alopecia areata; telogen effluvium; traumatic alopecia and trichotillomania; androgenetic alopecia

Hair Loss - Symptoms

ALOPECIA AREATA:

AA is characterised by the sudden appearance of one or more round or oval patches of hair loss. Some patients may complain of mild itch or redness over the site of hair loss.

Although most common on the scalp, the condition can affect other hair-bearing body sites (eg. eyebrows, armpits).

Rarely, more severe patterns of hair loss may be seen (eg. alopecia totalis (loss of all scalp hair) and alopecia universalis (complete loss of all body hair).

Nail abnormalities are seen in 10 to 20% of cases, commonest being small pits on the nails. This can affect several or all nails (20-nail dystrophy).

TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM:

Telogen effluvium presents with sudden onset of generalised hair loss, causing thinning of scalp hair. Light pulling of hair causes many hairs to drop out (hair pull test).

TRAUMATIC ALOPECIA/ TRICHOTILLOMANIA:

Patients present with oval or linear areas of hair loss at the margins of the hair line, along the parting, or scattered around the scalp, depending on the type of traction or trauma.

Affected patches are irregularly shaped with small short stubby hairs broken off at different lengths.

ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA:

AGA characterised by progressive hair loss from the scalp in a specific pattern. Most patients report thinning of scalp hair rather than actual hair loss.