Young man with unexplained hair loss
The Journal of Family Practice. 2015 December;64(12):801-803
December 2, 2015|The Journal of Family Practice
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Topical antifungals had failed to improve the patchy hair loss on this patient’s head. The pattern of the alopecia and a closer look at his history provided valuable diagnostic clues.
A 21-year-old Hispanic man sought care at our dermatology clinic because he was concerned about the patchy hair loss on his scalp that had begun 4 months earlier (FIGURE). His primary care physician had prescribed topical antifungals for presumed seborrheic dermatitis with no effect.
Three months prior to his visit with us, the patient had also seen his primary care physician for a nonspecific exanthema. It was presumed to be a viral exanthem and spontaneously resolved.
