Moth-Eaten Alopecia And Beyond: Syphilitic Alopecia - Revisited

July 2024 in “ Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS ”

Aravind Baskar Murthy, Vijayasankar Palaniappan, Ragul Raj Elango, Kaliaperumal Karthikeyan

syphilitic alopecia secondary syphilis moth-eaten alopecia generalized thinning mixed pattern alopecia trichoscopy benzathine penicillin lymphadenopathy alopecia syphilitica penicillin

TLDR Syphilitic alopecia can be effectively diagnosed and treated, leading to hair regrowth.

This case study of a 38-year-old man with syphilitic alopecia (SA) underscores the condition's potential to be misdiagnosed due to its similarity to other alopecia types. The patient exhibited patchy hair loss and lymphadenopathy after unprotected sexual contact. Diagnosis was confirmed through clinical and laboratory tests, and treatment with benzathine penicillin resulted in significant hair regrowth and symptom resolution. The study highlights the necessity of thorough hair and lymph node examinations and the use of trichoscopy for accurate diagnosis. SA is reversible with appropriate treatment, typically resolving within 3 months.