Alopecias

The document from 2014 provided an extensive review of alopecia, focusing on the necessity for accurate differential diagnosis and detailing the primary types of non-scarring and scarring alopecias, including androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, lichen planopilaris, and discoid lupus erythematosus. It explored the mechanisms behind these conditions, as well as their diagnosis and treatment options. Non-scarring alopecias were noted as reversible, while scarring alopecias lead to permanent hair loss due to follicle damage. The paper also explained the hair growth cycle phases— anagen, catagen, telogen, as well as exogen and kenogen—and discussed the clinical classification and causes of alopecia, which range from congenital issues to autoimmune factors in the case of alopecia areata.