Utility of Trichoscopy in Comparison to Standard Methods for Assessing Disease Activity, Severity, and Therapeutic Response in Alopecia Areata

    June 2023 in “ Cosmoderma ”
    C. Divyalakshmi, Neirita Hazarika, Riti Bhatia, Amrita Upadhyaya
    New to Alopecia Areata? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide →
    Studysummary This study found that in patients with alopecia areata, trichoscopy was a valuable tool for monitoring disease activity, severity, and therapeutic response, showing changes in trichoscopic markers that preceded improvements observed in the hair pull test.
    Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
    This study involving 46 patients with alopecia areata (AA) demonstrates that trichoscopy is a superior, non-invasive method for assessing disease activity, severity, and therapeutic response compared to standard methods. Trichoscopic features such as black dots (BDs), broken hairs (BHs), and yellow dots (YDs) showed significant correlations with disease activity and severity. Trichoscopy detected changes in disease activity before the hair pull test (HPT) turned negative, indicating its higher sensitivity. At the 12-week follow-up, 45.7% of patients experienced more than 50% hair regrowth, highlighting trichoscopy's value in monitoring treatment outcomes. The study also noted cultural influences on trichoscopic features in the Indian population.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    16 / 16 results