Histopathologic Features of Alopecia Areata Incognito: A Review of 46 Cases

    February 2012 in “ Journal of Cutaneous Pathology ”
    Mariya Miteva, Cosimo Misciali, P. A. Fanti, Antonella Tosti
    Image of study
    TLDR The research found specific signs to diagnose alopecia areata incognito and noted patients generally regrow hair after steroid treatment.
    The study analyzed 46 cases of alopecia areata incognito (AA incognito) and proposed histopathologic criteria for its diagnosis by comparing hair counts and follicular ratios from patient specimens with those from cases of telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia. Key findings included a preserved number of follicular units with fewer terminal follicles, an increased number of telogen structures (37% mean count), a decreased terminal:vellus ratio (mean ratio of 3.3:1), and dilated infundibular openings. The study identified dilated infundibular openings and small basaloid cell aggregates without a hair shaft as specific clues for AA incognito. All Caucasian female patients, with a mean age of 32.9 years, experienced hair regrowth after steroid treatment. The study concluded that these features could help differentiate AA incognito from other hair loss forms and generally has a favorable prognosis with treatment, though it acknowledged limitations and called for larger prospective studies to confirm the findings.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    9 / 9 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 1000+ results

      community Hair loss over a year following depression and taking antidepressants

      in Side effects?  196 upvotes 6 days ago
      A 33-year-old experienced significant hair loss after a depressive episode and taking paroxetine, possibly due to telogen effluvium or androgenic alopecia. Suggestions included reducing alcohol, considering finasteride and minoxidil, and consulting a doctor about antidepressant side effects.

      community Dutasteride has been nuking me

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  156 upvotes 1 month ago
      The user experienced significant hair loss after 9 months of using 0.5mg dutasteride and oral minoxidil, possibly due to alopecia areata. It is advised to consult a doctor for accurate diagnosis and treatment, as dutasteride and finasteride may not be effective.

      community Is there any chance of improvement?

      in Minoxidil  7 upvotes 3 years ago
      A 19-year-old experiencing severe hair loss since 16 is using a treatment regimen of 5% minoxidil, 0.1% finasteride topical solution, 3% procapil hair serum, and 0.5 mg dutasteride daily. They are concerned about the effectiveness and potential shedding phase, with advice suggesting noticeable changes in 6 to 8 months.

    Related Research

    3 / 3 results