Trichoscopy and Trichogram: Diagnostic Methods for Hair and Scalp Disorders

The document from 2017 discusses trichoscopy and trichogram, two diagnostic methods for hair and scalp disorders. Trichoscopy is a noninvasive technique that uses magnification to visualize the scalp and hair, aiding in the diagnosis and monitoring of conditions like androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium. It identifies specific features such as yellow dots, black dots, and white dots, which are indicative of various scalp diseases. Trichogram, a semi-invasive method, involves plucking hairs to examine the hair shaft's state microscopically. It provides a snapshot of the hair follicle's condition at the time of examination, useful for clinical evaluation and treatment monitoring. The document also describes the characteristic trichoscopic findings for different hair disorders, including alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, and trichotillomania, as well as signs of other conditions like tinea capitis and cicatricial alopecias. It notes that while trichoscopy can reveal many hair shaft disorders, trichothiodystrophy requires polarized microscopy to diagnose. Both trichoscopy and trichogram are emphasized as valuable tools for diagnosing hair and scalp diseases.