All of the following are causes of cicatrizing alopecia except –
**Question:** All of the following are causes of cicatrizing alopecia except -
A. Trauma (e.g., burns, lacerations, surgical procedures)
B. Autoimmune disorders (e.g., alopecia areata, lichen planopilaris)
C. Dermatitis (e.g., psoriasis, eczema)
D. Nutritional deficiencies (e.g., iron deficiency, vitamin A deficiency)
**Core Concept:**
Cicatrizing alopecia, also known as scarring alopecia, is a hair loss condition characterized by the formation of scar tissue in the hair follicle region, leading to permanent hair loss. There are several potential causes of cicatrizing alopecia, including trauma, autoimmune disorders, dermatitis, and nutritional deficiencies.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right:**
The correct answer is D, Nutritional deficiencies (e.g., iron deficiency, vitamin A deficiency) because nutritional deficiencies typically cause non-cicatrizing forms of alopecia, such as telogen effluvium or alopecia areata, which are non-scarring forms of hair loss. Nutritional deficiencies do not specifically cause cicatrizing alopecia as they do not lead to the formation of scar tissue in the hair follicle region.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect:**
A. Trauma (e.g., burns, lacerations, surgical procedures) - Trauma, including burns, lacerations, and surgical procedures, can lead to cicatrizing alopecia as they cause direct damage to the hair follicles, leading to scarring and subsequent hair loss.
B. Autoimmune disorders (e.g., alopecia areata, lichen planopilaris) - Autoimmune disorders like alopecia areata and lichen planopilaris are associated with cicatrizing alopecia, as they involve an immune system response that damages hair follicles, leading to scarring and permanent hair loss.
C. Dermatitis (e.g., psoriasis, eczema) - Dermatitis, including psoriasis and eczema, can cause non-cicatrizing alopecia by inflammation and follicular damage. However, they do not specifically lead to scarring, which is characteristic of cicatrizing alopecia.
In summary, while trauma, autoimmune disorders, and dermatitis can cause alopecia, they do not specifically result in cicatrizing alopecia. Nutritional deficiencies, on the other hand, lead to non-cicatrizing alopecia by causing follicular damage but do not result in scarring.
**Clinical Pearls:**
1. Trauma, autoimmune disorders, and dermatitis are often associated with alopecia but not cicatrizing alopecia.
2. Nutritional deficiencies may cause follicular damage leading to alopecia