Temporal Triangular Alopecia: Significance of Trichoscopy in Differential Diagnosis

Between November 2008 and April 2013, a study involving nine patients diagnosed with Temporal Triangular Alopecia (TTA) assessed the effectiveness of trichoscopy as a diagnostic tool. Trichoscopy, using a polarized-light handheld dermatoscope, consistently found short vellus hairs, vellus hair length diversity, and white hairs in all patients. Some patients also exhibited white dots, a honeycomb pigment pattern, arborising red lines, and epidermal scale, ranging from 22% to 33%. No trichoscopic signs typical for other localized alopecias, such as tapering hairs, yellow dots, or a loss of follicular openings, were present. The study concluded that trichoscopy could reliably distinguish TTA from other forms of localized alopecia based on these findings, potentially avoiding unnecessary biopsies and incorrect treatments.