**12. Differential diagnosis**

The pattern of hair thinning or shedding can be helpful in the differential diagnosis. Diffuse thinning of the scalp hair in both temporal regions is highly suggestive of TE [33]. Frontal fibrosing alopecia almost particularly affects the frontal and frontotemporal hairlines. In case of traction alopecia, the periphery of the scalp is usually affected. Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) typically begins at the vertex of the scalp, expanding centrifugally [34]. Alopecia areata may present in varying patterns. The patchy type is usually localized, whereas a more diffuse pattern has also been described [29, 35].
