Trichoscopic findings in different types of alopecia

Background and Aim: Trichoscopy is a non-invasive diagnostic tool for hair diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the trichoscopic findings in different types of alopecia.  Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 155 alopecia patients referring to Hamadan’s Sina hospital from March 2019 to July 2020. The patients were recruited after giving written informed consent. Scalp biopsy was performed to confirm the diagnosis and trichoscopic evaluation was then carried out. Trichoscopic findings along with demographic data were recorded. Data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0 software and appropriate statistical methods. Results: A total of 155 patients including 79 males and 76 females were included in the study. The most common trichoscopic finding in alopecia areata was vellus hair (95.5%). The most common finding in androgenetic alopecia (AGA) was hair shaft thickness heterogeneity which was observed in all AGA patients. The most common findings in telogen effluvium (TE) were single hair pilosebaceous units, peripilar sign, thin terminal hairs and upright regrowing hairs which were observed in all TE patients. The most common finding in lichen planopilaris was perifollicular scaling (81.8%). The most common findings in discoid lupus erythematosus were large yellow dots (100%) and fine scaling (100%). Black dot was the most prevalent finding in tinea capitis (85.7%).  Conclusion: Trichoscopy ,as a non-invasive tool, could be helpful in differentiating different types of alopecia.