Histopathology of non-scarring alopecia

The document from 1995 provides a comprehensive overview of the histopathological features of non-scarring alopecia, including alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia, senescent alopecia, telogen effluvium, trichotillomania, traction alopecia, pressure-induced alopecia, syphilitic alopecia, systemic lupus erythematosus-related alopecia, temporal triangular alopecia, and loose anagen hair syndrome. It highlights the importance of recognizing normal versus abnormal follicular architecture for diagnosis and describes the typical histological findings for each condition, such as the presence of miniaturized hair follicles, increased telogen count, and perifollicular inflammation. The document also notes that in non-scarring alopecia, the total number of hair follicles is usually normal, but there may be changes in the hair cycle phases or follicle size. It emphasizes that inflammation is not always diagnostic due to its presence in normal scalps. The document does not provide specific data on the number of people studied and acknowledges Purnima Sau for contributing histologic material. The views expressed are those of the authors and not the official views of the U.S. Army or the Department of Defense.