hair loss

Interactive Quiz: Spontaneous Hair Loss

  • Outcomes of Both Cases

     

    White piedra is one of many interesting and rare challenges that present in operational medicine. This case may represent a rare instance of person-to-person transmission of the pathologic organism, possibility stemming from the harsh conditions while living on a deployed aircraft carrier. Additionally, because both patients did not desire to shave their hair off as part of treatment, both were successfully treated with 10 weeks of oral and topical antifungals. This further supports the viability of this alternative less-aggressive treatment.

     

    Disclosure:

     

    The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, the Department of Defense, or the United States Government.

     

    References:

     

    1. Hay RJ, Moore MK. Mycology. In: Burns T, Breathnach S, Cox N, Griffiths C, eds. Rook’s Textbook of Dermatology. Vol 2. 7th ed. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing Inc; 2004:chap 31.
    2. Tambe SA, Dhurat SR, Kumar CA, et al. Two cases of scalp white piedra caused by Trichosporon ovoides. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2009;75(3):293-295.
    3. Kalter DC, Tschen JA, Cernoch PL, et al. Genital white piedra: epidemiology, microbiology, and therapy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1986;14(6):982-993.
    4. Ellner K, McBride ME, Rosen T, Berman D. Prevalence of Trichosporon beigelii: colonization of normal perigenital skin. J Med Vet Mycol. 1991;29(2):99-103.
    5. Guidelines of care for superficial mycotic infections of the skin: Piedra. Guidelines/Outcomes Committee. American Academy of Dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1996;34(1):122-124.
    6. Khandpur S, Reddy BS. Itraconazole therapy for white piedra affecting scalp hair. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002;47(3):415-418.
    7. Gold I, Sommer B, Urson S, Schewach-Millet M. White piedra: a frequently misdiagnosed infection of hair. Int J Dermatol. 1984;23(9):621-623

     

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    Author:

    Robert J. Long, MD

    Lieutenant and flight surgeon, US Navy Medical Corps, Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, South Carolina.

     

    Citation:

    Long RJ. Hair breakage and spontaneous hair loss in 2 sailors aboard an aircraft carrier. Consultant. 2017;57(3). https://www.consultant360.com/articles/hair-breakage-and-spontaneous-hair-loss-2-sailors-aboard-aircraft-carrier