Gamze Taş AYGAR, Muhammed Salih KARAGÖZ, Hanife KARATAŞ, Erkin Berkay YILMAZ, Selda Pelin KARTAL
Archives of Current Medical Research - 2026;7(1):50-60
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of non-scarring alopecia and the influencing factors in female patients presenting with hair loss. Methods: A total of 213 female patients were included. Clinical diagnoses of telogen effluvium (TE), traction alopecia (TA), and androgenetic alopecia (AGA) were established. Laboratory evaluations included thyroid function (TSH, T4), vitamin and mineral levels (vitamin D, B12, folate), ferritin, and hemoglobin. Hair styling habits, headscarf use, and dermoscopic findings were also assessed. Results: TE was the most prevalent type, observed in 75.6% of patients, with ferritin levels significantly associated with its presence. TA was identified in 41.8%, and its risk was significantly higher in individuals wearing headscarves (p<0.05), especially among those styling hair in tight buns or ponytails (OR: 26.65). TA severity correlated with the duration of headscarf use; individuals with >=20 years of use demonstrated increased perifollicular erythema and loss of follicular openings, suggestive of chronic mechanical stress. AGA was detected in 31.4% of patients and was more common with advancing age. Most AGA patients had a positive family history. Dermoscopic features significantly associated with AGA included hair diameter variation, vellus hairs, and yellow dots. Conclusion: In the assessment of non-scarring alopecia, both clinical and dermoscopic findings should be interpreted in light of individual lifestyle and cultural practices, which may play a contributory role in disease development and severity.
