TLDR Trichoscopy helps correctly diagnose alopecia areata, not syphilitic alopecia, in patients with recent syphilis.
A 17-year-old male treated for secondary syphilis developed patchy scalp alopecia, initially suspected to be syphilitic alopecia (SA). However, trichoscopy indicated alopecia areata (AA) due to findings like exclamation mark hairs and black dots, without signs of SA. After six weeks of topical clobetasol treatment, significant hair regrowth was observed. This case emphasizes the importance of trichoscopy in distinguishing AA from SA, preventing misdiagnosis, and avoiding anchoring bias, especially in patients with recent syphilis.
1 citations
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August 2023 in “Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology” Exclamation mark hairs help distinguish syphilitic alopecia from alopecia areata.
29 citations
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January 2017 in “Skin appendage disorders” Hair loss due to syphilis can be identified using trichoscopy and is treatable with antibiotics.
13 citations
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June 2013 in “Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas” Syphilitic alopecia, linked to syphilis and high-risk sexual behavior, improves with penicillin treatment.
109 citations
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May 2011 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss that can lead to complete baldness, often associated with other autoimmune conditions, and half of the cases may see hair return within a year.
1 citations
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July 2023 in “Journal of Clinical Medicine” Different causes of beard hair loss have various treatments, including medications, lifestyle changes, and procedures to stimulate hair growth.
7 citations
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July 2019 in “Clinics in Dermatology” Hair loss can indicate or worsen with systemic diseases, and treating the underlying condition is important.
April 2012 in “Informa Healthcare eBooks” Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune condition causing varying hair loss, diagnosed by specific patterns of inflammation around hair follicles, with several treatment options available.
8 citations
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January 2020 in “Plastic and Aesthetic Nursing” The article concludes that different types of hair loss require specific treatments and psychological support is important.
September 2024 in “Archiv Euromedica” Trichoscopy is a quick, accurate, and non-invasive method to diagnose and treat non-scarring hair loss.
