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Congenital
triangular alopecia
Congenital triangular alopecia is a patch of hair loss in the
temple area of the scalp found mainly in very young children
anytime
from birth up to 5 years of age. The affected area is probably
present from birth, but because hair growth can be sparse in
newborns it
can be some months or even years before it becomes significantly
noticeable. The affected area is often roughly triangular shaped
but may be oval in some individuals. The affected skin contains
mostly vellus hair follicles or no hair follicles at all.
The cause of congenital triangular alopecia is not known, but
its presence is not usually associated with any adverse disease
state.
Affected individuals are typically entirely healthy. The suggested
frequency for this condition in the general population is around
0.11% (Garciahernandez 1995). The hair loss is non-progressive
and does not expand beyond these areas. It is a non-inflammatory,
non-scarring
form of hair loss easily confused with alopecia areata. In one
report the condition was incorrectly believed by the parents
to be induced
by doctors inserting intravenous cannulas into scalp vessels during
the neonatal period (Armstrong 1996). The condition is permanent
and the affected skin does not change later in life.
There is
no treatment other than to graft hair follicles to the affected
area.
Alternatively,
if the affected area is small in size, the affected patch of skin can be surgically
removed and the edges sown together.
Congenital
triangular alopecia references
- Garcia-Hernandez
MJ, Rodriguez-Pichardo A, Camacho F. Congenital triangular alopecia
(Brauer nevus). Pediatr Dermatol. 1995 Dec;12(4):301-3.
- Trakimas
C, Sperling LC, Skelton HG 3rd, Smith KJ, Buker JL. Clinical and
histologic findings in temporal triangular alopecia. J Am Acad
Dermatol. 1994 Aug;31(2 Pt 1):205-9.
- Kim HJ, Park KB, Yang JM, Park SH, Lee
ES. Congenital triangular alopecia in phakomatosis pigmentovascularis:
report of 3 cases. Acta Derm Venereol. 2000 May;80(3):215-6.
- Ruggieri M, Rizzo R, Pavone P, Baieli
S, Sorge G, Happle R. Temporal triangular alopecia in association
with mental retardation and epilepsy in a mother and daughter.
Arch Dermatol. 2000 Mar;136(3):426-7.
- Trakimas CA, Sperling LC. Temporal triangular
alopecia acquired in adulthood. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1999 May;40(5
Pt 2):842-4.
- Kenner JR, Sperling LC. Pathological
case of the month. Temporal triangular alopecia and aplasia
cutis congenita. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1998 Dec;152(12):1241-2.
- Armstrong DK, Burrows D. Congenital triangular
alopecia. Pediatr Dermatol. 1996 Sep-Oct;13(5):394-6.
- Bargman H. Congenital triangular alopecia.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 1988 Feb;18(2 Pt 1):390.
- Tosti A. Congenital triangular alopecia.
Report of fourteen cases. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1987 May;16(5
Pt 1):991-3.
- Bargman H. Congenital temporal triangular
alopecia. Can Med Assoc J. 1984 Nov 15;131(10):1253-4.
- Feuerman EJ. Congenital temporal triangular
alopecia. Cutis. 1981 Aug;28(2):196-7.
- Kubba R, Rook A. Congenital triangular
alopecia. Br J Dermatol. 1976 Dec;95(6):657-9.
- Shelley WB. Letter: Triangular hair patch
as sign of alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol. 1974 Jan;109(1):102.
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