Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Ophiasis
Introduction
Ophiasis is a form of alopecia areata characterized by the the loss of hair in the shape of a wave at the circumference of the head. [1]
It gets its name from “ophis”, which is the Greek word for snake, because of the apparent similarity to a snake-shape and the pattern of hair loss.[2]
The term “sisaipho” is used to characterize the inverse pattern. Sisaipho is the reverse spelling of ophiasis.[3] It is also called “ophiasis inversus”.[4]
References
References
- ↑ “DermaCase”. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ↑ “Definition: ophiasis from Online Medical Dictionary”. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ↑ “eMedicine – Alopecia Areata : Article by Chantal Bolduc, MD, FRCPC”. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ↑ Muñoz-Pèrez MA, Camacho FM (1999). “Sisaipho. Why ophiasis inversus?”. Pediatr Dermatol. 16 (1): 76. PMID 10028012.