Alopecia and Changes in Hair Associated with Lupus Erythematosus

 

Changes that may occur:

(1) hair loss (alopecia)

(2) changes in texture

 

Hair loss may range from minor to total.

Lupus-Related Alopecia	Comment
telogen effluvium	severe systemic disease with marked physiologic stress or may be drug-induced
cicatricial (scarring) alopecia	aggressive therapy prior to scarring may reverse hair loss and allow regrowth
alopecia areata	rare
drug-induced	may improve with change in dose or change in drug selection
patchy non-scarring	cannot be assigned to one of the other groups above; treatment of lupus can allow hair regrowth

 

"Lupus hair" is the most common change in hair quality. Features of "lupus hair":

(1) short and stubby frontal hair

(2) irregular lengths

(3) imparts a disheveled appearance

 

Other changes to the scalp in a patient with lupus may include:

(1) photosensitivity

(2) erythema, plaque or other cutaneous lesions

(3) chilblains

(4) vasculitis

 

Hair loss unrelated to lupus:

(1) androgenetic alopecia in a woman

(2) other drugs

(3) infection