Clinical and Histological Challenge in the Differential Diagnosis of Diffuse Alopecia: Female Androgenetic Alopecia, Telogen Effluvium, and Alopecia Areata – Part II

The document from 10 years ago discussed the difficulties in diagnosing diffuse alopecia, a condition caused by telogen effluvium, diffuse androgenetic alopecia, and diffuse alopecia areata. Telogen effluvium, which can begin at any age, is characterized by a sudden increase in hair loss due to factors such as surgery, fever, childbirth, iron deficiency, stress, chronic diseases, and dietary changes. Diffuse alopecia areata is marked by subtle hair thinning throughout the scalp, often linked to psychological stress or systemic diseases. The paper suggested a scalp biopsy when clinical and dermoscopic findings are insufficient for diagnosis. The document also detailed the stages of alopecia areata, a cyclic disease, and noted that histological findings may reflect the stage of the area with alopecia at the time of biopsy. The distinction between chronic telogen effluvium and initial female androgenetic alopecia may require multiple biopsies or tracking the disease's progression.