Trichoscopy: a new frontier for the diagnosis of hair diseases

Figures & data

Figure 1. Revised algorithm for trichoscopic diagnosis of hair loss diseases.

Figure 2. Trichoscopic images of characteristic features in various kinds of hair loss.

(A) loss of orifices in linear scleroderma (sclerodermie en coup de sabre), (B) broken hairs, (C) black dots, (D) tapering hairs (exclamation mark hairs), (E) yellow dots and (F) short vellus hairs in alopecia areata, (G) micropustules and (H) hair tufting with six or more hairs in folliculitis decalvans/tufted folliculitis, (I) comma hairs in tinea capitis, and (J) short vellus hairs in androgenetic alopecia.

Table 1. Characteristic trichoscopic features of hair shaft abnormalities.

Study (year)	Disease	Trichoscopic feature	Ref.
Rakowska et al. (2007) Wallace et al. (2009)	Monilethrix	Regularly bended ribbon sign	[11]
Wallace et al. (2009)	Chemically dyed	Hair color change, sharply demarcated	[62]
Wallace et al. (2009) Rakowska et al. (2008)	Netherton syndrome	Nodules on hair shaft Golf tee-like end	[62] [60,61]
Wallace et al, (2009)	Bubble hair	Dysmorphia of distal hair shaft	[62]
Wallace et al. (2009) Rakowska et al. (2008)	Pili annulati	Subtle spangly, shimmering appearance with alternating light and black areas Regular width, white bands with misty appearance	[60,62]
Wallace et al. (2009)	Pili torti	Twists in hair shafts	[62]
Rakowska et al. (2008)	Woolly hair syndrome	Crawling snake appearance	[60]
Wallace et al. (2009)	Hair casts	Keratin casts adhering to hair shafts	[62]

Activity Evaluation: Where 1 is strongly disagree and 5 is strongly agree

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1. The activity supported the learning objectives.
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3. The content learned from this activity will impact my practice.
4. The activity was presented objectively and free of commercial bias.

Rakowska A, Slowinska M, Czuwara J, Olszewska M, Rudnicka L. Dermoscopy as a tool for rapid diagnosis of monilethrix. J. Drugs Dermatol. 6(2), 222–224 (2007).

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Rakowska A, Slowinska M, Kowalska-Oledzka E, Rudnicka L. Trichoscopy in genetic hair shaft abnormalities. J. Dermatol. Case Rep. 2(2), 14–20 (2008).

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