Syphilitic Alopecia: Case Reports and Trichoscopic Findings

The document from 2017 discusses syphilitic alopecia (SA), a rare and non-common manifestation of syphilis that can present as patchy or diffuse nonscarring hair loss, sometimes mimicking other conditions like alopecia areata and telogen effluvium. The paper describes three patients with atypical patterns of SA, highlighting the importance of including syphilis in the differential diagnosis of hair loss. Trichoscopic findings, such as zigzag hairs, were reported for the first time in the context of SA. The study emphasizes that trichoscopy can aid in distinguishing SA from other hair loss causes, particularly when typical skin lesions of syphilis are absent. All three patients experienced complete hair regrowth after antibiotic treatment. The study underscores the necessity of considering syphilis as a potential cause of hair loss and the utility of trichoscopy in diagnosis. The number of patients in the study was three.