Circumscribed Alopecia Areata Incognita

The document reports on two cases of a rare form of alopecia areata, termed "circumscribed alopecia areata incognita" (AAI), where patients experienced localized hair thinning without the development of smooth bald patches typically associated with alopecia areata. Both patients, a 22-year-old woman and a 5-year-old girl, presented with hair thinning in specific areas of the scalp but no bald spots. Histopathological examination in both cases revealed increased catagen and telogen follicles and peribulbar lymphocytic infiltration, which are typical findings in alopecia areata. The patients responded well to corticosteroid treatment. The study suggests that this form of alopecia areata may be underdiagnosed due to the absence of bald patches, and the incidence of alopecia areata might be higher than previously documented. The document emphasizes the importance of recognizing this variant to avoid misdiagnosis and ensure appropriate treatment.