L-21   MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF HAIR ROOTS IN TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM

BM Piraccini, A. Tosti, S. Mantovani Department of Dermatology University of Bologna, Italy.

Microscopic examination of the hair roots obtained by the pull test of patients with telogen effluvium shows different types of roots that probably represent different stages of the catagen-telogen phases. We can distinguish the catagen hair root (club-shaped, black in color since not keratinized, with sheaths) e several types of telogen roots, distinguished by the presence of a) some black pigmentation of the club, indicating that keratinization is not completed, b) a "rootlet" at the proximal end of the club, suggesting an attachment of the hair to the follicle, c) an epithelial sac, suggesting a stronger attachment to the follicle, d) masses of scales surrounding the proximal portion of the shaft, indicating the presence of seborrheic dermatitis. The results of the studied of the roots obtained by pull test in 200 patients affected by telogen effluvium are presented.