Frictional alopecia

Frictional alopecia
Frictional alopecia
Specialty	Dermatology

Frictional alopecia is the loss of hair that is caused by rubbing of the hair, follicles, or skin around the follicle.^[1] The most typical example of this is the loss of ankle hair among people who wear socks constantly for years.^[2] The hair may not grow back even years after the source of friction has ended.

Signs and symptoms

Frictional alopecia causes hair loss secondary to frequent rubbing of the hair.^[3]

Causes

Frictional alopecia is a non-scarring alopecia that may result from something rubbing against the hairs or from a self-inflicted tic disorder.^[3]

Friction alopecia, when self-inflicting, is called trichoteiromania, a psychiatric condition marked by obsessive hair rubbing.^[4]

Friction alopecia can be brought on by something rubbing against hairs repeatedly. It has been reported in the distribution of socks and shoes on the lower extremities of men,^[5] on the back of the lower extremities from water slides,^[6] in gymnasts performing head stands and rollovers on the balance beam,^[7] and in a jogger with a tight-banded headphone on her scalp.^[8]

When no frictional etiology can be identified, associations with peripheral nerve disease, thyroid dysfunction, and androgenetic alopecia have been proposed.^[9]^[10]

Diagnosis

Histology reveals no abnormal alterations.^[11] Alopecia areata is a significant differential diagnosis. It is possible to distinguish between the two entities using dermoscopy.^[12]

Treatment

Reassurance and avoiding the trigger factor are part of the treatment for frictional alopecia.^[12]

References

^ Olberding, Matt. "What Causes Hair to Fall Off Your Legs?". livestrong.com.
^ Jakhar, Deepak; Kaur, Ishmeet (2 October 2018). "Frictional (Sock) Alopecia of the Legs: Trichoscopy as an Aid". International Journal of Trichology. 10 (3): 129–130. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_96_17. PMC 6029005. PMID 30034193.
^ ^a ^b Fowler, Emilie; Tosti, Antonella (2019). "A Case of Friction Alopecia in a Healthy 15-Year-Old Girl". Skin Appendage Disorders. 5 (2): 97–99. doi:10.1159/000490712. ISSN 2296-9195. PMC 6388551. PMID 30815442.
^ Banky, Jeremy P; Sheridan, Adam T; Dawber, Rodney PR (2004-07-13). "Weathering of hair in trichoteiromania". Australasian Journal of Dermatology. 45 (3). Wiley: 186–188. doi:10.1111/j.1440-0960.2004.00087.x. ISSN 0004-8380. PMID 15250901. S2CID 38743534.
^ Zhao, Johnny; Cohen, Philip R (August 2016). "Frictional alopecia of the distal legs: case series and review". Dermatology Online Journal. 22 (6): 13030. doi:10.5070/D3228032179. PMID 27617943.
^ Adams, B B (May 2001). "Water-slide alopecia". Cutis. 67 (5): 399–400. PMID 11381856.
^ Ely, P. Haines (1978-06-01). "Balance Beam Alopecia". Archives of Dermatology. 114 (6): 968. doi:10.1001/archderm.1978.01640180098043. ISSN 0003-987X. PMID 666348.
^ Copperman, Stuart M. (1984-12-28). "Two New Causes of Alopecia". JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association. 252 (24): 3367. doi:10.1001/jama.1984.03350240017021. ISSN 0098-7484. PMID 6502902.
^ Harries, MatthewJ; Siah, TeeWei (2014). "Anterolateral leg alopecia: Common but commonly ignored". International Journal of Trichology. 6 (2). Medknow: 75–76. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.138595. ISSN 0974-7753. PMC 4154156. PMID 25191043.
^ Srinivas, SahanaM; Sacchidanand, S; Jagannathan, Balaji (2016). "Anterolateral leg alopecia". International Journal of Trichology. 8 (1). Medknow: 49–50. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.179402. ISSN 0974-7753. PMC 4830179. PMID 27127383.
^ Sharquie, Khalifa E.; Al-Rawi, Jamal R; Al-Janabi, Hassan A (2002). "Frictional Hair Loss in Iraqi Patients". The Journal of Dermatology. 29 (7). Wiley: 419–422. doi:10.1111/j.1346-8138.2002.tb00297.x. ISSN 0385-2407. PMID 12184639. S2CID 37002393.
^ ^a ^b Jakhar, Deepak; Kaur, Ishmeet (2018). "Frictional (Sock) alopecia of the legs: Trichoscopy as an aid". International Journal of Trichology. 10 (3). Medknow: 129–130. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_96_17. ISSN 0974-7753. PMC 6029005. PMID 30034193.