Hair Root Dermoscopy from Shed Hair: A Simple Diagnostic Tool in Telogen Effluvium

January 2024 in “ International Journal of Trichology ”

Namrata Chhabra, Jemshi S. Rahim

hair root dermoscopy telogen effluvium telogen hair trichogram diffuse alopecia areata dermatology

TLDR Hair root dermoscopy is a simple, noninvasive tool to diagnose telogen effluvium.

The document discusses the use of hair root dermoscopy as a simple diagnostic tool for telogen effluvium (TE), particularly in cases following COVID-19 infection. A case study of a 20-year-old female with post-COVID acute TE is presented, where dermoscopy of shed hair revealed depigmented club-shaped hair bulbs indicative of telogen hair. This method is highlighted as a noninvasive alternative to the painful and semi-invasive trichogram, which requires a benchtop microscope. The study suggests that dermoscopy can effectively distinguish between diffuse alopecia areata and TE by examining hair root pigmentation, offering a practical diagnostic approach in dermatology.

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Sequential Cyclic Changes of Hair Roots Revealed by Dermoscopy Demonstrate a Progressive Mechanism of Diffuse Alopecia Areata Over Time

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Hair Root Dermoscopy from Shed Hair: A Simple Diagnostic Tool in Telogen Effluvium

Research cited in this study

research Sequential Cyclic Changes of Hair Roots Revealed by Dermoscopy Demonstrate a Progressive Mechanism of Diffuse Alopecia Areata Over Time

research Dermatoscopy of Hair Shaft Disorders

research The Histopathology of Noncicatricial Alopecia

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