Infiltrated lesions on a child's face

Eyebrow loss: clinical review

Loss of eyebrow hair may come to the attention of the dermatologist as a presenting complaint or as an unexpected finding on routine physical examination. Because eyebrows serve important cosmetic and social roles, their loss can be quite distressing to patients. While eyebrow loss may be an isolated finding of no medical consequence, it may also be an initial manifestation of a systemic condition. Loss of eyebrows has numerous causes including primary dermatoses, endocrinopathies, autoimmune conditions, infections, neoplasms, trauma, exogenous agents, and genetic diseases. We present a systemic review of eyebrow loss, including an algorithm that can be used to direct the work-up of patients presenting with this condition.

Update on primary cicatricial alopecias

The cicatricial alopecias encompass a diverse group of disorders characterized by permanent destruction of the hair follicle and irreversible hair loss. Destruction of the hair follicle can result from primary, folliculocentric disease or as a secondary result. This article focuses on the former, or primary cicatricial alopecias. The cause and pathogenesis of many of these disorders are largely unknown. Although unique clinicopathologic features allow for accurate diagnosis in some cases, diagnostic certainty is often elusive and reflects the limits of present understanding. Classification of the primary cicatricial alopecias on the basis of pathology provides a diagnostic and investigational framework and, it is hoped, will facilitate future enlightenment. Details of classification, etiopathogenesis, clinicopathologic features, differential diagnosis, and practical management of the primary cicatricial alopecias will be discussed.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this learning activity, participants should be familiar with the following aspects of the primary cicatricial alopecias: (1) the new, consensus-issued classification scheme, (2) current understanding about etiopathogenesis, (3) salient clinicopathologic features, (4) differential diagnosis, and (5) therapeutic management.