Biphasic Alopecia

April 2021 in “ Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie - FMC ”

P. Assouly, C. Lacoste, B. Cavelier‐Balloy

biphasic alopecia scarring alopecia traumatic alopecia hair pulling inflammation folliculitis dermatoscopy hair follicles hair regrowth hair loss scarring hair loss traction alopecia hair inflammation hair follicle inflammation hair examination hair roots hair growth

Studysummary This review discusses biphasic alopecia, where non-scarring forms like traction alopecia and androgenetic alopecia may progress to follicle destruction, emphasizing the role of chronic inflammation and the importance of clinician-pathologist collaboration, but provides no new clinical results.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The document discusses biphasic alopecia, a type of hair loss that can become scarring over time. It mentions that traumatic alopecia can occur due to hair pulling from ponytails, buns, braids, etc., causing pain, inflammation, and folliculitis. Dermatoscopy of biphasic alopecia does not present any specific characteristics, but a progressive disappearance of hair follicles is noted, similar to all scarring alopecia. The document emphasizes the importance of a good relationship between clinicians and pathologists in the field of biphasic alopecia. It also states that the chances of hair regrowth in biphasic alopecia are compromised due to its scarring nature. In some cases, it might be possible to halt the progression, especially in traumatic alopecia. The document concludes by stating that the biphasic evolution of alopecia is common and poorly defined, with some alopecia quickly becoming scarring, some never, and some becoming so over time.

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Research cited in this study

17 / 17 results

research Variant PADI3 in Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

95 citations , February 2019 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

This article discusses the potential genetic basis of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia in women of African ancestry but does not provide new research results.

research Elastic Staining in Differentiating Between Follicular Streamers and Follicular Scars in Horizontal Scalp Biopsy Sections

11 citations , August 2017 in “American Journal of Dermatopathology”

This study found that the Elastic Verhoeff–Van Gieson stain may help differentiate between follicular streamers and scars in cicatricial and noncicatricial alopecias by highlighting differences in the elastic fiber network on horizontal scalp biopsy sections.

research Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata and Variants in Adolescents

139 citations , November 2016 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

In this retrospective review, tofacitinib treatment was associated with clinically significant hair regrowth in most adolescent patients with alopecia areata, though limitations suggest further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

research Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata and Variants: A Study of 90 Patients

238 citations , November 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In this study, tofacitinib was reported to improve scalp hair regrowth in patients with severe alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, and alopecia universalis, showing a higher response in alopecia areata.

research Primary Scalp Alopecia: New Histopathological Tools, New Concepts, and a Practical Guide to Diagnosis

14 citations , September 2016 in “Journal of Cutaneous Pathology”

This review discusses the classification and diagnosis of primary scalp alopecia, focusing on scarring and non-scarring types, and reports no new clinical results; it emphasizes simplified diagnostic pathways and tissue processing techniques.

research Safety and Efficacy of the JAK Inhibitor Tofacitinib Citrate in Patients with Alopecia Areata

222 citations , September 2016 in “JCI insight”

This research overview highlights that although JAK inhibitors show promise as potential treatments for alopecia areata based on recent insights into the disease mechanism, their efficacy has not yet been thoroughly evaluated in a systematic manner.

research Dermatological Adverse Events with Taxane Chemotherapy

141 citations , September 2016 in “European Journal of Dermatology”

This review examines dermatological side effects of taxane chemotherapy reported in past studies and highlights the necessity for identifying and managing these conditions to maintain cancer patients' quality of life; it presents no new clinical results.

research Factors Affecting the Severity of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

29 citations , January 2016 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

This study reports that the duration of hair loss is positively associated with the severity of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia in African-American women.

research Cicatricial (Scarring) Alopecias: Comprehensive Review and Management

44 citations , April 2012 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology”

Scarring alopecias are complex hair loss disorders that require early treatment to prevent permanent hair loss.

research Polarized Microscopy as a Helpful Tool to Distinguish Chronic Nonscarring Alopecia From Scarring Alopecia

11 citations , January 2012 in “Archives of Dermatology”

Polarized microscopy is a quick and free method to correctly identify types of hair loss.

research The HoVert Technique: A Novel Method for the Sectioning of Alopecia Biopsies

44 citations , January 2011 in “Journal of Cutaneous Pathology”

This study introduces the "HoVert" technique, which generates both vertical and horizontal sections from a single biopsy to effectively differentiate lichen planopilaris from discoid lupus erythematosus in alopecia cases.

Involvement of the Bulge Region with Decreased Expression of Hair Follicle Stem Cell Markers in Senile Female Cases of Alopecia Areata

research Involvement of the Bulge Region with Decreased Expression of Hair Follicle Stem Cell Markers in Senile Female Cases of Alopecia Areata

20 citations , December 2010 in “JEADV. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology/Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This study found that selective downregulation of CD200 in the bulge area might contribute to unusual bulge involvement in a subset of alopecia areata cases.

research Histopathology of Alopecia: A Clinicopathological Approach to Diagnosis

170 citations , December 2009 in “Histopathology”

This review discusses the histopathological diagnosis of scarring and non-scarring alopecias, emphasizing the importance of adequate tissue sampling and clinical information; it reports no new empirical results.

research Cicatricial Marginal Alopecia: Is It All Traction?

27 citations , September 2008 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

This study describes patients with moderate to severe scarring alopecia of the scalp margin and suggests that traction is not the sole cause for this condition, as half of the patients had no history of harsh hairstyling practices.

Follicular Streamers (Stelae) in Scarring and Non-Scarring Alopecia