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Alopecia

Background

Alopecia in darker-skinned individuals often presents as noticeable hair thinning or bald patches, particularly on the scalp, and can lead to scarring or pigmentation changes in the affected areas. The condition may be caused by autoimmune factors (alopecia areata), traction (from tight hairstyles), or other underlying conditions, and can significantly impact self-esteem. Treatment typically involves topical corticosteroids, topical minoxidil, or other immunotherapy options, depending on the type and severity, while avoiding hairstyles that cause tension on the hair follicles is also important in prevention.

Lesion image

Alopecia caused by seborrheic dermatitis 

Alopecia caused by lichen planopilaris 

Traction Alopecia

References
  • Jodie Raffi, Raagini Suresh, Oma Agbai, Clinical recognition and management of alopecia in women of color, International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, Volume 5 Issue 5, 2019, Pages 314-319,ISSN 2352-6475,
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.08.005.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352647519300930) Accessed -11-07, 2024.
  • Traction alopecia. 2017; Available at: https://www.firstderm.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Traction-Alopecia.png. Accessed -02-17, 2024.