Tinea Capitis With Eyebrow Involvement: Dermoscopy Clinched the Diagnosis

October 2025 in “ Indian Dermatology Online Journal ”

Soumya Narula, Vaishnavi Modi

tinea capitis alopecia areata trichoscopy black dots corkscrew hairs bar code-like hairs griseofulvin ketoconazole ringworm of the scalp trichoscopic examination oral antifungal topical antifungal

TLDR Trichoscopy helped correctly diagnose and treat a scalp and eyebrow fungal infection.

A 56-year-old woman was initially misdiagnosed with alopecia areata due to hair loss on her scalp and eyebrow, but further examination using trichoscopy revealed tinea capitis with eyebrow involvement. Trichoscopic features such as black dots, corkscrew hairs, and bar code-like hairs were observed, leading to the correct diagnosis. The patient was successfully treated with oral griseofulvin and topical ketoconazole. This case highlights the importance of trichoscopy in differentiating tinea capitis from alopecia areata, especially in uncommon sites like the eyebrow.

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