Korean J Dermatol.
2012 Dec;50(12):1042-1046.
Clinicopathological Observation of Triangular Alopecia
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. hairsim@yahoo.ci.kr
Abstract
- BACKGROUND
Triangular alopecia, previously known as temporal or congenital triangular alopecia, is a kind of alopecia typically observed in infants and children. Triangular alopecia is rarely reported, and little is known about its histopathology and response to treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical and histopathological features, as well as response to treatment of triangular alopecia in Korean patients.
METHODS
A total of 15 patients, diagnosed at our department from 2000 through 2012, were evaluated.
RESULTS
All patients were presented with a triangular or oval, skin colored hairless patches on the frontotemporal sutureline, except one patient who had hairless patch on the occipital sutureline. Average age of onset was 4.13 years old and there was no sexual predilection. The histopathologic features were similar in all patients with a few vellus hairs, no terminal hair and without any abnormalities at the epidermis and dermis. Ten out of 15 patients were treated with topical minoxidil solution and 2 patients showed mild improvement.
CONCLUSION
Some cases of triangular alopecia are recognized at birth; however, other cases appear to develop during the first three or four years of life. These later development can be best explained as a result of hair miniaturization leading to vellus hair formation.
