system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 28-year-old man is referred to the dermatologist for 2 months of increasing appearance of multiple smooth, circular patches of complete hair loss on his scalp. He says that the patches have associated pruritus and a burning sensation, and are not improving with the over-the-counter products recommended by his hair stylist. He denies pulling his hair intentionally. Physical examination reveals no epidermal inflammation or erythema, and no fluorescence is detected under Wood’s lamp. A punch biopsy shows a peribulbar lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate surrounding anagen follicles, resembling a swarm of bees. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?
assistant
Alopecia areata