Central Frontoparietal Band-Like Alopecia in a 40-Year-Old Woman
January 2018
in “
Skin appendage disorders
”
TLDR A woman's hair loss was correctly diagnosed as Lichen planopilaris after initial misdiagnosis, highlighting the usefulness of trichoscopy in diagnosing hair disorders.
The document describes the case of a 40-year-old woman who was initially misdiagnosed with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) for her central frontoparietal band-like hair loss pattern. Upon referral to the dermatology department, a physical examination showed a reduction in the number of follicular ostia and slight erythema without visible scales. Dermoscopic examination revealed partially scarring alopecia with perifollicular scales, erythema around the follicular openings, whitish areas, and a pink-whitish background. A dermoscopy-guided skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of Lichen planopilaris (LPP), showing follicular and perifollicular hyperkeratosis, follicular hypergranulosis, and a band-like infiltrate of lymphocytes. The document emphasizes the importance of using trichoscopy as a noninvasive diagnostic tool to increase the accuracy of clinical examination in hair disorders and to guide the selection of biopsy sites in active areas of the disease. The patient consented to the case description, and the authors disclosed no conflicts of interest.
