Smoking and its role in Androgenetic Alopecia has long been debated. Smoking may lead to hair loss by vasoconstriction, by forming DNA adducts, free radical damage to hair follicle, by enhancing senescence and hormonal effects. We have reviewed the available literature on AGA and smoking. Data available show that there is a significant association between smoking and AGA. However, studies demonstrating the benefit of avoidance of smoking in improving hair loss are lacking. Furthermore, large controlled studies with histological documentation are still unavailable to affirm the findings.

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Background: The condition of the hair is closely related to the nutritional state. Normal supply, uptake, and transport of nutrients are of fundamental importance in tissues with a high biosynthetic activity such as the hair follicle. Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a nutritional-based induction and maintenance treatment for telogen effluvium formulated with a combination of hydrolyzed collagen, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Patients and Methods: The clinical studies were conducted with each nutritional treatment individually, and both in sequential combination. Anagen/telogen ratio, hair density, and tolerability of treatment were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks of induction therapy, and another 12 weeks of maintenance treatment. Trichogram results showed a significant improvement of the anagen/telogen ratio between baseline and final visit at 16 weeks, with an increase of hair in anagen and a reduction of hair in telogen. Furthermore, a significant increase was observed in hair density. The effect size of the combination treatment was higher than that of each of the two products used separately as monotherapy. Conclusions: The study results provide a proof of concept for targeted nutritional supplementation for the treatment of telogen effluvium, with a special emphasis on the role of collagen, besides specific amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.

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Background: Pediculosis is a common ectoparasitic infestation in children. There are different treatment modalities that have been used in the treatment of pediculosis capitis from time immemorial, each with their own shortcomings. Increasing emergence of resistance to permethrin has led to the lookout for newer alternatives. Aims and Objectives: The role of topical ivermectin in the management of pediculosis in people with culturally different hair grooming practices is analyzed in this study. Materials and Methods: This observational open-label clinical study was conducted in September–November 2019 in the schools that were under the rural health center at South India among school-going female children aged between 13 and 16 years of age and diagnosed with pediculosis. Results: This study demonstrated that a single application of ivermectin shampoo was able to kill head lice in 86.2% of the participants. In participants with persistent infection (13.8%), a repeat application killed the entire louse and 100% efficacy was demonstrated. Topical ivermectin is devoid of systemic side effects of oral ivermectin. Topical ivermectin has found to be more effective than contemporary recommended agents such as malathion and permethrin.

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The activity of tofacitinib for Alopecia areata (AA) has been reported but mainly from the western countries. We report the case of a young female Indian patient with AA unresponsive to therapy. Improvements in terms of hair regrowth were observed within 2 months of treatment with oral tofacitinib 5 mg BID tablets. The effectiveness of tofacitinib in hair regrowth was maintained till 5-month follow-up period. There were no side effects reported and the treatment with tofacitinib was well-tolerated.

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A sixty years postmenopausal lady presented with growing longer eyelashes for 8 years. She had thick, dark, curly eyelashes measuring 23 mm and 15 mm at the centre and periphery respectively suggesting marked trichomegaly. Increased vellus hair was noticed above lips and chin suggesting hypertrichosis. An important clue in history was the use of chemotherapeutic agent Erlotinib after bronchoscopic surgery for non-small cell lung carcinoma for the past 8 years. Erlotinib competitively binds to the tyrosine kinase domain of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor inhibiting receptor activation and blocking the signal transduction. Thus, disrupting the transition of hair growth from anagen to telogen phase, leading to aberrant anagen phase and consequently abnormal hair growth. Trichomegaly is seen after 2–5 months of treatment. Mostly innocuous, it can lead to eyelid infections and rarely corneal ulceration. EGFR inhibitors are associated with hypertrichosis in other areas, as was the case in this patient. This case highlights the significance of detailed history including drugs, thus abating additional work-up for trichomegaly.

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Alopecia areata (AA) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease which affects hair follicles. It usually presents as a transient patchy hair loss, but it can sometimes progress into more severe forms such as AA totalis or AA universalis (AAU). Different autoimmune diseases, as well as autoimmune polyglandular syndromes (APS), have been associated with AA, especially with Type I and Type II APS. Herein, we describe the case of a 16-year-old boy with a severe form of AAU and early onset of adult APS, Type III C. As far as we are aware, this combination of AAU, Hashimoto thyroiditis, and Type I diabetes in a teenager has not been previously described in the literature. Furthermore, the early onset of AAU followed by a premature debut of adult APS Type III is again unique, which is why we report this case.

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Halo nevus (HN) is benign skin condition with a central melanocytic nevus, surrounded by an area or halo of depigmentation. It is the result of immunological response of the body toward the nevus, which destroys the melanocytes in surrounding skin, leading to the depigmented halo. An increased frequency of HN in patients with vitiligo is observed. It is more commonly seen in children or young adults of either sex, particularly on the trunk, less commonly on the face, neck, and limbs. We present a rare case of HN which was present on the lower eyelid associated with poliosis, diagnosed with dermatoscopy.

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Green hair is due to insoluble copper deposits in the hair of blonde people. Although it is most frequently due to an increase in the copper content of algaecides in swimming pools, other causes have been recognized. Herewith, we present a case of a blonde girl who had previously commercially highlighted her hair and the hair had turned green following a swim in a pool with excess copper content in the water. Lifeguard swimming pool commented another previously affected blonde female swimmer 2 days ago. To date, <10 cases involving swimming pools with clearly increased copper concentrations have been published, and to the best of our knowledge, no similar case without traces of copper in X-ray microanalysis has been reported in the literature.

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