What Does Absence Of Hair On The Legs Indicate?

Posted on Tue, 27 Dec 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 27 Dec 2016 Answered on

Wed, 18 Jan 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : i have no hair on most of my legs. On the outside of my calves I have none. it looks like I shave my legs. I am not a very hairy person but in that area there is none. Doing some research it looks like there could be some underlying issues.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Need more information

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

I am dr.kakkar (dermatologist). I have gone through your query and I have noted your concern.

Since when? Did you lose hair in that region?Or you never ever had hair in that region?

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (10 minutes later)

i noticed it this past summer. I had some hair in the past but not alot.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (19 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Anterolateral leg alopecia seems to be the likely cause

Detailed Answer:
Hi. Thank you.

I would keep a possibility of either Anterolateral leg alopecia Or Alpecia areata. Most likely the first one. Anterolateral leg alopecia is common and requires no active intervention apart from reassurance about this benign condition. However, I would request you to kindly screen for thyroid status.
While anterolateral leg alopecia is confined to the legs in the distribution of the peroneal nerve, alopecia areata may also affect other body sites e.g commonly scalp, beard, moustache, eyebrows etc as smooth bald patches of hair loss.

Kindly go through the following link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC0000/

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar