
Syphilitic Alopecia: Case Reports and Trichoscopic Findings
Author(s) -
Isabella Doche,
Maria Hordinsky,
Neusa Yuriko Sakai Valente,
Ricardo Romiti,
Antonella Tosti
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
skin appendage disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.773
H-Index - 13
eISSN - 2296-9195
pISSN - 2296-9160
DOI - 10.1159/000477415
Subject(s) - dermatology , alopecia areata , syphilis , hair loss , medicine , secondary syphilis , differential diagnosis , pathology , immunology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)
There has been a resurgence of syphilis in the last decade. Although alopecia is not a common manifestation of the disease, the "moth-eaten" pattern is considered patognomonic. However, diffuse hair loss, termed essential alopecia, sometimes can be the only sign of syphilis infection and mimic other conditions, such as alopecia areata and telogen effluvium. We describe three patients with syphilis in whom the pattern of alopecia was not typical. Although clinical, histopathological, and trichoscopic examinations may share some similar findings with other hair diseases, the inclusion of syphilis in the differential diagnosis of hair loss causes is fundamental to a correct screening and diagnosis.