Alopecia syphilitica, from diagnosis to treatment

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2022 Jan 26;35(2):180-183. doi: 10.1080/08998280.2021.2021761. eCollection 2022.ABSTRACTAlopecia syphilitica (AS) is an uncommon manifestation of secondary syphilis, with a prevalence that ranges from 3% to 7%. It is a nonscarring alopecia that can present in a diffuse pattern, a moth-eaten pattern, or a mixed subtype. Due to its low prevalence and similar presentation to other forms of alopecia such as alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, and tinea capitis, dermatologists must maintain a high degree of suspicion for prompt diagnosis. The diagnosis of AS is made by eliciting the patient's history, obtaining serologic tests, and examining histopathologic or dermatoscopic findings. First-line treatment includes benzathine penicillin G injection, which leads to hair regrowth weeks to months after administration. In this article, we present a focused review on the diagnosis of AS and discuss evidence-based therapeutic approaches for the management and treatment of this condition.PMID:35261446 | PMC:PMC8865268 | DOI:10.1080/08998280.2021.2021761
Source: Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings - Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Source Type: research