TLDR Trichoscopy can diagnose hair loss by looking for common signs like uneven hair thickness, "yellow dots," and more thin hairs, which are found in both men and women.
Trichoscopy is a non-invasive method used to diagnose androgenetic alopecia (AGA). This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of trichoscopic markers in patients with AGA based on gender and stage of hair loss. A total of 92 patients with AGA were examined using trichoscopy. The most common trichoscopic markers in patients with AGA were anisotrichosis, presence of "yellow dots," and increased proportion of vellus hairs, which were observed in 86%, 85%, and 83% of cases, respectively. The frequency of these markers did not significantly differ based on gender. In advanced stages of AGA, there was a decrease in the frequency of vellus hairs (64% vs. 91%) and an increase in the frequency of single follicular units (86% vs. 45%). The presence of two out of three of these markers provided a diagnosis of AGA with a sensitivity of 73% in early stages and 78% in advanced stages.
178 citations,
December 2011 in “Journal of Dermatological Case Reports” Trichoscopy is a useful tool for diagnosing different hair and scalp diseases by their unique visual features.
66 citations,
November 2011 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” A handheld dermatoscope helps diagnose different types of hair loss effectively.
151 citations,
August 2010 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Guidelines for diagnosing common hair loss include detailed history, clinical examination, and various diagnostic techniques.
67 citations,
February 2009 in “Journal of Dermatology” 
129 citations,
January 2009 in “International Journal of Trichology” Trichoscopy can diagnose female hair loss with high accuracy by looking for specific patterns in hair and scalp appearance.
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.
95 citations,
January 2004 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” Peripilar signs can help diagnose androgenetic alopecia and reveal its cause.
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.
1 citations,
December 2018 in “Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatology” Dermoscopy is useful for diagnosing different types of hair loss.
1 citations,
January 2017 in “International Journal of Dermoscopy” Dermoscopy is useful for identifying and tracking different types of hair loss without scarring.
30 citations,
March 2015 in “Journal of Dermatology” Hair thickness differences help diagnose hair loss severity.
3 citations,
January 2020 in “Clinical dermatology review” Trichoscopy is useful for diagnosing hair and scalp disorders in people with darker skin.
