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Trichoscopy

Trichoscopy Trichoscopy, a new ancillary method for diagnosis of hair loss, uses videodermoscopy (or dermoscopy) of hair, scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes to visualize and measure hair at high magnification. The usual working magnifications are 20-fold to 70-fold. While the handheld dermoscope with 10-fold magnification may give easy and quick evaluation of hair, it does not precisely measure or document. Trichoscopy is not used to detect or evaluate scalp tumors. The use of trichoscopy to investigate scalp abnormalities in persons with hair loss dates back to the early 1990s, but the method gained popularity in recent years. In 2004, Lacarrubba et al1 first described videodermoscopic features of alopecia areata. In 2005, Olszewska and Rudnicka2 first used videodermoscopy for evaluation of disease severity in androgenic alopecia and for monitoring treatment efficacy. In 2006, Ross et al3 specified videodermoscopy features of different acquired hair and scalp diseases. In 2006, the term trichoscopy for hair and scalp videodermoscopy in hair loss diagnostics was first used.4 New data show that trichoscopy may easily replace light microscopic evaluation of pulled hairs in genetic hair shaft abnormalities, such as monilethrix, Netherton syndrome, or pili annulati.4 The method allows quick identification of hair shaft abnormalities without the need of hair sampling for ex vivo evaluation. It is also a helpful tool in differential diagnosis of common acquired hair diseases, such as androgenic alopecia or diffuse alopecia areata. Features such as hair thickness, number of hairs in 1 pilosebaceous unit, or teriminal to vellus hair ratio may be assessed. Visualization of hair follicle ostia allows identification of follicles that appear normal, empty, fibrotic (“white dots”), filled with hyperkeratotic plugs (“yellow dots”), or containing cadaverized hairs (“black dots”). Abnormalities of scalp skin color and/or structure that may be visualized by trichoscopy include honeycomb-type hyperpigmentation, perifollicular discoloration (hyperpigmentation), and perifollicular fibrosis as well as abnormal perifollicular microvasulature.3 Characteristic trichoscopy features of distinct diseases are currently being investigated. References 1. Lacarrubba FDall'Oglio FRita Nasca M et al. Videodermatoscopy enhances diagnostic capability in some forms of hair loss. Am J Clin Dermatol 2004;5 (3) 205- 208PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 2. Olszewska MRudnicka L Effective treatment of female androgenic alopecia with dutasteride. J Drugs Dermatol 2005;4 (5) 637- 640PubMedGoogle Scholar 3. Ross EKVincenzi CTosti A Videodermoscopy in the evaluation of hair and scalp disorders. J Am Acad Dermatol 2006;55 (5) 799- 806PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 4. Rudnicka LOlszewska MMajsterek MCzuwara JSlowinska M Presence and future of dermoscopy [meeting report]. Expert Rev Dermatol 2006;1 (6) 769- 772Google ScholarCrossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Dermatology American Medical Association

Trichoscopy

Abstract

Trichoscopy, a new ancillary method for diagnosis of hair loss, uses videodermoscopy (or dermoscopy) of hair, scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes to visualize and measure hair at high magnification. The usual working magnifications are 20-fold to 70-fold. While the handheld dermoscope with 10-fold magnification may give easy and quick evaluation of hair, it does not precisely measure or document. Trichoscopy is not used to detect or evaluate scalp tumors. The use of trichoscopy to investigate...
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References (4)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-987X
eISSN
1538-3652
DOI
10.1001/archderm.144.8.1007
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Trichoscopy, a new ancillary method for diagnosis of hair loss, uses videodermoscopy (or dermoscopy) of hair, scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes to visualize and measure hair at high magnification. The usual working magnifications are 20-fold to 70-fold. While the handheld dermoscope with 10-fold magnification may give easy and quick evaluation of hair, it does not precisely measure or document. Trichoscopy is not used to detect or evaluate scalp tumors. The use of trichoscopy to investigate scalp abnormalities in persons with hair loss dates back to the early 1990s, but the method gained popularity in recent years. In 2004, Lacarrubba et al1 first described videodermoscopic features of alopecia areata. In 2005, Olszewska and Rudnicka2 first used videodermoscopy for evaluation of disease severity in androgenic alopecia and for monitoring treatment efficacy. In 2006, Ross et al3 specified videodermoscopy features of different acquired hair and scalp diseases. In 2006, the term trichoscopy for hair and scalp videodermoscopy in hair loss diagnostics was first used.4 New data show that trichoscopy may easily replace light microscopic evaluation of pulled hairs in genetic hair shaft abnormalities, such as monilethrix, Netherton syndrome, or pili annulati.4 The method allows quick identification of hair shaft abnormalities without the need of hair sampling for ex vivo evaluation. It is also a helpful tool in differential diagnosis of common acquired hair diseases, such as androgenic alopecia or diffuse alopecia areata. Features such as hair thickness, number of hairs in 1 pilosebaceous unit, or teriminal to vellus hair ratio may be assessed. Visualization of hair follicle ostia allows identification of follicles that appear normal, empty, fibrotic (“white dots”), filled with hyperkeratotic plugs (“yellow dots”), or containing cadaverized hairs (“black dots”). Abnormalities of scalp skin color and/or structure that may be visualized by trichoscopy include honeycomb-type hyperpigmentation, perifollicular discoloration (hyperpigmentation), and perifollicular fibrosis as well as abnormal perifollicular microvasulature.3 Characteristic trichoscopy features of distinct diseases are currently being investigated. References 1. Lacarrubba FDall'Oglio FRita Nasca M et al. Videodermatoscopy enhances diagnostic capability in some forms of hair loss. Am J Clin Dermatol 2004;5 (3) 205- 208PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 2. Olszewska MRudnicka L Effective treatment of female androgenic alopecia with dutasteride. J Drugs Dermatol 2005;4 (5) 637- 640PubMedGoogle Scholar 3. Ross EKVincenzi CTosti A Videodermoscopy in the evaluation of hair and scalp disorders. J Am Acad Dermatol 2006;55 (5) 799- 806PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 4. Rudnicka LOlszewska MMajsterek MCzuwara JSlowinska M Presence and future of dermoscopy [meeting report]. Expert Rev Dermatol 2006;1 (6) 769- 772Google ScholarCrossref

Journal

Archives of DermatologyAmerican Medical Association

Published: Aug 18, 2008

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