Diagnostic Accuracy of Trichoscopy in Trichotillomania: A Systematic Review

June 2021 in “ Acta dermato-venereologica ”

Agnieszka Kaczorowska, Lidia Rudnicka, Catherine M. Stefanato, Anna Waśkiel‐Burnat, Olga Warszawik‐Hendzel, Małgorzata Olszewska, Adriana Rakowska

trichoscopy trichotillomania trichoptilosis v-sign hook hairs broken hairs black dots

Studysummary This systematic review concludes that trichoscopy is a reliable diagnostic tool for trichotillomania and should be incorporated into standard clinical practice for differential diagnosis.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of trichoscopy in diagnosing trichotillomania, a hair-pulling disorder. The study identified seven trichoscopic features with varying prevalence and specificity, including trichoptilosis (57.5% prevalence, 97.5% specificity), v-sign (50.4% prevalence, 99% specificity), and hook hairs (43.1% prevalence, 100% specificity), among others. The least specific but most common features were broken hairs and black dots. The study concluded that trichoscopy is a reliable diagnostic method for hair loss due to hair pulling and should be a standard procedure in diagnosing trichotillomania in clinical practice.

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