|
| What is it? |
| Sudden hair loss in circular patches on the scalp (in the absence of any other visible skin disorder or systemic disease). Any hairy area may be involved, the scalp and the beard most frequently. Rarely, all the body hair may be lost (alopecia universalis). |
|
| Signs and Symptoms |
| * Sudden hair loss in sharply defined circular patches |
| * No pain |
| * No itch |
|
| Risk Factors |
| * Stress |
| * Family history |
|
| Prevention |
| None known |
|
| Diagnosis and Treatment |
| General Measures |
| * Shampoo and bathe as usual; this is a non-contagious disorder |
| * Avoid tugging on normal hair close to areas of hair loss |
| * Use of a hairpiece or wig during the acute phase |
|
| Medication |
| * Apply topical steroids once or twice a day unless otherwise directed. Best applied immediately after bathing or shampooing ease of spreading and increased penetration. Use only non-fluorinated steroid products for scalp and groin. In special cases, injections of steroids into affected areas and oral cortisone medication may be used. |
| * Topical minoxidil (a prescription medication used for hair growth) may help; however, it is very expensive and not always effective. |
| * Injections of triamcinolone into the scalp may help in some cases. |
| * Photochemotherapy with PUVA may be recommended. |
|
| Activity |
| No restrictions. |
|
| Diet |
| No special diet. |
| Possible Complications |
| * Loss of all hair (alopecia universalis) |
| * Slow or incomplete hair growth. |
|
| Prognosis |
| Usually reversible, with spontaneous new growth in one to three years. A complete reversal may be expected in persons with few small patches of hair loss. Recurrence is seen in 25% of cases. |
