Congenital Lipedematous Alopecia: Adding to the Differential Diagnosis of Congenital Alopecia.
- Author:
Hae Eul LEE
1
;
Sue Jeong KIM
;
Myung IM
;
Chang Deok KIM
;
Young Joon SEO
;
Jeung Hoon LEE
;
Young LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Alopecia; Congenital; Edema; Scalp; Subcutaneous fat
- MeSH: Adult; Alopecia*; Child; Diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential*; Edema; Female; Hair; Hair Follicle; Humans; Scalp; Subcutaneous Fat
- From:Annals of Dermatology 2015;27(1):87-89
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Lipedematous alopecia is a rare condition of unknown etiology characterized by a thick boggy scalp with varying degrees of hair loss. It is usually seen in adult African-American females, and a case in a 9-year-old was the youngest patient reported thus far. We report on the appearance of this condition in two children, a 6-year-old child and a 10-year-old child. Each presented with congenital patchy hair loss on the occipital area and the left temple. A boggy hairless scalp with soft swelling was detected in both patients. Histological examination showed increased thickness of the subcutaneous fat tissue with a decrease in hair follicles. These features were consistent with a diagnosis of lipedematous alopecia. We report two cases of congenital lipedematous alopecia, which has not been reported previously. Although congenital, these distinct clinical features should be kept in mind in the diagnosis of alopecic hair loss.
