TLDR Scanning electron microscopy revealed four distinct hair root shapes in alopecia areata, suggesting a less invasive diagnostic method.
In a 2013 study, scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze the hair roots of 10 patients with alopecia areata (AA) and 3 healthy controls. The researchers discovered four unique morphological patterns in the hair roots of AA patients: long tapering structures without scale accumulation, club-shaped roots with fine scales, proximal scale accumulation, and sharp tapering at the proximal end of the hair. These patterns indicate that scanning electron microscopy could serve as a less invasive diagnostic tool for AA, providing an alternative to the more invasive punch biopsy.
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