TLDR Alopecia Areata Incognita causes widespread hair thinning, and treatment with systemic corticosteroids and psychiatric support can lead to remission.
The letter by Alfredo Rebora discusses Alopecia Areata Incognita (AAI), a condition that mimics severe telogen effluvium with a positive pull test and can affect facial hair, leading to diffuse hair thinning and occasionally small bald areas. Rebora, who first described AAI, notes that the modified wash test can yield 350 to 800 terminal telogen hairs, with a small percentage of dystrophic hairs. AAI is distressing, with one patient attempting suicide, and while local corticosteroid treatment was ineffective, systemic corticosteroids combined with psychiatric support led to remission. Rebora emphasizes the need for refined diagnostic criteria and treatment for AAI.
31 citations,
October 2010 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Some people with heavy hair shedding might actually have a hidden form of alopecia, which can be identified by specific hair changes.
19 citations,
December 2008 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” The authors suggest that a new type of hair loss exists, which is different from alopecia areata.
150 citations,
April 2008 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Scalp dermoscopy is good for diagnosing a type of hair loss and helps choose the best spots for biopsy.
63 citations,
October 2005 in “Archives of Dermatology” Shorter, thinner hairs indicate AGA, while longer, thicker hairs suggest CTE; counting and measuring shed hairs helps diagnose hair loss type.
60 citations,
January 1987 in “Dermatology” Alopecia areata may appear differently depending on the individual's type of hair loss and scalp condition.
1 citations,
January 2022 in “Dermatology Reports” Many people with hair loss, especially those with telogen effluvium and alopecia areata, often have a sensitive scalp.
April 2019 in “International journal of research in dermatology” A child with rough nails also had hair loss and allergies.
19 citations,
December 2008 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” The authors suggest that a new type of hair loss exists, which is different from alopecia areata.
