Chronic Diffuse Telogenic Alopecia in Female Persons as a Sign of Latent Iron Deficiency

A 31-year-old woman with chronic diffuse telogen effluvium, likely due to latent iron deficiency, was treated successfully with a regimen that included iron sulfate (II) 100 mg, vitamin D 1000 IU, selenium 30 mcg, and a single dose of albendazole 400 mg. Her treatment was aimed at correcting her iron deficiency, as indicated by her initial ferritin level of 18.82 ng/ml, which increased to 30.12 ng/ml post-treatment. The patient's hair loss had persisted for over five years without improvement from previous treatments, but after the described treatment, trichoscopic examination showed a normal ratio of telogen to anagen hairs. This case underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating chronic telogen hair loss in women of childbearing age, considering the risk of latent iron deficiency.