Dermoscopic Features of Androgenetic Alopecia and Their Clinical Implications
September 2014
in “
Chinese Journal of Dermatology
”
androgenetic alopecia AGA MAGA FAGA hair diameter difference brown perifollicular discoloration white perifollicular discoloration yellow dots white dots localized hair shaft absence scalp pigmentation dandruff androgenic alopecia male pattern baldness female pattern baldness hair thickness variation brown follicle discoloration white follicle discoloration yellow scalp dots white scalp dots hair shaft loss scalp color change flaking scalp
TLDR Hair diameter difference, brown skin discoloration around hair follicles, and missing hair in certain areas are key signs of androgenetic alopecia (commonly known as hair loss) when viewed under a dermoscope.
The study "Dermoscopic features of androgenetic alopecia and their clinical implications" from 2014 examined the dermoscopic characteristics of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in 200 male (MAGA) and 80 female (FAGA) patients, compared to 50 healthy controls. The results showed that a hair diameter difference of >20% was observed in all MAGA and 88.8% of FAGA patients in the hair loss area. Brown perifollicular discoloration was seen in 47.0% of MAGA and 41.3% of FAGA patients. White perifollicular discoloration was seen in 23.5% of MAGA and 17.5% of FAGA patients. Yellow dots were seen in 22.5% of MAGA and 31.3% of FAGA patients and 14.0% of controls. White dots were seen in 24.0% of MAGA and 23.8% of FAGA patients and 18% of controls. Localized hair shaft absence was seen in 28.5% of MAGA, 67.5% of FAGA patients, and 2% of controls. Scalp pigmentation was seen in 35.0% of MAGA and 38.8% of FAGA patients. Dandruff was seen in 49.0% of MAGA and 56.3% of FAGA patients and 50.0% of controls. The study concluded that hair diameter difference, brown perifollicular discoloration, and localized hair shaft absence are characteristic signs of AGA under a dermoscope.
