P8.95 DIFFUSE NONSCARRING ALOPECIA – A STUDY OF 3500 CASES

Murugusundram S ,Shivakumar S ,Yesudian P.

Skin Hair & Nail Clinic , Chennai , INDIA

Hair loss is often a presenting complaint in skin patients. We undertook a study with an aim to find common causes of diffuse alopecia.

3500 cases were retrospectively analysed over a period of 5 years with hair loss as the presenting symptom. A defined protocol was followed, which included a questionnaire to reveal the history, local and systemic examination. Alopecia areata and scarring alopecia were excluded. In our study men were a little more affected than women. The common causes were found to be Pityrosporum Capitis, Androgenitic Alopecia, Telogen Effluvium and hair shaft weathering defects.

Diffuse alopecia has considerable systemic associations; in our study thyroid dysfunctions, iron deficiency anemias, liver enzyme disorders and hypertriglyceridemias were commonly seen. An element of stress as evaluated by the Holmes and Rahe scale was a common denominator in all cases. Trichotilomania was observed in quite a number of cases. Certain peculiar hair grooming habits of South Indians, like inadequate washing of hair, excess oiling, soap nut usage or extraneous applications on the hair, leading to hair shaft weathering defects, were also observed to be one of the most common causes.