Introduction: Alopecia areata (AA) is a high-prevalence immuno-mediated hair loss disorder. Extra follicular affections, including nail and ocular abnormalities, are classically related to a worse prognosis of the disease, and previous studies have suggested that the presence of a persistent nuchal nevus flammeus (NNF) also indicates a greater severity and duration of the disease. The association between AA and persistent NNF was first described by Hatzis et al in 1988, who demonstrated that the relation was statistically evident and not due to a simple observer bias.
Objectives: To determine and compare the presence/absence and size of the NNF in 80 individuals (40 patients diagnosed with AA and 40 controls).
Results: We found a statistically significant association not only between AA and the presence of NNF, but also with its size. Moreover, we found that the size of the NNF was also associated with the severity of AA.
Conclusion: The size of the NNF in AA patients might be a useful marker of widespread and chronic disease.
Keywords: Alopecia areata; nevus simplex; nuchal nevus flammeus; salmon patch.