Clinical Recognition and Management of Alopecia in Women of Color

The 2019 document "Clinical recognition and management of alopecia in women of color" discussed the unique challenges in diagnosing and treating hair loss in women of color, particularly African-American individuals. It noted that these women often have different hair care practices and structural differences in hair follicles, leading to specific types of hair loss like traction alopecia and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia. The document also highlighted conditions such as lichen planopilaris, frontal fibrosing alopecia, and discoid lupus erythematosus, which are more common in this group. It emphasized the importance of recognizing these alopecic subtypes for prompt diagnosis and treatment, and the significant psychological impact of hair loss on these women. Management strategies often involved the use of topical steroids, oral corticosteroids, and other medications.