Alopecia

ThisAlopecia (* section focuses on diseases that cause hair loss or hair abnormalities. Clinically, scarring alopecia is suggested by loss of hair follicle ostia and smooth, shiny patches of skin between tufts of hair (like doll’s hairs). Non-scarring alopecias typically retain hair follicles despite loss of hair. With time, however, even non-scarring alopecias may show loss of follicular ostia. On pathology, scarring alopecias may show changes from minimal inflammation to perifollicular fibrosis and ultimately true follicular scars. The hairHair (* cycle consists of: anagen/growth phase (~2–6 years), catagen/transition phase (~3 weeks), telogen/release phase (~3 months); mnemonic: rule of 3s, 3 yrs (anagen), 3 wks (catagen), 3 mos (telogen).