TLDR Small white dots on the scalp seen with a dermoscope correspond to sweat ducts and vary with different hair disorders.
The document discusses the use of dermoscopy to identify small pinpoint white dots on the scalp, which were observed in patients with various skin phototypes and hair disorders, including frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), lichen planopilaris (LPP), alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia (AGA), and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA). Histopathologic examination revealed that these dots correspond to the epidermal portion of the eccrine sweat duct. The study involved a small number of patients: two with FFA, one with LPP, two with alopecia areata, two with AGA, and one with CCCA. The white dots were not present in patients with scalp discoid lupus erythematosus (SDLE) and folliculitis decalvans (FD), likely due to the destruction of the sweat duct by scarring. The authors suggest that the appearance of these dots is related to the contrast with the pigmented network typically seen in dark-skinned patients. They conclude that further studies are needed to understand the frequency and distribution of these structures in different populations.
25 citations,
December 2008 in “Journal of Dermatological Case Reports” Skin color may change how alopecia areata looks under a dermoscope.
196 citations,
June 2008 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Dermoscopy helps diagnose and manage alopecia areata by showing specific hair changes.
304 citations,
July 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Videodermoscopy improves diagnosis of hair and scalp disorders and may reduce scalp biopsies.
16 citations,
April 2014 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Dermatoscopy helps diagnose hair and scalp disorders in people with Afro-textured hair, but more research is needed for better understanding and treatment.
2 citations,
April 2017 in “Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas” Best treatment for Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia is 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and intralesional corticosteroids.
May 2017 in “InTech eBooks” Trichoscopy and trichogram are useful for diagnosing hair and scalp conditions.
245 citations,
March 2012 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Dermatoscopy is useful for identifying different hair and scalp conditions and can reduce the need for biopsies.
2 citations,
July 2018 in “Elsevier eBooks” Trichoscopy is a useful tool for diagnosing and managing hair and scalp conditions, often better than traditional methods.
56 citations,
January 2021 in “Clinical and Experimental Medicine” The document concludes that while there are various treatments for Alopecia Areata, there is no cure, and individualized treatment plans are essential due to varying effectiveness.
