Hair Loss in Patients with Skin of Color
June 2015
in “
Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery
”
TLDR Hair loss in people with darker skin has unique challenges and requires careful diagnosis and treatment.
The document from 2015 discussed the unique challenges of diagnosing and treating hair loss in patients with skin of color, particularly those of African descent. It highlighted several disorders more common in these populations compared to Caucasian ones, including central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, dissecting cellulitis, discoid lesions of lupus erythematosus, traction alopecia, seborrheic dermatitis, and hair breakage. While there was no definitive prevalence data for these forms of hair loss, the document emphasized that they were significant concerns for many patients, alongside common hair loss issues like telogen effluvium and pattern hair loss. The document stressed the importance of a detailed clinical examination, history, and potential histopathology in guiding clinicians to appropriate management.
