BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease causing hair loss in 2% of the population. Anecdotally, hair specialists report that patches localize to the scalp periphery. Changes in sensory innervation and/or scalp vasculature may play a role in the development and localization of alopecic patches. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the most common locations of initial alopecic scalp patches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review, with comprehensive evaluation of clinical photographs, was conducted from July 2016 to June 2018 to include AA patients (n = 112). Clinical data was collected on gender, age, race, time until presentation at the clinic, and areas of hair loss on initial presentation. RESULTS: The most common areas of initial AA patches in both females and males were the occiput (49 vs. 48.5%), parietal (46.9 vs. 21.2%), vertex (26.5 vs. 18.2%), and frontal (24.5 vs. 18.2%) regions; 26.8% of patients present with either alopecia totalis or universalis. LIMITATIONS: This is a single-center study with underrepresentation of minority races. CONCLUSION: AA patches most commonly present on the occiput of the scalp in both female and male patients. Cervical spine nerves C3 and C2 supply sensory innervation and the occipital artery supplies blood to this area.
BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease causing hair loss in 2% of the population. Anecdotally, hair specialists report that patches localize to the scalp periphery. Changes in sensory innervation and/or scalp vasculature may play a role in the development and localization of alopecic patches. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the most common locations of initial alopecic scalp patches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review, with comprehensive evaluation of clinical photographs, was conducted from July 2016 to June 2018 to include AA patients (n = 112). Clinical data was collected on gender, age, race, time until presentation at the clinic, and areas of hair loss on initial presentation. RESULTS: The most common areas of initial AA patches in both females and males were the occiput (49 vs. 48.5%), parietal (46.9 vs. 21.2%), vertex (26.5 vs. 18.2%), and frontal (24.5 vs. 18.2%) regions; 26.8% of patients present with either alopecia totalis or universalis. LIMITATIONS: This is a single-center study with underrepresentation of minority races. CONCLUSION: AA patches most commonly present on the occiput of the scalp in both female and male patients. Cervical spine nerves C3 and C2 supply sensory innervation and the occipital artery supplies blood to this area.
Authors: Frank Siebenhaar; Andrey A Sharov; Eva M J Peters; Tatyana Y Sharova; Wolfgang Syska; Andrei N Mardaryev; Pia Freyschmidt-Paul; John P Sundberg; Marcus Maurer; Vladimir A Botchkarev Journal: J Invest Dermatol Date: 2007-02-01 Impact factor: 8.551
Authors: Ronda S Farah; Rina S Farah; Ana Carina Junqueira Bertin; Hongfei Guo; Marna E Ericson; Maria K Hordinsky Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2016-12 Impact factor: 11.527
Authors: John P Sundberg; C Herbert Pratt; Kathleen A Silva; Victoria E Kennedy; Timothy M Stearns; Beth A Sundberg; Lloyd E King; Harm HogenEsch Journal: Exp Mol Pathol Date: 2016-03-06 Impact factor: 3.362