Management of Diffuse Alopecia
October 2015
in “
CRC Press eBooks
”
diffuse alopecia scalp biopsy inflammatory alopecia short anagen phase syndrome alopecia areata androgenic alopecia diffuse scarring alopecia chronic diffuse alopecia endocrine issues metabolic issues telogen effluvium hair cycle disturbance digital phototrichogram dystrophic anagen hairs anagen effluvium hair loss hair thinning hair density changes
TLDR Scalp biopsy and digital phototrichogram help diagnose and manage different types of diffuse hair loss.
Scalp biopsy was recommended for reduced hair diameter or suspected inflammatory alopecia, while gradual onset suggested short anagen phase syndrome, necessitating exclusion of conditions like alopecia areata, androgenic alopecia, and diffuse scarring alopecia. Chronic diffuse alopecia could stem from persistent acute alopecia or endocrine/metabolic issues, leading to diffuse hair loss, especially in central, frontal, and subauricular areas. Telogen effluvium, characterized by excessive normal hair loss, indicated a hair cycle disturbance, diagnosed through clinical presentation and confirmed by excess telogen hair loss. Digital phototrichogram was crucial for assessing hair density changes, and numerous dystrophic anagen hairs indicated anagen effluvium.
