TLDR Congenital triangular alopecia is a harmless, non-spreading hair loss condition often seen in young children.
Congenital triangular alopecia, also known as temporal triangular alopecia or Brauer nevus, is a benign, nonprogressive, and non-scarring form of alopecia that typically presents as triangular, oval, or lancet-shaped patches of hair loss on the frontotemporal scalp, though it can also occur over the parietal area and vertex. The condition is usually noticed in children between 2 and 4 years of age but can be present at birth or develop in adulthood. Its exact incidence is unknown, and it is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to its benign nature. The etiology is unclear, but it may be related to mosaicism and could be a paradominant trait. Diagnosis is based on history, clinical features, and typical location, and it can be distinguished from other types of alopecia using dermatoscopy, which reveals a carpet of short vellus hairs and normal follicular openings without the diagnostic features of other localized alopecias. Histopathology confirms the presence of normal numbers of hair follicles and miniaturized telogen hairs without scarring or perifollicular inflammation.
32 citations,
August 2016 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Temporal triangular alopecia is a non-scarring hair loss in children, often linked to other health conditions.
4 citations,
May 2015 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology” Congenital triangular alopecia can occur outside the typical fronto-temporal region.
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February 2015 in “Anais brasileiros de dermatologia/Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia” Dermoscopy helps accurately diagnose temporal triangular alopecia, avoiding unnecessary treatments.
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January 2015 in “Current problems in dermatology” Trichoscopy is a quick, noninvasive method to diagnose hair and scalp disorders, often reducing the need for biopsies.
35 citations,
September 2011 in “The Journal of Dermatology” Trichoscopy helps accurately diagnose temporal triangular alopecia.
56 citations,
March 2010 in “Journal of Dermatology” Most cases of Temporal Triangular Alopecia are found in early childhood and may be related to genetic conditions.
January 2023 in “Indian Dermatology Online Journal” A 23-year-old man has a benign, non-progressive hair loss patch that doesn't respond to treatment but can be cosmetically treated.
5 citations,
October 2018 in “Dermatologic therapy” Recognizing congenital triangular alopecia is crucial to avoid unnecessary treatments.
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March 2002 in “Pediatric Dermatology” A child was initially wrongly diagnosed with a fungal scalp infection but actually had a non-scarring hair loss condition called Temporal Triangular Alopecia.
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December 1995 in “Pediatric Dermatology” Congenital Triangular Alopecia is a rare, non-scarring hair loss that can be surgically treated in females for cosmetic reasons.
56 citations,
March 2010 in “Journal of Dermatology” Most cases of Temporal Triangular Alopecia are found in early childhood and may be related to genetic conditions.
April 2024 in “Indian Journal of Paediatric Dermatology” Congenital triangular alopecia and vitiligo can occur together, but treatment for one may not affect the other.
