Dermoscopy of Hair and Scalp Disorders (Trichoscopy) in Skin of Color—A Systematic Review by the International Dermoscopy Society Imaging in Skin of Color Task Force

October 2023 in “ Dermatology practical & conceptual ”

Soumil Khare, Biswanath Behera, Delaney D Ding, Aimilios Lallas, Payal Chauhan, Nkechi Anne Enechukwu, Martyna Sławińska, Bengü Nisa Akay, Balachandra S Ankad, Yasmeen Jabeen Bhat, Abhijeet Kumar Jha, Feroze Kaliyadan, Awatef Kelati, Shekhar Neema, Nisha V. Parmar, Jennifer Stein, Richard P. Usatine, Keshavamurthy Vinay, Enzo Errichetti

trichoscopy non-cicatricial alopecia cicatricial alopecia hair shaft disorders hair texture

TLDR More research is needed to understand hair and scalp disorders in people with skin of color.

This systematic review of 60 papers on trichoscopy in skin of color assessed 2636 instances of hair and scalp disorders, including non-cicatricial and cicatricial alopecias and hair shaft disorders. The studies comprised one cross-sectional analysis, 20 case-control studies, 25 case-series, and 14 single case-reports, with the majority showing low levels of evidence (V and IV in 65% and 33% of cases, respectively). The review highlighted that significant variables like disease stage and hair texture are often overlooked, potentially biasing trichoscopic patterns. Further comprehensive analyses are needed to address these gaps.

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Research cited in this study

28 / 28 results

research A Clinico-Trichological Study of Female Androgenetic Alopecia

November 2021 in “International Journal of Trichology”

Trichoscopy is effective for diagnosing and monitoring female pattern hair loss.

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4 citations, February 2021 in “International Journal of Women's Dermatology”

Trichoscopy is a quick and reliable way to diagnose hair loss in women.

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8 citations, January 2020 in “International Journal of Trichology”

Different patterns on the scalp help diagnose types of hair loss without needing a biopsy.

research Fibrosing Alopecia in a Pattern Distribution in 16 African-Descent and Hispanic Female Patients: A Challenging Diagnosis

13 citations, January 2019 in “Skin appendage disorders”

FAPD is a possible diagnosis for hair loss in patients of color and requires multiple evaluations for accurate diagnosis.

research Utility of Trichoscopy to Diagnose Early Female Pattern Hair Loss in Resource-Poor Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study

6 citations, January 2019 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology”

Low-cost dermoscopes can effectively diagnose early female pattern hair loss.

research Correlation of Trichoscopic Findings in Androgenetic Alopecia and the Disease Severity

12 citations, January 2019 in “International Journal of Trichology”

Trichoscopy is useful for detecting and monitoring androgenetic alopecia.

research White And Yellow Dots As New Trichoscopic Signs Of Severe Female Androgenetic Alopecia In Dark Skin Phototypes

9 citations, July 2018 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

White and yellow dots indicate severe female hair loss in dark skin.

research Trichoscopy of Dark Scalp: A Review of Trichoscopic Features in Hair and Scalp Disorders in Dark-Skinned Individuals

18 citations, July 2018 in “Skin appendage disorders”

Trichoscopy helps diagnose hair and scalp disorders in dark-skinned people by identifying unique patterns.

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4 citations, January 2018 in “Indian dermatology online journal”

Trichoscopy helped diagnose and cure a child's hair loss caused by a fungal infection.

research Dermoscopy of Alopecia Areata in Retrospective Analysis

14 citations, April 2017 in “Dermatology practical & conceptual”

Yellow dots are common in severe alopecia areata.

research Trichotillomania: A Case Report with Clinical and Dermatoscopic Differential Diagnosis with Alopecia Areata

14 citations, February 2017 in “Anais brasileiros de dermatologia/Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia”

Trichotillomania is often misdiagnosed as alopecia areata and can be treated effectively with N-acetylcysteine and psychotropic drugs.

research Trichoscopy as a Useful Method to Differentiate Tinea Capitis from Alopecia Areata in Children at Zagazig University Hospitals

26 citations, September 2016 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Trichoscopy is good for telling apart tinea capitis and alopecia areata in kids.

research Validity of Trichoscopy in the Diagnosis of Primary Cicatricial Alopecias

34 citations, April 2016 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Trichoscopy is a useful method for identifying primary cicatricial alopecias and their specific types.

research Relevance of Trichoscopy in the Differential Diagnosis of Alopecia: A Cross-Sectional Study from North India

38 citations, January 2016 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology”

Trichoscopy is useful for diagnosing different types of hair loss.

research Dermoscopy: A Rapid Bedside Tool to Assess Monilethrix

11 citations, December 2015 in “Indian journal of dermatology, venereology, and leprology”

Dermoscopy quickly and accurately diagnosed a rare hair disorder in a 12-year-old girl.

research Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia Presenting with Irregular Patchy Alopecia on the Lateral and Posterior Scalp

19 citations, January 2015 in “Skin appendage disorders”

The report found a new type of hair loss in African-American women that affects more areas of the scalp than previously thought.

research Dermatoscopic Features of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

64 citations, June 2014 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Researchers found a white halo around hair in most patients with a specific type of hair loss, which helps in early diagnosis and treatment.

research Dermoscopic Findings of Alopecia Areata in Dark-Skinned Individuals: An Analysis of 116 Cases

21 citations, January 2014 in “International Journal of Trichology”

The study concluded that yellow dots are a common and useful sign for diagnosing alopecia areata in dark-skinned individuals and may indicate the severity of the condition.

A Nonrandomized Study of Trichoscopy Patterns Using Nonpolarized (Contact) and Polarized (Noncontact) Dermatoscopy in Hair and Shaft Disorders

research A Nonrandomized Study of Trichoscopy Patterns Using Nonpolarized (Contact) and Polarized (Noncontact) Dermatoscopy in Hair and Shaft Disorders

34 citations, January 2014 in “International Journal of Trichology”

Polarized dermoscopy is slightly better than nonpolarized for diagnosing hair disorders, with each method having its own strengths.

research Trichoscopic Findings in Alopecia Areata and Their Relation to Disease Activity, Severity, and Clinical Subtype in Turkish Patients

26 citations, August 2013 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology”

Certain scalp patterns can indicate the severity and activity of hair loss in Turkish alopecia patients.

research Is Trichoscopy a Reliable Tool to Diagnose Early Female Pattern Hair Loss?

10 citations, January 2013 in “International Journal of Trichology”

Trichoscopy effectively diagnoses early female hair loss, but may need scalp biopsy for confirmation.

research Dermoscopic Evaluation of Therapeutic Response to an Intralesional Corticosteroid in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

35 citations, January 2013 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology”

Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide is effective for treating patchy hair loss, and dermoscopy helps detect treatment response and side effects early.

research The Medusa Head: Dermoscopic Diagnosis of Woolly Hair Syndrome

7 citations, January 2012 in “International Journal of Trichology”

A man with Woolly Hair Syndrome had very curly, fragile hair, and doctors used a special scalp examination to diagnose him without invasive tests.

research Corkscrew Hair: A New Dermoscopic Sign for Diagnosis of Tinea Capitis in Black Children

108 citations, March 2011 in “Archives of Dermatology”

Corkscrew hair may be a new sign for quickly diagnosing scalp fungus in black children.

research Utility of Dermoscopy in Alopecia Areata

76 citations, January 2011 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology/Indian journal of dermatology”

Dermoscopy is a useful tool for diagnosing and managing alopecia areata.

research Dermoscopic Pattern of Cicatricial Alopecia Caused by Discoid Lupus Erythematosus and Lichen Planopilaris

73 citations, April 2010 in “Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia”

Dermoscopy helps diagnose and monitor treatment for hair loss from scarring conditions like discoid lupus and lichen planopilaris.

research Monilethrix in Pattern Distribution in Siblings: Diagnosis by Trichoscopy

21 citations, January 2010 in “International journal of trichology”

Trichoscopy can diagnose monilethrix, a genetic hair defect causing hair thinning and loss.

research Dermoscopy Findings of Alopecia Areata in an African-American Patient

25 citations, December 2008 in “Journal of Dermatological Case Reports”

Skin color may change how alopecia areata looks under a dermoscope.

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