Korean J Dermatol.  2007 Oct;45(10):1115-1117.

Colocalization of Segmental Vitiligo and Alopecia Areata

• Cho HR
• Lee MH

Abstract

Vitiligo has been associated with various disorders including thyroid disease, type I diabetes, alopecia areatal and pernicious anemia. It has been purported to be caused by autoimmune response. Vitiligo and alopecia areata occurring in the same patient has often been found, but colocalization of these two diseases has been rarely reported. It is suggested that this concurrence can result from a nonspecific immune mechanism affecting not only the melanocyte but the epithelium of the hair follicle as well. Thus colocalization can occur due to costimulation of a helper T-cell-mediated immunologic response or through inactivation of a suppressor-mediated response and other composite mechanisms such as neurogenic factors, stress and infection. We report a 17-year-old Korean female who presented with a 1-year history of alopecia and depigmentation on the same site of the left eyebrow. We diagnosed this skin lesion as colocalization of vitiligo and alopecia areata by both clinical and histopathological findings.

Keyword

Alopecia areata; Colocalization; Vitiligo

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Alopecia Areata*
Alopecia*
Anemia, Pernicious
Autoimmunity
Epithelium
Eyebrows
Female
Hair Follicle
Humans
Melanocytes
Skin
Thyroid Diseases
Vitiligo*