Psoriatic scarring alopecia: observations in four patients.
METHODS
Although acute or chronic hair loss in psoriasis of the scalp can be a symptom of the disease, until now there has been no agreement as to whether or not it is only restricted to erythrodermic, generalized pustular and scalp plaque psoriasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients with chronic scalp psoriasis and alopecia and to determine if the alopecia was of the scarring type.


RESULTS
We report four cases of psoriatic scarring alopecia and describe the clinical and histologic features of these patients. The diagnosis was made by scalp biopsies (vertical and transverse sections) and other causes of scarring alopecia were excluded.


CONCLUSIONS
Psoriasis can cause scarring alopecia.
Bardazzi
F
F
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy.
Fanti
P A
PA
Orlandi
C
C
Chieregato
C
C
Misciali
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology