What do exclamation point hairs mean?

What do exclamation point hairs mean?

alopecia areata
The characteristic diagnostic finding of alopecia areata is the exclamation point hair. These can be found in areas of hair loss and are short broken off hairs that are narrower closer to the scalp and therefore mimic an exclamation point. In some cases a biopsy is necessary for diagnosis.

What do exclamation mark hairs look like?

Hair often looks noticeably different on the edges of bald patches caused by alopecia. These small hairs bordering the hairless spots are referred to as exclamation mark hairs since the hairs taper, thinning as they go down and looking like a classic exclamation mark.

What is a positive hair pull test?

To perform the hair pull test, gently pull a bundle of 20–60 hairs between the thumb and forefinger from multiple locations. The pull test is positive if greater than 10% of hairs are released; the test is uninfluenced by time since last hair wash (10, 11).

Is pubic hair Terminal hair?

Terminal hair is the thick, long, pigmented hair found on the scalp, face, armpits, and pubic area. The growth of terminal hair is influenced by hormones. There are hair follicles all over the body.

What causes anagen effluvium?

The main causes of anagen effluvium are an infection, a drug, a toxin, radiation or an autoimmune disease. An infection may interrupt hair growth in a localised area resulting in a single bald patch or several bald patches.

Is pubic hair terminal hair?

What kind of doctor do you see if your hair is falling out?

It’s best to make an appointment to see a dermatologist. Dermatologists are the experts in diagnosing and treating hair loss. A dermatologist can tell you whether it’s FPHR or something else that is causing your hair loss. Other causes of hair loss can look like FPHL, so it’s important to rule out these causes.

Why is my bald spot growing white hair?

Don’t worry, this is perfectly normal. In fact, regrowth of white hair is quite common in cases of alopecia areata. Most of the time, the hair will return to its natural colour after a while.