TLDR A rare form of alopecia causes hair thinning without bald spots and may be more common than thought, responding well to steroid treatment.
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.
10 citations,
August 2011 in “Clinics” The author clarified that Alopecia Areata Incognita (AAI) and diffuse Alopecia Areata (AA) are different conditions and the case discussed was actually AA, not AAI.
19 citations,
January 2011 in “Clinics” A young woman with a rare hair loss condition improved with steroid and biotin treatment.
31 citations,
October 2010 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Some people with heavy hair shedding might actually have a hidden form of alopecia, which can be identified by specific hair changes.
64 citations,
November 2008 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” A new type of rapid hair loss called ADTA usually gets better on its own within 6 months.
150 citations,
April 2008 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Scalp dermoscopy is good for diagnosing a type of hair loss and helps choose the best spots for biopsy.
15 citations,
October 1996 in “Archives of Dermatology” Researchers identified a new hair loss pattern called "sisaipho type," where hair is lost across the scalp except around the edges.
60 citations,
January 1987 in “Dermatology” Alopecia areata may appear differently depending on the individual's type of hair loss and scalp condition.
1 citations,
October 2013 in “Expert Review of Dermatology” Diagnosing alopecia areata is challenging and requires careful examination and various tests to distinguish it from other hair loss types.
19 citations,
February 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” CD3+ T-cell presence is a reliable marker to tell apart alopecia areata from pattern hair loss.
67 citations,
January 2013 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology” Chronic Telogen Effluvium may resolve after years and is diagnosed by examining the patient's history and clinical signs, with treatment aimed at underlying causes and possibly minoxidil.
April 2012 in “Informa Healthcare eBooks” Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune condition causing varying hair loss, diagnosed by specific patterns of inflammation around hair follicles, with several treatment options available.
23 citations,
September 2019 in “Dermatology practical & conceptual” The study concluded that AAI and DAA are forms of the same disease, with different symptoms in men and women, and that corticosteroid treatment is effective.
