Pseudopélade L66.0

Brocq, 1884; Neumann, 1869;

For historical reasons still used today as a clinical collective term for a mostly heart-shaped, scarred hairlessness (alopecia) associated with follicle destruction. The pseudopélade is not a nosological entity but denotes the final state of nosologically different processes (lichen planus, folliculitis decalvans; chronic discoid lupus erythematosus, etc.) which lead to a similar clinical result: the scarring of the capillitium associated with hairlessness. The term pseudopélade should only be used if an underlying disease cannot or can no longer be identified. In the case of a congenital finding, the healing state of aplasia cutis congenita is present.

• A causal therapy (of the now scarred final state of a previous disease) is not known, possibly hair-bearing full skin transplants (see hair transplantation).
• For smaller areas, a complete excision of the hairless area can be considered.
• Treatment of the underlying disease, see there.

1. Amato L et al (2002) A multiparametric approach is essential to define different clinicopathological entities within pseudopelade of Brocq. Br J Dermatol 146: 532-533
2. Braun-Falco O et al. (1989) Pseudopélade Brocq. dermatologist 40: 77-83
3. Brocq L (1885) Alopecia. J Cutan Genito-Urinary Dis 3: 50-51
4. Brocq L, Lenglet E, Ayrignac J (1905) Recherches sur l'alopecie atrophiante, variété pseudopelade. Ann Dermatol Syphilol (France) 6: 1-32, 97-127, 209-237
5. Madani S et al (2000) Pseudopelade of Brocq in beard area. J Am Acad Dermatol 42: 895-896
6. Salim A et al (2003) A multiparametric approach is essential to define different clinicopathological entities within pseudopelade of Brocq. Br J Dermatol 148: 1271