Traumatic Alopecia Without Traction Alopecia
September 2021
in “
CRC Press eBooks
”
Trichotillomania Trichoteiromania traumatic alopecia hair loss scalp hair density lichenification hair follicles hair shafts trichoscopic features broken hairs flame hairs tulip hairs coiled hairs exclamation mark hairs hair powder sign V-sign burnt matchstick sign yellow dots follicular ostia sebum keratin split ends broom-like hairs
TLDR Traumatic alopecia causes hair loss from pulling or rubbing, leading to broken hairs and changes in the scalp.
Trichotillomania (TM) and Trichoteiromania (TR) are forms of traumatic alopecia characterized by hair loss due to forceful pulling, plucking, or rubbing of the scalp. TM often presents as decreased hair density, but rarely complete hair loss, on the crown in a tonsure pattern, with hairs broken at different lengths and surrounded by a rim of unaffected hair. TR can present similarly or as ill-defined patches of decreased hair density associated with lichenification of the skin. Repeated minor trauma to the follicles makes the hair shafts vulnerable to breakage in varying lengths. Trichoscopic features include broken hairs of different lengths and various morphologies, flame hairs, tulip hairs, coiled hairs, exclamation mark hairs, hair powder sign, V-sign, and burnt matchstick sign. Yellow dots, representing empty follicular ostia containing only sebum and keratin, can also be seen. In TR, hair shafts may display clean fractures, split ends, and broom-like hairs.
