Trichoscopic Clues for the Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata

The document presents trichoscopic findings that are useful for diagnosing alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune, non-scarring type of hair loss. Yellow dots and short vellus hairs are identified as the most common and sensitive trichoscopic features in patients with AA, observed in 6-100% and 0-84% of patients, respectively. Black dots, tapered hairs, exclamation mark hairs, and broken hairs are also frequently seen in AA. However, pigtail hairs (circle hairs), upright regrowing hairs, and Pohl-Pinkus constrictions are rare findings. The study emphasizes that while yellow dots are sensitive indicators of AA, they are not specific to the disease and can also be seen in other hair disorders. Trichoscopy is highlighted as a simple and helpful non-invasive technique that aids in the diagnosis of AA, alongside clinical findings.