Trichoscopy: A New Frontier for the Diagnosis of Hair Diseases

    October 2012 in “ Expert Review of Dermatology
    Shigeki Inui
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    TLDR Trichoscopy is a useful tool for diagnosing hair and scalp diseases without needing skin biopsies.
    The document from 2012 describes trichoscopy as a noninvasive diagnostic method for hair and scalp diseases, using a dermoscope or video microscope. It outlines a trichoscopic algorithm for diagnosing common hair loss diseases, distinguishing between cicatricial and noncicatricial alopecia based on the presence or absence of hair orifices and other features. Alopecia areata is identified by yellow dots, black dots, or broken hairs, androgenetic alopecia by hair diameter diversity, and tinea capitis by comma hairs. The article emphasizes the importance of careful observation and follow-up for accurate diagnosis and suggests that trichoscopy can reduce the need for skin biopsies. It also discusses the use of trichoscopy for differentiating between various hair loss conditions and for quantitative analysis, but notes that it should be used alongside clinical and histopathological data for the best diagnostic outcomes.
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      by nkrata in Research  830 upvotes 1 year ago
      Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

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      community my dermatologist prescribed me two shampoos and vitamins hair

      in Chat  18 upvotes 2 years ago
      A 21-year-old experiencing hair loss was prescribed two shampoos and hair vitamins by a dermatologist who suggested seborrheic dermatitis as the cause. However, users in the conversation suggested the hair loss could be male pattern baldness (MPB), recommending monitoring the situation and considering finasteride as a treatment.

      community I’m Feeling so discouraged and depressed - No one wants to prescribe finasteride to me.

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  68 upvotes 2 years ago
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