Practice Gaps: Trichoscopy in Clinical Care

    March 2011 in “ Archives of Dermatology ”
    Antonella Tosti
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    TLDR Doctors don't use trichoscopy enough, even though it's good for diagnosing hair problems.
    The document discusses the underutilization of trichoscopy (dermoscopy of hair and scalp) in clinical practice, despite its established role in diagnosing hair disorders. It highlights a study by Hughes et al. that demonstrated the effectiveness of dermoscopy in diagnosing endothrix tinea capitis, a scalp infection, by identifying corkscrew hairs as a new diagnostic marker. The study, however, had limitations due to the small number of patients and lack of control group. The author, Antonella Tosti, MD, suggests that the lack of trichoscopy use among dermatologists may be due to unfamiliarity with the technique, lack of training, cost concerns, and skepticism about its benefits. Tosti argues that trichoscopy is a valuable, noninvasive diagnostic tool that can improve patient care and reduce the need for invasive procedures like scalp biopsies. To address this practice gap, Tosti recommends that trichoscopy training be included in continuing medical education and workshops to familiarize dermatologists with its applications and benefits.
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