Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease. In the early stages of scleroderma in the skin inflammatory cells can be seen in the dermis. However, this inflammation gradually diminishes over time as the skin becomes increasingly abnormal. Scleroderma involves a gradual hardening and tightening of the skin due to excessive collagen production. The excessive collagen stops the normal functioning of hair follicles in a way that might be described as "suffocation" or "strangulation". Although there is a lot of collagen in the skin and there is atrophy of affected hair follicles, there is very little actual scar tissue formation.
Excess collagen production occurs in patches and consequently hair loss also develops in distinct areas. The first symptoms of localized skin scleroderma in hair bearing areas may involve a premature graying of the hair shortly followed by hair loss. Hair loss may be progressive with patches gradually expanding in size over several years. When hair loss occurs on the scalp in a linear fashion it is given the description "en coup de sabre". It was apparently given this name because the strip of hair loss resembles the scar of a sabre cut. Treatment of en coup de sabre involves surgery to remove the affected area of skin.
Read More at Keratin.com
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease. In the early stages of scleroderma in the skin inflammatory cells can be seen in the dermis. However, this inflammation gradually diminishes over time as the skin becomes increasingly abnormal. Scleroderma involves a gradual hardening and tightening of the skin due to excessive collagen production. The excessive collagen stops the normal functioning of hair follicles in a way that might be described as "suffocation" or "strangulation". Although there is a lot of collagen in the skin and there is atrophy of affected hair follicles, there is very little actual scar tissue formation.
Excess collagen production occurs in patches and consequently hair loss also develops in distinct areas. The first symptoms of localized skin scleroderma in hair bearing areas may involve a premature graying of the hair shortly followed by hair loss. Hair loss may be progressive with patches gradually expanding in size over several years. When hair loss occurs on the scalp in a linear fashion it is given the description "en coup de sabre". It was apparently given this name because the strip of hair loss resembles the scar of a sabre cut. Treatment of en coup de sabre involves surgery to remove the affected area of skin.
Read More at Keratin.com