Alopecia in Lupus: Experience from a Tertiary Referral Centre

The study from North Bengal Medical College and Hospital involved 50 lupus patients and found that 80% suffered from alopecia. The most common type was telogen effluvium (40%), followed by 'lupus hair' (20%), scarring alopecia with discoid lesions (14%), and alopecia areata (10%). There were no instances of alopecia totalis. 'Lupus hair' correlated with higher disease activity, and 30% of participants reported a decline in quality of life due to the recurring nature and scarring of alopecia. The research concluded that although alopecia in lupus patients is not fatal, it has a significant negative impact on their psychosocial health.