Risk factors for frontal fibrosing alopecia: A case-control study in a multiracial population.

BACKGROUND: Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a chronic cicatricial alopecia with unknown etiology and a worldwide rising incidence. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of FFA with demographic and exposure factors in a Brazilian multiracial population. METHODS: A multicenter case-control study was conducted in 11 referral centers throughout Brazil. The study was a case-control study that prospectively recruited 902 participants (451 patients with FFA and 451 sex-matched control individuals). Study participants completed a thorough questionnaire comprising variables grouped as baseline demographics, environmental exposure, diet, hormonal factors, allergies, and hair and skin care. RESULTS: When adjusted by sex, age, menopause, and skin color, FFA was associated with hair straightening with formalin (odds ratio [OR], 3.18), use of ordinary (nondermatologic) facial soap (OR, 2.09) and facial moisturizer (OR, 1.99), thyroid disorders (OR, 1.69), and rosacea (OR, 2.08). Smokers (OR, 0.33) and users of antiresidue/clarifying shampoo (OR, 0.35) presented a negative association with FFA. There was no association with the use of sunscreen. LIMITATIONS: Recall bias. CONCLUSIONS: The association with moisturizers, ordinary facial soap, and hair straightening with formalin and the negative association with antiresidue/clarifying shampoo reinforce the possibility of an exogenous particle triggering FFA.

Dermoscopic Findings of Scalp Aplasia Cutis Congenita.

Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is a rare disease characterized by congenital absence of skin, affecting preferentially the scalp. Diagnosis is made clinically; however, recent studies have shown that dermoscopy can be a useful tool for the diagnosis and differentiation from sebaceous nevus. The clinical findings include a shiny atrophic alopecic patch associated with dermoscopic findings of absent follicular openings, thicker vessels and a distinct collar hypertrichosis. We report 2 cases of alopecia presenting from birth. At dermoscopy, the absence of follicular openings and the increase in the caliber of vessels led us to establish the diagnosis of ACC.

HTLV-1-associated infective dermatitis and probable HTLV-1- associated myelopathy in an adolescent female.

Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated infective dermatitis (ID) is a chronic, severe and recurrent eczema occurring during childhood in patients vertically infected with HTLV-1. HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesia (HAM/ TSP) is slow and progressive. We report the case of an adolescent female from a non-endemic area for HTLV-1 who presents ID and, most likely, associated HAM/TSP.

HTLV-1-associated infective dermatitis and probable HTLV-1- associated myelopathy in an adolescent female

Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated infective dermatitis (ID) is a chronic, severe and recurrent eczema occurring during childhood in patients vertically infected with HTLV-1. HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesia (HAM/ TSP) is slow and progressive. We report the case of an adolescent female from a non-endemic area for HTLV-1 who presents ID and, most likely, associated HAM/TSP.

Use of dermoscopy in the diagnosis of temporal triangular alopecia.

Temporal triangular alopecia, also referred as congenital triangular alopecia, is an uncommon dermatosis of unknown etiology. It is characterized by a non-scarring, circumscribed alopecia often located unilaterally in the frontotemporal region. It usually emerges at ages 2-9 years. Alopecia areata is the main differential diagnosis, especially in atypical cases. Dermoscopy is a noninvasive procedure that helps distinguish temporal triangular alopecia from aloepecia areata. Such procedure prevents invasive diagnostic methods as well as ineffective treatments.

Use of dermoscopy in the diagnosis of temporal triangular alopecia

Temporal triangular alopecia, also referred as congenital triangular alopecia, is an uncommon dermatosis of unknown etiology. It is characterized by a non-scarring, circumscribed alopecia often located unilaterally in the frontotemporal region. It usually emerges at ages 2-9 years. Alopecia areata is the main differential diagnosis, especially in atypical cases. Dermoscopy is a noninvasive procedure that helps distinguish temporal triangular alopecia from aloepecia areata. Such procedure prevents invasive diagnostic methods as well as ineffective treatments.

Do you know this syndrome?

Congenital hypotrichosis and Stargardt macular dystrophy are rare autosomal recessive disorder of unknown etiology respectively characterized by hair loss, macular degeneration and severe progressive vision reduction. There are few reports in the literature with this association. Studies show that the defective gene is on the chromosome I6q22.1 and involve cadherin molecule in the pathogenesis. Early recognition of these disorders often starts with hair changes and should alert the dermatologist for an eye examination thereby avoiding more severe ocular defect.

Graham-Little Piccardi Lassueur syndrome: case report.

A 33-year-old woman presented with a 3-year history of progressive alopecia of the scalp. Past treatment with hydroxicloroquine did not show improvement. Physical examination revealed multiple areas of alopecia with atrophic aspect of the scalp, and axillary and pubic hypotrichosis. Dermoscopy showed hyperkeratosis and accentuation of follicular ostia. Anatomopathological examination revealed decrease in the number of hair follicles, upper perifollicular infiltrate and areas with fibrosis. The Piccardi-Lassueur-Graham-Little syndrome is a rare disorder, characterized by the triad of multifocal scarring alopecia of the scalp, keratotic follicular eruption and hypotrichosis of axillary and pubic regions. Management is a challenge and many medications tried have controversial results. We report a case of this rare syndrome which improved with corticoids.

Graham-Little Piccardi Lassueur Syndrome: case report / Síndrome de Graham-Little Piccardi Lassueur: relato de caso

A 33-year-old woman presented with a 3-year history of progressive alopecia of the scalp. Past treatment with hydroxicloroquine did not show improvement. Physical examination revealed multiple areas of alopecia with atrophic aspect of the scalp, and axillary and pubic hypotrichosis. Dermoscopy showed hyperkeratosis and accentuation of follicular ostia. Anatomopathological examination revealed decrease in the number of hair follicles, upper perifollicular infiltrate and areas with fibrosis. The Piccardi-Lassueur-Graham-Little syndrome is a rare disorder, characterized by the triad of multifocal scarring alopecia of the scalp, keratotic follicular eruption and hypotrichosis of axillary and pubic regions. Management is a challenge and many medications tried have controversial results. We report a case of this rare syndrome which improved with corticoids.

Mulher, 33 anos, apresenta quadro de alopecia progressiva do couro cabeludo há 3 anos. Tratamento com hidroxicloroquina há 12 meses, sem apresentar melhora. Ao exame físico exibe múltiplas áreas de alopecia cicatricial no couro cabeludo, além de hipotricose axilar e pubiana. A dermatoscopia evidencia hipercetose folicular e acentuação dos óstios foliculares. O exame anatomopatológico revela diminuição do número de folículos pilosos, infiltrado perifolicular e fibrose. A síndrome de Graham-Little Piccardi Lassueur é uma dermatose rara, caracterizada pela tríade de alopecia cicatricial multifocal do couro cabeludo, ceratose folicular disseminada e hipotricose das regiões axilares e pubianas. A terapêutica desta dermatose é um desafio, muitas medicações relatadas tem resultados controversos. Relatamos o caso desta síndrome rara que apresentou melhora com corticoterapia.

Concordance between direct microscopy and fungical culture for the diagnostic of feet's onychomycosis.

Prospective study compared the agreement between the direct microscopy and fungical culture from subungueal samples of the patients with clinical suspicion of feet's onychomycosis. The agreement occurred in 56.1% of the exams with dermatophytes, in 52.4% by others fungi and in 90.4% of the negative cases, 0,54 according to the Kappa`s test. In 39.3% of the onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes and 31.8% by nondermatophytes, these were identificated only for direct microscopy. The direct microscopic showed more sensibility compared with the culture, being superior in 19.5% of the total sample and maintaining agreement with the culture in 71.5% of the sample.

Classical Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: clinical, Histological and ultrastructural aspects.

A 12-year-old boy with difficulty in wound healing and scars of unusual appearance was examined. Thin, shiny and protruding skin, characterizing pseudotumoral lesions, was observed on his knees and elbows. Loose joints and increased skin elasticity were also observed. Light microscopy showed rare collagen bundles and loosely dispersed collagen fibers. Irregularly distributed elastic tissue was observed, and transmission electron microscopy revealed disorganized collagen fibers. In cross sections under high magnifications, fibers of varying diameters could be seen, as well as an irregular fiber outline. Scanning electron microscopy of the dermis showed disorganized collagen fibers, which were rarely arranged in bundles. Isolated and crossed-over fibers were also found.

Classical Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: clinical, Histological and ultrastructural aspects / Síndrome de Ehlers-Danlos clássica: aspectos clínicos, histológicos e ultraestruturais

A 12-year-old boy with difficulty in wound healing and scars of unusual appearance was examined. Thin, shiny and protruding skin, characterizing pseudotumoral lesions, was observed on his knees and elbows. Loose joints and increased skin elasticity were also observed. Light microscopy showed rare collagen bundles and loosely dispersed collagen fibers. Irregularly distributed elastic tissue was observed, and transmission electron microscopy revealed disorganized collagen fibers. In cross sections under high magnifications, fibers of varying diameters could be seen, as well as an irregular fiber outline. Scanning electron microscopy of the dermis showed disorganized collagen fibers, which were rarely arranged in bundles. Isolated and crossed-over fibers were also found.

Paciente masculino de 12 anos relatou dificuldade em cicatrizar, seguido por cicatrizes de aspecto infrequente . A pele dos joelhos e cotovelos é fina, brilhante e protrusa, caracterizando pseudo- tumores. Além disso apresenta hiperelasticidade cutânea e articular. A microscopia óptica demonstrou raros feixes colágenos, as fibras colágenas encontram-se dispersas. O tecido elástico está presente e secundariamente irregular. A microscopia eletrônica de transmissão também observou fibras colágenas desorganizadas e com cortes transversais em grande aumento evidenciou diâmetros variados e contorno irregular das mesmas. A microscopia eletrônica de varredura da derme demonstrou raros feixes colágenos e fibras colágenas isoladas e entrecruzadas.