Trichotillomania: a case report with clinical and dermatoscopic differential diagnosis with alopecia areata

Abstract

Trichotillomania is a psychodermatologic disorder characterized by uncontrollable urge to pull one's own hair. Differential diagnoses include the most common forms of alopecia such as alopecia areata. It is usually associated with depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Trichotillomania treatment standardization is a gap in the medical literature. Recent studies demonstrated the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (a glutamate modulator) for the treatment of the disease. We report the clinical case of a 12-year-old female patient who received the initial diagnosis of alopecia areata, but presented with clinical and dermoscopic features of trichotillomania. She was treated with the combination of psychotropic drugs and N-acetylcysteine with good clinical response. Due to the chronic and recurring nature of trichotillomania, more studies need to be conducted for the establishment of a formal treatment algorithm.

INTRODUCTION

Trichotillomania (TTM) is characterized - according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) - by persistent hair pulling behavior, resulting in noticeable hair loss. Patients report feeling anxious before pulling their hair out and pleasure, satisfaction, or relief after doing it. The disturbance is not accounted for by another mental disorder and is not due to a general medical condition. It causes significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.¹ Clinical studies suggest that the prevalence of TTM varies from 0.6% to 3% and is more common in female patients.² Differential diagnoses include more common alopecias such as alopecia areata (AA). TTM may be associated with depression, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.^2,3 These associations, combined with the poor knowledge regarding the diagnosis and course of the disease, make treatment more difficult, which is still considered a challenge by the lack of systematization in the literature. We report a case of TTM that was initially diagnosed as AA. Our goal is to highlight the importance of clinical and dermatoscopic differential diagnosis between these two entities, as well as to exemplify our TTM patient's good response to treatment.

CASE REPORT

A 12-year-old female patient, accompanied by her mother, reported hair loss for the past six months after a family conflict. She had been previously diagnosed with AA and started topical treatment with minoxidil and clobetasol without improvement. The mother noted that, when the patient was nervous, she had an uncontrollable urge to manipulate the scalp, which intensified hair loss confirmed by the accumulation of hair around her. Dermatological examination revealed diffuse thinning with short, jagged, and broken hairs, and negative tensile test (Figure 1). At dermoscopy, we noticed different hair lengths with broken shafts, vellus hair, V-sign or ballerina baldness aspect, and numerous black spots. We observed no exclamation point hairs, nor yellow dots (Figure 2). The patient refused to biopsy of the scalp. We established a clinical and dermatoscopic diagnosis of TTM and began treatment with doxepin (10 mg/daily), fluoxetine (20 mg/daily), pimozide (2 mg/ daily), and N-acetylcysteine (600 mg/every 8 hours). In addition, the patient was referred for psychological evaluation. She showed progressive improvement in the 6-month follow-up, with noticeable increase in capillary density and improved TTM dermoscopy findings (Figures 3 and 4).

Figure 1.

In the first consultation, we observed diffuse and irregular hair thinning with short hairs Figure

Figure 2.

Dermoscopy revealed broken hairs of different lengths, vellus hair (black arrow), V-sign or ballerina baldness aspect (red circle), and numerous black dots (blue circle). Alopecia areata features – such as exclamation point hairs and yellow dots – were not observed

Figure 3.

We observed progressive improvement in the six months follow-up, with noticeable increase in capillary density. Compare figures A and B (before treatment) to figures C and D (after sixth months of treatment)

Figure 4.

Dermoscopy showed an increase in capillary density, improvement of trichotillomania findings and hairs in the growth phase

DISCUSSION

TTM was first described in 1889 by Hallopeau. It is currently ranked among the habit and impulse control disorders.^2,3 Age at TTM onset varies from 9-13 years, and is more common in females, epidemiological characteristics consistent with our patient's. The main differential diagnosis of TTM is AA, which affects the same gender and age group and sometimes have very similar clinical features. Classical pictures of AA reveal smooth and shiny alopecia patches with ragged edges due to traction.⁴ TTM, in its turn, reveals multifocal and irregular alopecia patches formed by multiple broken hairs with negative traction. Some reports, however, associate the two diseases, which poses a diagnostic challenge to clinicians.^5,6 In this scenario, dermoscopy has emerged as a noninvasive and useful tool in the diagnosis of the disease.^4,7 Indicatives of TTM findings include black dots, coiled hairs, shafts of various lengths, broom fibers, and V-sign (trichoptilosis). Exclamation point hairs, which are suggestive of AA, are commonly absent.⁴ Therapy for TTM still lacks scientific evidence and is based on case reports.^7-9 Some strategies used include psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and drugs - such as lithium salts, tricyclic antidepressants (TADs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and antipsychotics. Recently, N-acetylcysteine has been proposed as an effective alternative treatment^3,9,10 since the drug restores the extracellular glutamate concentration in the nucleus accumbens (low levels of extracellular glutamate concentration have been held responsible for the pathogenesis of compulsive behaviors, including the TTM).¹⁰ In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial comparing N-acetylcysteine with placebo at doses ranging from 1.200 mg/daily to 2400 mg/daily, it was observed that N-acetylcysteine was more effective and safer.¹⁰ It is noteworthy that, due to the chronic and relapsing nature of TTM, more studies need to be conducted in order to establish a formal treatment algorithm. We conclude that differential diagnosis between AA and MTA - two diseases affecting similar clinical profiles with potential stigmatising implications - is key to establish the correct therapeutic approach for each of the conditions.