Telogen Effluvium After Contact Dermatitis on the Scalp

In 2006, José Marcos Pereira presented a case of a 15-year-old male patient with alopecia areata who was treated with diphencyprone, leading to contact dermatitis on the scalp and subsequent total hair regrowth. However, four months after treatment, the patient experienced intense hair loss, diagnosed as telogen effluvium (TE), predominantly in areas not previously affected by alopecia. The patient lost about 30% of his hair but experienced total regrowth within two months without further treatment. The case highlighted the potential for TE to develop after contact dermatitis, particularly in patients treated with immunomodulators or immunostimulants for alopecia areata. The author emphasized the need for clinicians to be aware of this possibility, as TE can occur a few months after such treatments. The paper also discussed the etiopathogeny of TE and the importance of considering local causes, such as contact dermatitis, in addition to systemic factors.