F13 HERBAL SCARRING ALOPECIA - A CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF 15 CASES
Murugusundram S
Skin Hair and Nail Clinic, Thyagaraja Complex, Poonamallee High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai, India

Alopecia areata is a common disorder of all ages. Very often patients seek home remedies and herbal remedies from alternative physicians. Most of these herbal irritants lead to scarring alopecia. We present 15 such cases of alopecia areata converting to scarring alopecia due to herbal applications. Aim: To study the clinical and histopathological features of herbal scarring alopecia. Methodology: All 15 cases were seen between the years 2003 & 2005. Detailed history, Clinical examination and histopathology were done in all the cases. The results were recorded carefully and analyzed. Results: 15 patients were studied in 2 years. 6 males and 9 females were seen. The average duration was 6 months. Hair shaft examination and histopathology were conducted in all the cases. Hair shaft examination was consistent with alopecia areata. Histopathology in the early stages showed folliculitis with distension of hair follicles by neutrophils and in the later stages dermal fibrosis and scarring. One popular herbal seed called " Naer-Valam" containing croton oil had been used in all the cases. Two cases showed resolution of scarring and hair growth after withdrawal of the irritants. Conclusion: Herbal irritants can produce serious and irreversible damage to the scalp and hair.