Abstract
Hair abnormalities can have tremendous psychosocial impacts on adolescents and young
adults, and may cause a great amount of anxiety regarding physical appearance, associated
illnesses, and potential clinical course. The pathophysiology of such disorders may
vary, with potential congenital, infectious, autoimmune, nutritional, or environmental
causes. Hair abnormalities may present as changes in hair appearance or quality, becoming
weathered or fractured. An abnormal increase in hair is present in hypertrichosis
and hirsutism, whereas a thinning or shedding of hair is evident in patients with
telogen effluvium and alopecia areata. Diagnosis is focused on a detailed clinical
history and physical exam, in addition to laboratory testing, a variety of clinical
diagnostic tests, and scalp biopsy, which may be necessary to confirm some diagnoses.
Many hair disorders have no cure, but clinicians can have a positive impact on their
patients by identifying the abnormality and educating the patient regarding disease
course. However, some conditions such as infectious hair disorders or scarring alopecia
should be identified promptly to initiate treatment and ensure clinical improvement
or optimal outcome.
Key Words
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