Background: Alopecia areata is an inflammatory condition of hair follicle which leads to patchy or total hair loss that has the potential to spontaneously regrow. Regrowth may be facilitated by corticosteroids, contact irritants, contact allergens or phototherapy. Targetoid and concentric patterns of hair regrowth have been observed. Initial regrowth is lighter finer and has a soft texture and later acquire the healthy colour and diameter. The changes occurring in the macroscopic and microscopic level within the follicular unit during the process of regrowth are not well documented.
Methods: We studied steroid induced regrowth following alopecia areata using hand held epiluminescent microscope and compared the difference in the hair colour, diameter and the number of hair emerging from each follicular units in different stages of hair regrowth.
Results: In the initial stage of regrowth, a single terminal hair exited each pore. Subsequently, multiple terminal hairs were observed exiting each pore (compound follicles)
Conclusion: These observations suggest that hair regrowth following alopecia areata begins with single hair follicular units and gradually progresses to compound follicular units. Histological data are necessary to further study the structure of the follicular unit at different stages of hair regrowth.