Lipedematous Alopecia in an Asian Woman: Is It an Advanced Stage of Lipedematous Scalp?.
- Author:
Ji Yeon HONG
1
;
Kapsok LI
;
Chang Kwun HONG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Alopecia; Lipedematous alopecia; Lipedematous scalp; Lipomatosis
- MeSH: Adipose Tissue; Alopecia*; Asian Continental Ancestry Group*; Diagnosis; Female; Hair; Humans; Lipomatosis; Rare Diseases; Scalp*; Subcutaneous Fat
- From:Annals of Dermatology 2018;30(6):701-703
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Lipedematous alopecia (LA) is a rare disease entity that manifests as increased thickness of subcutaneous fatty tissue in the scalp with a variable degree of acquired, non-scarring alopecia. Although the pathogenesis of alopecia in LA is not clear, it is assumed that the increased thickness of subcutaneous fat retards hair growth by disturbing the peripheral microenvironment of the hair bulb. LA is clinically distinguishable from lipedematous scalp (LS) in that LS is not associated with any hair abnormalities, while LA is characterized by variable degree of hair loss. However, both LA and LS share increased scalp thickness. Here, we describe a rare case of LA on the frontal scalp of an Asian woman, further characterize the clinical and histologic features, and suggest applying an integrated diagnosis as lipedematous diseases of the scalp.
