Evaluation and Diagnosis of the Hair Loss Patient

August 2014 in “ Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology ”

Thamer Mubki, Lidia Rudnicka, Małgorzata Olszewska, Jerry Shapiro

trichoscopy alopecia areata patterned hair loss telogen effluvium trichotillomania tinea capitis lichen planopilaris frontal fibrosing alopecia folliculitis decalvans dissecting cellulitis discoid lupus erythematosus hair loss scalp disorders hair shafts follicle openings blood vessels

Studysummary This review discusses recent advances in trichoscopy for differentiating types of alopecia and presents a systematic approach for using its diagnostic findings, but reports no new clinical results. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The document reviewed the use of trichoscopy, a noninvasive technique for evaluating hair and scalp disorders, highlighting its diagnostic value in differentiating various types of alopecia and other hair loss conditions. Trichoscopy allowed for the magnified observation of hair shafts, follicle openings, and blood vessels, aiding in the diagnosis of conditions such as alopecia areata, patterned hair loss, telogen effluvium, trichotillomania, tinea capitis, lichen planopilaris, frontal fibrosing alopecia, folliculitis decalvans, dissecting cellulitis, and discoid lupus erythematosus. The document emphasized that trichoscopy is a quick, cost-effective bedside technique that provides key diagnostic information, helping to assess the activity and severity of hair loss disorders and guiding biopsies for accurate pathological assessment.

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Videodermoscopy in the Evaluation of Hair and Scalp Disorders