Alopecia: A Pathologist's View

In the 1982 review, the author George Joannides provides an in-depth analysis of alopecia from a pathologist's perspective, detailing the hair growth cycle, causes of hair loss, and diagnostic methods. The review explains that hair follicles undergo anagen, catagen, and telogen phases, and alopecia can result from various mechanisms such as follicle destruction, increased telogen induction, and anagen hair breakage. It emphasizes the importance of proper biopsy techniques, including the use of larger specimens and correct orientation during embedding, to accurately diagnose different forms of alopecia. The paper categorizes alopecia into congenital, scarring, and non-scarring types, and describes histologic findings for each. It also discusses alopecia areata, noting its association with autoimmune diseases and defective T-cell function, and anagen defluvium, which involves the loss of defective anagen hairs. Additionally, the document touches on seborrhoeic warts, benign skin lesions unrelated to seborrhoea, common in individuals over 40, and provides guidance on their treatment.