Hair and scalp dermatoscopy

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 67; no. 5; pp. 1040 - 1048
• Main Authors: Miteva, Mariya, MD, Tosti, Antonella, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.11.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: alopecia; Alopecia - diagnosis; Alopecia - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatitis, Seborrheic - diagnosis; Dermatology; Dermoscopy; hair disease; Hair Follicle - pathology; hair loss; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid - diagnosis; Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid - pathology; Medical sciences; nonscarring alopecia; Psoriasis - diagnosis; Scalp Dermatoses - diagnosis; Scalp Dermatoses - pathology; scalp disease; scarring alopecia; Skin Diseases - diagnosis; Skin Diseases - pathology; Tinea Capitis - diagnosis; trichoscopy; Trichotillomania - diagnosis; Trichotillomania - pathology; videodermatoscopy; AA; FFA; frontal fibrosing alopecia; nonscarring alopecia; hair loss; videodermatoscopy; LPP; hair disease; discoid lupus erythematosus; alopecia; scalp disease; trichoscopy; scarring alopecia; AGA; alopecia areata; DLE; lichen planopilaris; androgenetic alopecia; Hair (head); Hair; Scalp; Dermatology
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2012.02.013

Dermatoscopy is a noninvasive diagnostic tool that allows the recognition of morphologic structures not visible by the naked eye. Trichoscopy (scalp dermatoscopy and videodermatoscopy) is useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of hair and scalp disorders. However, it is not widely used in the management of hair disorders. This review provides updated information from the literature and our experience on the dermoscopic features of the most common hair and scalp disorders. This will enable dermatologists to make fast diagnoses of tinea capitis and alopecia areata, distinguish early androgenetic alopecia from telogen effluvium, and differentiate scarring from nonscarring alopecia.