hairs
- lose white hairs
- regular follicular openings with exclamation mark hairs
what are the three main groups of alopecia areata
- Patchy alopecia
- totalis (entire head)
- universalis (scalp and all other body hair)
3 causes of scarring alopecia
- discoid lupus
- lichen plano pilaris
- fungal infection
