Overnight Alopecia: A Subtype of Acute Diffuse and Total Alopecia?

The document discusses a case of Acute Diffuse and Total Alopecia (ADTA), a variant of alopecia areata, in a 42-year-old Indian female who experienced sudden, diffuse hair loss within a day. ADTA typically affects young females and presents with an acute onset of diffuse hair loss, differing from classical alopecia areata which is characterized by patchy hair loss. Dermoscopy was used to differentiate ADTA from telogen effluvium, another hair loss condition, and specific dermoscopic findings of alopecia areata were present. The patient was treated with topical minoxidil lotion and clobetasol propionate 0.05% gel, resulting in hair growth within 6 weeks and complete regrowth over 12 weeks. The patient did not experience any recurrence for a year. The case highlights the importance of dermoscopic evaluation in diagnosing hair loss conditions and avoiding unnecessary investigations.