Pressure-Induced Alopecia Following Cardiac Surgery

The document presents findings from two separate studies related to hair removal and alopecia. The first study surveyed 221 African American women to assess their knowledge and attitudes towards laser hair removal (LHR). It found that only 55.2% were aware that LHR is safe for dark skin, and 44.3% believed that dark skin is more prone to hyperpigmentation from LHR. Women with higher education were more likely to consider LHR. The study concluded that there is a lack of knowledge and negative attitudes towards LHR among African Americans, indicating a need for better education on the subject. The second study involved 50 African American patients who had undergone LHR with long-pulsed Nd:Yag lasers. The results showed high patient satisfaction, with a mean satisfaction score of 84.2, and minimal complications. 79.3% of patients who completed 6 or more treatments reported less frequent hair removal than before. Only 6% experienced hyperpigmentation, which was temporary. The study concluded that Nd:Yag LHR is effective and safe for patients of color, with high satisfaction and minimal complications. The document also includes a case report of a 66-year-old man who developed pressure-induced alopecia following cardiac surgery. The condition was attributed to prolonged pressure during the surgery, which led to necrosis of adnexal structures. The report suggests that turning the patient's head at regular intervals during surgery could prevent such occurrences. Lastly, a study on 10 female patients with alopecia areata (AA) suggested that ovarian-associated inflammation might contribute to the condition. Treatments targeting the ovary, such as oral contraceptives and metformin, led to hair regrowth in 8 out of 10 patients within 12 weeks. This finding indicates that treatments reducing ovarian inflammation may be effective for AA in women.