TLDR Syphilitic alopecia can be effectively diagnosed and treated, leading to hair regrowth.
Syphilitic alopecia, a manifestation of secondary syphilis, occurs in 2.9%-7% of cases and can present as moth-eaten, generalized thinning, or mixed pattern alopecia. A case study of a 38-year-old male with mixed pattern alopecia and bilateral postauricular lymphadenopathy revealed positive syphilis tests and characteristic trichoscopic findings. Treatment with a single dose of benzathine penicillin led to significant hair regrowth and resolution of lymphadenopathy. The study suggests that lymph node and hair examination, along with trichoscopy, can be effective noninvasive diagnostic tools for alopecia syphilitica.
4 citations
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May 2022 in “Frontiers in Medicine” About 11% of patients with secondary syphilis had Syphilitic Alopecia, which usually improved with treatment.
3 citations
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February 2022 in “Cureus” Frontal fibrosing alopecia can sometimes look like syphilitic hair loss.
32 citations
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July 2017 in “Dermatology practical & conceptual” New hair and skin changes were found in a rare case of syphilis-related hair loss.
29 citations
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January 2017 in “Skin appendage disorders” Hair loss due to syphilis can be identified using trichoscopy and is treatable with antibiotics.
45 citations
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January 2015 in “Dermatology” Hair loss in secondary syphilis is more common than thought and can be reversed with antibiotics.
7 citations
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November 2006 in “Pediatric Dermatology” A newborn with congenital syphilis had unusual hair loss possibly caused by the infection.
53 citations
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May 1995 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Syphilis can cause hair loss that looks like other conditions, but it improves with treatment.
January 2010 in “Elsevier eBooks” The document concludes that different types of hair loss have specific treatments, and early diagnosis is crucial for preventing permanent hair loss.
2 citations
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July 2023 in “Life” COVID-19 can cause temporary hair loss, which is commonly reversible with treatment.
7 citations
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July 2019 in “Clinics in Dermatology” Hair loss can indicate or worsen with systemic diseases, and treating the underlying condition is important.
December 2021 in “Journal of clinical images and medical case reports” Moth-eaten alopecia is linked to various skin diseases and requires early treatment to prevent worsening.
46 citations
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June 2018 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” Hair loss is common in lupus patients and can be permanent or reversible, depending on the type, with various treatments available.
