Clinical Evaluation of Alopecias Using a Handheld Dermatoscope

In a study with 144 patients with alopecia and 144 matched controls, a handheld dermatoscope was used to evaluate its effectiveness in diagnosing different types of alopecia. The study, conducted from November 2008 to September 2009, identified specific dermatoscopic features associated with various alopecias: hair diameter diversity, peripilar sign, and empty follicles in androgenetic alopecia; yellow dots, black dots, tapering hairs, and broken hairs in alopecia areata; and several features such as absence of follicular openings and tufted hairs in primary cicatricial alopecias. The study concluded that the handheld dermatoscope, especially when combined with a digital camera, is a useful tool for diagnosing different types of alopecias.