TITLE:
Targetoid Polycyclic Concentric Hair Regrowth Pattern Is a Sign of Immunological Recovery in Alopecia Areata
AUTHORS:
Khalifa E. Sharquie, Raheeq K. Ahmed, Inas K. Sharquie
KEYWORDS:
Alopecia Areata, Targetoid Phenomenon, Zinc Sulfate
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications,
Vol.8 No.3,
September
26,
2018
ABSTRACT: Background: Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disease,
where there are many topical and systemic therapies, during which hair growth
appears in a uniform pattern. In certain cases, hair regrowth takes a
polycyclic pattern simulating a target, so called targetoid phenomena. Objective: To screen all cases of treated alopecia areata for hair targetoid regrowth
pattern. Methods: This is an
observational study, was conducted in Dermatology Department of Baghdad
Teaching Hospital in Iraq, during the period, August 2017 to October 2017. All cases treated for alopecia areata with IM
triamcinolone 20 - 40 mg injection every 2 weeks with topical
clobetasone ointment and zinc sulfate 2 mg/kg/day for 2 months, were examined for the
targetoid concentric hair regrowth pattern. Result: Among all cases of
alopecia areata, seven patients were recorded to have the targetoid concentric
hair pattern, which seen 2 - 4 weeks after therapy, their ages ranged from 4 to
25 years old with a mean 14.5, all of them were males. All these patients
returned back with hair growth in a form of rings of hair growth alternating
with rings of little or no hair growth forming a typical picture of target. Conclusion: Targetoid polycyclic concentric hair regrowth pattern is an important phenomenon seen in patients receiving treatment for
alopecia areata, which is a good sign of recovery where its etiopathogenesis
could not well be elucidated but alternating immunological reactions could
explain this targetoid pattern.