Question

Sudden hair loss in round or irregular patches without the display of an inflamed scalp is referred to as ______.

1) Alopecia areata
2) Dandruff
3) Scalp psoriasis
4) Traction alopecia

Answer 1

Sudden hair loss in round or irregular patches without an inflamed scalp is known as Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that leads to unpredictable hair loss and affects a portion of the population, distinguishing it from scalp infections or other inflammatory hair loss conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sudden hair loss in round or irregular patches without the display of an inflamed scalp is referred to as Alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disorder that often results in unpredictable hair loss. It affects roughly 2% of the general population at some point in their life.

Unlike tinea capitis (scalp ringworm), which is a fungal infection, or conditions like psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff), which cause inflamed skin and scaling, Alopecia areata results in smooth, round patches of complete hair loss without an inflammatory reaction on the scalp.

Other conditions, such as traction alopecia, result from physical stress on the hair follicles due to tight hairstyles. However, none of these conditions closely match the symptoms of Alopecia areata.