Alopecia in systemic amyloidosis: Trichoscopic-pathologic correlation

Abstract

Alopecia in systemic amyloidosis is very rare and has been described as individual cases of diffuse nonscarring alopecia and a case of alopecia universalis. We report the trichoscopic findings in alopecia associated with systemic amyloidosis. The most prominent feature was a salmon colored halo (0.3-1 mm in diameter) surrounding the follicular ostia. Other features included broken hairs and black dots. The salmon colored halo correlated on pathology with the perifollicular deposition of amyloid. The horizontal sections showed that the sebaceous glands were preserved which supports the nonscarring pattern of the alopecia.