Telogen effluvium x female pattern hair loss: is there correlation?

Postpartum Telogen Effluvium Unmasking Additional Latent Hair Loss Disorders

Obejctive

We sought to detect additional underlying hair loss disorders in patients with postpartum telogen effluvium.

Methods

We completed clinical and dermoscopic evaluations on 200 female participants experiencing postpartum hair loss.

Results

9.5 percent of patients were diagnosed with telogen effluvium (TE), 56.0 percent patients were diagnosed with TE with androgenetic alopecia (AGA), 6.5 percent patients were diagnosed with TE and TA, and 28.0 percent patients were diagnosed with TE, AGA, and TA. In the central area, patients with TE displayed upright regrowing hair and single pilosebaceous unit in 100 percent and 94.7 percent of patients, respectively. While patients with TE and AGA, displayed upright regrowing hair, single pilosebaceous unit, and hair diameter diversity greater than 20 percent. In patients diagnosed with TE and TA, the trichoscopic findings were similar in the TE group to the patients diagnosed with TE, AGA, and TA were also similar to the patients with TE and AGA. Regarding the area of traction, there was no difference observed between the patients with TE and TA and patients with TE, AGA, and TA. The frequent findings were hair diameter diversity, empty follicles, and vellus hair.

Conclusion

Postpartum TE may be associated with other hair loss disorders. Awareness of this is critical to appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Female Pattern Hair Loss and Negative Psychological Impact: Possible Role of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)

INTRODUCTION

Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL) is considered the most common type of hair loss in females. Women with FPHL may suffer from psychological distress and defective social functioning. Patients with psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders almost have a deficient brain and blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels (BDNF). This serum BDNF level may act as a diagnostic marker for negative psychological impact in FPHL patients.

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the levels of serum BDNF in patients with FPHL and correlate its level to the severity of alopecia and the degree of psychological impact.

METHODS

Forty-six female patients with FPHL and 41 healthy age-matched female volunteers as a control were included in the study. Patients filled out a Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire. Both patients and controls filled Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) questionnaires. Serum levels of BDNF were measured for all the participants using the ELISA technique.

RESULTS

Patients with FPHL had significantly lower levels of BDNF and significantly higher Beck depression inventory score and PSS questionnaire scores. There is a significant negative correlation between serum levels of BDNF and Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and PSS questionnaire scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with FPHL are at a high risk to develop chronic stress and depression. The serum level of BDNF is a good predictor for the assessment of chronic stress and depression in FPHL patients.

Postpartum Telogen Effluvium Unmasking Traction Alopecia

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Telogen effluvium (TE) is a type of diffuse hair shedding that occurs 2–3 months after an exposure or trigger. The excessive hair loss may “unmask” underlying hair loss disorders such as female pattern hair loss. <b><i>Case Presentation:</i></b> This is a case series of 3 patients with postpartum TE in which an underlying traction alopecia (TA) was revealed. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> TE can unmask underlying TA. Awareness of this phenomenon is critical to appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Female pattern hair loss: A comprehensive review

Female pattern hair loss is a common form of hair loss in women that increases in incidence with age. The etiology is unknown with numerous factors identified that influence its onset. Female pattern hair loss may be viewed as a marker for an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease. New treatments include microneedling, low-level laser therapy, and autologous fat transfer. This article focuses on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, systemic associations, and current treatments for female pattern hair loss, which is the most common cause of alopecia in women.