Steroids and Acne
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This article was written by Dr. Jeff Donovan, a Canadian and US board certified dermatologist specializing exclusively in hair loss.
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I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
It is often said that miniaturization of hairs (progressive thinning of hairs) is a main feature specific to men and women with androgenetic alopecia. This is not entirely accurate.
Miniaturization can be seen in many conditions including traction alopecia (shown here), alopecia areata as well as androgenetic alopecia.
It is often said that the "miniaturization" of hairs (ie the progressive thinning of hairs) is a key feature specific to men and women with androgenetic alopecia. However, this is not accurate.
Miniaturization can be seen in many conditions including traction alopecia, alopecia areata (shown here) as well as androgenetic alopecia.
I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
There are various phases of the hair growth cycle that you may have heard of such as anagen, catagen and telogen. Anagen is the growing phase. Catagen is the transitional phase. Telogen is the resting phase where hairs stop growing. At the end of the telogen phase, hairs shed from the body- and end up in our brushes, combs, and shower drains.
So what is the "exogen phase"? Well, for years it was thought that once a hair is ready to be shed, it simply leaves that scalp when a hair underneath pushes it out. We know now that is untrue. A hair can of course leave the scalp when enough tug is given to it. However, the departure of a hair from the scalp is now recognized to be a highly regulated process which is known as "exogen." Therefore, hairs are not simply pushed out of the scalp - the process is tightly regulated.
This picture shows the scalp of a patient with a telogen effluvium (hair shedding disorder). Upright regrowing hairs (URG) are seen. In addition, a telogen hair (also called a club hair) can also be seen. This hair has officially been shed from the patient's scalp. It is nested amongst the existing hair. At the time of the next patient's next shampooing or brushing it will likely be removed completely from the scalp.
I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
The appearance of white colored scale around hair follicles is common. This can either be concerning - or not concerning. The white scale in the right picture is not concerning and represents a mild scale from normal epidermal turnover. The patient also has androgenetic alopecia. There is only one follicle affected and the scale is not tightly adherent to the hair follicle. When I see this, it catches my attention for just a second and then I move on to assess other scalp features.
The picture on the left shows a pattern of scale which is concerning. When I see hair follicles that look like this I am immediately concerned. This scale is tightly adherent to the follicle and forms a circular shape all around the follicle. It is important to note the underlying redness and it is also important to note that all of the follicles in the photo are just single hairs. Scale that tightly encircles the hair follicle in this manner is known as "perifollicular scale." In this left sided picture, the patient has an underlying scarring alopecia known as lichen planopilaris. Perifollicular scale and perifollicular redness are common in lichen planopilaris (as well as frontal fibrosing alopecia). Scale patterns can change if a patient washes his or her hair within 12 hours of their appointment. Sometimes, in order to better appreciate scaling in patients with challenging diagnoses - I will ask them to refrain from washing the scalp for 24-72 hours. I don't commonly do this but it can be helpful.
I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
I posted an answer to a new question on Realself.com
