Procedures

Diagnosis usually can be made on clinical grounds; a scalp biopsy seldom is needed, but it can be helpful when the clinical diagnosis is less certain.

Histologic Findings

A histologic diagnosis of alopecia areata can be made when characteristic features are present. Horizontal sections usually are preferred to vertical sections because they allow examination of multiple hair follicles at different levels.

The most characteristic feature is a peribulbar lymphocytic infiltrate, which is described as appearing similar to a swarm of bees. The infiltrate often is sparse and usually involves only a few of the affected hairs in a biopsy specimen. Occasionally, no inflammation is found, which can result in diagnostic difficulties. A significant decrease in terminal hairs is associated with an increase in vellus hairs, with a ratio of 1.1:1 (normal is 7:1). Other helpful findings include pigment incontinence or the presence of eosinophils in the follicular stellae, multiple catagen hairs, hyperkeratosis of the infundibulum, and pigment casts in the infundibulum.

A shift occurs in the anagen-to-telogen ratio, which is not specific. The normal ratio is approximately 90% anagen phase to 10% telogen phase hair follicles; in alopecia areata, 73% of hairs are found to be in the anagen phase and 27% in the telogen phase. In long-standing cases of alopecia areata, the percentage of telogen-phase hairs can approach 100%. Degenerative changes of the hair matrix can be found but are uncommon.

Treatment & Management

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Media Gallery

Alopecia areata affecting the beard.
Alopecia areata affecting the arms.
Patchy alopecia areata.
Ophiasis pattern of alopecia areata.
Sisaipho pattern of alopecia areata.
Alopecia totalis.
Diffuse alopecia areata.
Corticosteroid injection.
Treatment algorithm for alopecia areata.

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Author

Chantal Bolduc, MD, FRCPC Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine; Physician, Innovaderm Research, Inc

Chantal Bolduc, MD, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: Canadian Dermatology Foundation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Harvey Lui, MD, FRCPC Professor and Head, Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia; Medical Director, The Skin Centre, Lions Laser Skin Centre and Psoriasis and Phototherapy Clinic, Vancouver General Hospital

Harvey Lui, MD, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: Canadian Medical Association, American Society for Photobiology, Photomedicine Society, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, National Psoriasis Foundation, Canadian Dermatology Association, College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, North American Hair Research Society, Canadian Dermatology Foundation, American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery

Disclosure: Received consulting fee from Astellas for review panel membership; Received consulting fee from Amgen/Wyeth for speaking and teaching; Received honoraria from LEO Pharma for speaking and teaching; Received grant/research funds from LEO Pharma for investigator; Received grant/research funds from Galderma for other.

Jerry Shapiro, MD, FAAD, FRCPC Professor, Director, Disorders of the Hair and Scalp, The Ronald O Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Richard P Vinson, MD Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Texas Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lester F Libow, MD Dermatopathologist, South Texas Dermatopathology Laboratory

Lester F Libow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD Professor and Chairman, Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Leonard Sperling, MD Chair, Professor, Department of Dermatology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Leonard Sperling, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Alopecia Areata Workup

Procedures

Histologic Findings

References

Tables

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