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Background Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) has become one of the most common causes of cicatricial alopecia worldwide. However, there is a lack of clear aetiology and robust clinical trial evidence for the efficacy and safety of agents currently used for treatment. Objectives To enable data to be collected worldwide on FFA using common criteria and assessment methods. Methods A multicentre, international group of experts in hair loss was convened by email to create consensus recommendations for clinical trials. Consensus was defined at > 90% agreement on each recommended part of these guidelines. Results Standardized diagnostic criteria, severity rating, staging, and investigator and patient assessment of scalp hair loss and other clinical features of FFA were created. Conclusions These guidelines should allow the collection of reliable aggregate data on FFA and advance efforts in both clinical and basic research to close knowledge gaps in this condition.

Hair represents an important aspect of human individuality. The possibility of having an easy to handle hairstyle and changing it from time to time promoted an increasing search for chemical hair transformations, including permanent wavings (PW). PW is the chemical process used to convert straight into curly hair. Significant findings have been made in this field within the last three decades. In the past few years, PW has come back up to date, helping to define curls in wavy and curly hair and to create waves in straight hair. "Afro permanent" and "Beach waves" are some popular names for these new uses of PW. The primary safety concerns for PW generally arise from misuse or failure to comply with the product's usage instructions. Skin irritation, hair breakage, oral toxicity, sensitization, and scarring alopecia have been reported in the literature. Therefore, dermatologists need to understand well this matter to properly advise patients on how to get the best outcome without hazards. This review aims to discuss the main types of reducing agents used, the different techniques, the consequences to hair shafts, and the most important patients' recommendations on this topic.

Temporal triangular alopecia, also referred as congenital triangular alopecia, is an uncommon dermatosis of unknown etiology. It is characterized by a non-scarring, circumscribed alopecia often located unilaterally in the frontotemporal region. It usually emerges at ages 2-9 years. Alopecia areata is the main differential diagnosis, especially in atypical cases. Dermoscopy is a noninvasive procedure that helps distinguish temporal triangular alopecia from aloepecia areata. Such procedure prevents invasive diagnostic methods as well as ineffective treatments.

A 33-year-old woman presented with a 3-year history of progressive alopecia of the scalp. Past treatment with hydroxicloroquine did not show improvement. Physical examination revealed multiple areas of alopecia with atrophic aspect of the scalp, and axillary and pubic hypotrichosis. Dermoscopy showed hyperkeratosis and accentuation of follicular ostia. Anatomopathological examination revealed decrease in the number of hair follicles, upper perifollicular infiltrate and areas with fibrosis. The Piccardi-Lassueur-Graham-Little syndrome is a rare disorder, characterized by the triad of multifocal scarring alopecia of the scalp, keratotic follicular eruption and hypotrichosis of axillary and pubic regions. Management is a challenge and many medications tried have controversial results. We report a case of this rare syndrome which improved with corticoids.

Prospective study compared the agreement between the direct microscopy and fungical culture from subungueal samples of the patients with clinical suspicion of feet's onychomycosis. The agreement occurred in 56.1% of the exams with dermatophytes, in 52.4% by others fungi and in 90.4% of the negative cases, 0,54 according to the Kappa`s test. In 39.3% of the onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes and 31.8% by nondermatophytes, these were identificated only for direct microscopy. The direct microscopic showed more sensibility compared with the culture, being superior in 19.5% of the total sample and maintaining agreement with the culture in 71.5% of the sample.

Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated infective dermatitis (ID) is a chronic, severe and recurrent eczema occurring during childhood in patients vertically infected with HTLV-1. HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesia (HAM/ TSP) is slow and progressive. We report the case of an adolescent female from a non-endemic area for HTLV-1 who presents ID and, most likely, associated HAM/TSP.

Congenital hypotrichosis and Stargardt macular dystrophy are rare autosomal recessive disorder of unk nown etiology respectively characterized by hair loss, macular degeneration and severe progressive vision reduc tion. There are few reports in the literature with this association. Studies show that the defective gene is on the chro mosome I6q22.1 and involve cadherin molecule in the pathogenesis. Early recognition of these disorders often starts with hair changes and should alert the dermatologist for an eye examination thereby avoiding more severe ocular defect.

A 12-year-old boy with difficulty in wound healing and scars of unusual appearance was examined. Thin, shiny and protruding skin, characterizing pseudotumoral lesions, was observed on his knees and elbows. Loose joints and increased skin elasticity were also observed. Light microscopy showed rare collagen bundles and loosely dispersed collagen fibers. Irregularly distributed elastic tissue was observed, and transmission electron microscopy revealed disorganized collagen fibers. In cross sections under high magnifications, fibers of varying diameters could be seen, as well as an irregular fiber outline. Scanning electron microscopy of the dermis showed disorganized collagen fibers, which were rarely arranged in bundles. Isolated and crossed-over fibers were also found