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Black piedra - Hair and Scalp
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Black piedra - Hair and Scalp

Contributors: Chris G. Adigun MD, Mary Gail Mercurio MD, Jeffrey D. Bernhard MD, Lowell A. Goldsmith MD, MPH
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Black piedra, also known as trichosporosis or nodular trichomycosis, is a superficial mycosis of the hair shaft caused by Piedraia hortae, a pigmented fungus. Patients present with darkly pigmented nodular concretions on the hair of the beard, scalp, brows, or lashes; it may occur less commonly in the axillae or pubic region. The nodules are distributed in an irregular array along the hair shaft. Black piedra is chronic and asymptomatic.

Most cases occur primarily in tropical regions with heavy rainfall, especially in South America and Asia, among young men and women and children. The most critical predisposing factors to infection are humidity and poor personal hygiene.

Codes

ICD10CM:
B36.3 – Black piedra

SNOMEDCT:
33666009 – Black piedra

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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

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Therapy

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References

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Last Updated:10/27/2010
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Black piedra - Hair and Scalp
A medical illustration showing key findings of Black piedra : Concretions on hair
Clinical image of Black piedra - imageId=4717788. Click to open in gallery.
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