Use of Dermoscopy in the Diagnosis of Temporal Triangular Alopecia

February 2015 in “ Anais brasileiros de dermatologia/Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia ”

Jullyene Gomes de Campos, Cláudia Marina Puga Barbosa Oliveira, Sandra Adolfina Reyes Romero, Ana Paula Klein, Patrícia Bandeira de Melo Akel, Giselle Martins Pinto

temporal triangular alopecia TTA dermoscopy alopecia areata vellus hairs hair implants surgical excision hair loss hair transplant

TLDR Dermoscopy helps accurately diagnose temporal triangular alopecia, avoiding unnecessary treatments.

Temporal triangular alopecia (TTA) was an uncommon, non-scarring alopecia typically emerging between ages 2-9 years, characterized by a well-demarcated, spear-shaped area of hair loss in the frontotemporal region. Dermoscopy, a noninvasive diagnostic tool, was crucial in distinguishing TTA from alopecia areata, preventing unnecessary biopsies and treatments. Dermoscopic features of TTA included normal follicular openings with vellus hairs and absence of yellow/black dots and dystrophic hairs. There was no effective treatment for TTA, but hair implants and surgical excision were options for significant aesthetic concerns. Educating parents about the benign nature of TTA was essential.