Alopecia Areata and Habit Tic Deformities

The document described two cases of patients with alopecia areata (AA) who also exhibited habit tic nail deformities, a self-induced nail dystrophy caused by repetitive trauma. Both patients linked their nail manipulation behaviors to the psychological stress from their hair loss. The study highlighted that nail abnormalities are common in AA patients, affecting up to 66%, and emphasized the importance of recognizing the psychological impact of AA, which can manifest as anxious habits like nail trauma. The authors suggested that addressing the underlying psychological stress and AA might help alleviate the habit tic deformity.