Prevalence and Factors Associated with Neonatal Occipital Alopecia: A Retrospective Study

The retrospective study, which reviewed medical records and conducted phone interviews with 193 respondents, found that neonatal occipital alopecia (NOA) was present in 39 babies (20.2%). The condition was significantly associated with mothers younger than 35 years, non-Caesarean-section delivery, and gestational age over 37 weeks. The study suggested that NOA is a physiological condition caused by the synchronized shedding of telogen hairs that begins in utero, rather than an acquired alopecia from physical friction. It also found no significant link between NOA and maternal telogen effluvium, indicating that NOA and postpartum hair loss in mothers are independent conditions. NOA was more prevalent in fair-complexioned neonates, potentially due to delayed hair cycle changes in darker-skinned infants. The study concluded that NOA is a self-limited disease not affected by the infant's sleeping position, and it typically resolves spontaneously without recognition by parents. However, the study acknowledged limitations such as recall and selection bias, and the reliance on self-reporting for NOA diagnosis, recommending further large-scale prospective studies for confirmation.