Alopecia areata - Hair and Scalp
See also in: Overview,External and Internal Eye,Nail and Distal DigitAlerts and Notices
Synopsis

The course of alopecia areata is unpredictable, with wide variation in duration and extent of disease occurring from patient to patient. In most patients, hair will eventually spontaneously regrow, although recurrences are common. The condition is treatable but cannot be cured.
In one retrospective study of 321 patients, temporal area involvement was independently associated with worse prognosis (in addition to extent of hair loss).
Codes
ICD10CM:L63.9 – Alopecia areata, unspecified
SNOMEDCT:
68225006 – Alopecia areata
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Trichotillomania, from the twisting and pulling of hair, may mimic alopecia areata. Hairs are broken off at varying lengths.
- Telogen effluvium from nutritional, hormonal, and drug etiologies can lead to large clumps of hair loss in a similar fashion to alopecia areata. The loss is diffuse, not localized.
- Tinea capitis has hair loss accompanied by scale and inflammation.
- Secondary syphilis can result in diffuse patchy alopecia.
- Androgenetic alopecia – male or female pattern
Best Tests
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Management Pearls
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Therapy
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Drug Reaction Data
Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.Subscription Required
References
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Last Reviewed:04/10/2017
Last Updated:03/31/2019
Last Updated:03/31/2019
Alopecia areata - Hair and Scalp
See also in: Overview,External and Internal Eye,Nail and Distal Digit