Trichoscopy for common hair loss diseases: algorithmic method for diagnosis

In recent years, the usefulness of trichoscopy (scalp dermoscopy) has been reported for hair loss diseases. Here, characteristic trichoscopic features of common hair loss diseases are described using a DermLite II pro or Epilight eight. Characteristic trichoscopic features of alopecia areata are black dots, tapering hairs (exclamation mark hairs), broken hairs, yellow dots and short vellus hairs. In androgenetic alopecia (AGA), hair diameter diversity (HDD), perifollicular pigmentation/peripilar sign and yellow dots are trichoscopically observed. In all cases of AGA and female AGA, HDD more than 20%, which corresponds to vellus transformation, can be seen. In cicatricial alopecia (CA), the loss of orifices, a hallmark of CA, and the associated changes including perifollicular erythema or scale and hair tufting were observed. Finally, an algorithmic method for trichoscopic diagnosing is proposed.     

Patients with profuse hair shedding may reveal anagen hair dystrophy: a diagnostic clue of alopecia areata incognita

Background Several patients, especially women, seek advice because of hair loss. They may be diagnosed clinically as having telogen effluvium (TE) or androgenetic alopecia (AGA), but histopathology may reveal that a proportion of them have in fact alopecia areata incognita (AAI). Objectives To detect dystrophic anagen hairs in such patients. Methods We studied 1932 patients with hair loss and no signs of classical alopecia areata. They were submitted to the modified wash test (which counts the total number of telogen hairs lost and the percentage of vellus hairs) and divided into patients having pure TE (403), patients with AGA + TE (1235) and patients with pure AGA (294). Dystrophic hairs were detected with a low magnification microscope. Results Dystrophic hairs were observed in 13 patients with TE (3.2%), in 54 with AGA + TE (4.4%) and in none with AGA. In addition, 7 patients with TE and 32 with AGA + TE developed small patches of alopecia areata in 6 to 9 weeks. No patches developed in patients with AGA. Conclusions The presence of dystrophic hairs and the development of patches of alopecia areata (and their absence in pure AGA) provide a first evidence of the possibility that within the heterogenous condition named TE some patients have in fact AAI.     

Clinical significance of dermoscopy in alopecia areata: analysis of 300 cases

Objective To determine dermoscopic findings of alopecia areata (AA) from a large‐scale study that can be used as clinical indicators of disease. Methods Dermoscopic examination of areas of hair loss on the scalp of 300 Asian patients with AA was performed using a DermLite® II pro, which can block light reflection from the skin surface without immersion gels. Using the Spearman rank‐order correlation coefficient by rank test, correlations between the incidence of each dermoscopic finding and the severity of disease and disease activity were examined. The sensitivity and specificity of the findings as diagnostic clues for AA were evaluated. Results Characteristic dermoscopic findings of AA included black dots, tapering hairs, broken hairs, yellow dots, and clustered short vellus hairs (shorter than 10 mm) in the areas of hair loss. Black dots, yellow dots, and short vellus hairs correlated with the severity of disease, and black dots, tapering hairs, broken hairs, and short vellus hairs correlated with disease activity. For diagnosis, yellow dots and short vellus hairs were the most sensitive markers, and black dots, tapering hairs, and broken hairs were the most specific markers. Conclusion Dermoscopic characteristics, such as black dots, tapering hairs, broken hairs, yellow dots, and clustered short vellus hairs, are useful clinical indicators for AA.     

斑秃皮损的皮肤镜影像及其与临床病理的关系

目的 探讨皮肤镜下斑秃皮损的微细改变及其与临床、病理相关性。方法 使用皮肤镜观察62例斑秃患者和44例其他类型脱发患者的皮损,收集患者临床及实验室资料,并对其中15例斑秃患者进行皮损部位组织病理活检,以了解皮肤镜的组织形态学基础。结果 皮肤镜下斑秃影像为黄点征、黑点征、断发、毳毛、新生短发和感叹号样毛发。黄点征发生率最高（83.9%）,而诊断斑秃的特异性指标为感叹号样毛发、黑点和断发,且后三者发生率与斑秃的活动性及轻拉发试验阳性率呈显著正相关关系。甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体升高发生率与轻拉发实验阳性率及断发发生率呈显著正相关。黄点征发生率和病理下毛囊口角栓阳性率之间呈显著正相关关系,新生短发发生率和毛囊周围肥大细胞浸润发生率以及黑点发生率则与生长期与退行期毛囊之间比例减少均呈显著负相关关系。结论 可以用黄点征作为斑秃诊断的初筛指标,而感叹号样毛发、黑点和断发对于确诊斑秃的特异性较高,且提示患者病情仍处于活动期。斑秃患者皮肤镜影像与病理有一定相关性,可用于判断病情并指导治疗。     

Trichostasis spinulosa of the scalp mimicking Alopecia Areata black dots

Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disorder that leads to nonscarring hair loss. Black dots, also called comedo-like cadaver hairs, can be found in almost 50% of alopecia areata patients and indicate disease activity. Trichostasis spinulosa is a follicular disorder resulting from the retention of numerous hairs surrounded by a keratinous sheath in dilated follicles. Trichostasis spinulosa is a relatively common but underdiagnosed disorder of hair follicles. Here, we describe a man with alopecia areata of the eyebrows, androgenetic alopecia and trichostasis spinulosa at the vertex and show how dermoscopy can be useful in distinguishing black dots from Trichostasis spinulosa lesions.     

Trichoscopy of alopecia areata: An update

The diagnosis of alopecia areata is usually based on clinical manifestations. However, there are several hair and scalp disorders that share similar clinical features with alopecia areata, such as tinea capitis, trichotillomania or traction alopecia. Trichoscopy as a fast, non‐invasive and easy‐to‐perform technique may help to identify subtle details and establish the correct diagnosis. The aim of this review is to present the spectrum of trichoscopic findings in alopecia areata. A systematic review of the published work was performed by searching the PubMed, Scopus and EBSCO databases, complemented by a thorough hand search of reference lists. Of 427 articles retrieved, 30 studies were eligible for quantitative analysis. The reported features of alopecia areata were: yellow dots (6–100% patients), short vellus hairs (34–100%), black dots (0–84%), broken hairs (0–71%) and exclamation mark hairs (12–71%). Tapered hairs (5–81%) were reported in few studies, but a relatively high frequency of this finding in alopecia areata may indicate their important role in the differential diagnosis of hair loss. Rarely reported features, which include upright regrowing hairs (11–96%), pigtail (circle) hairs (4–61%) and Pohl‐Pinkus constrictions (2–10%), may also be helpful in the diagnosis of alopecia areata. There is no pathognomonic trichoscopic marker for alopecia areata and the most common trichoscopic features are not the most specific. Therefore, the diagnosis should be based on the coexistence of several trichoscopic findings, not on the presence of a single feature.     

THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF FRACTURED HAIR IN ALOPECIA AREATA IN CHILDREN: ANOTHER CAUSE OF "BLACK DOT DISEASE".

S ummary
Exclamation mark hairs are usually described as the typical type of fractured hair in alopecia areata, but hairs that are fractured close to the scalp are more common in alopecia areata in children. They appear as black dots, similar to those seen in black dot ringworm. The only specific reference to this condition that was found in 40 text books of dermatology is in a book published in 1906.     

The presence of trichodynia in patients with telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia

Background Trichodynia refers to pain, discomfort, and/or paresthesia in the skin of the scalp or the hair. There may be an associated psychologic comorbidity. Although androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and telogen effluvium (TE) are different entities in terms of pathogenesis, etiology, and clinical picture, both may be influenced by psychologic stress and may be the cause of secondary stress. Aims To investigate the presence of trichodynia in patients with TE and AGA and to evaluate psychologic comorbidity in patients with trichodynia. Materials and methods A total of 248 patients (153 females, 95 males), presenting with hair loss due to either TE or AGA, were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of trichodynia in these two groups was compared with that in controls (n = 184). In addition, psychiatric evaluation was performed in 25 patients with trichodynia (13 females, 12 males) and in 25 controls (16 females, nine males) without alopecia and trichodynia by a psychiatrist; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)IV criteria were used for the assessment. Results Trichodynia was found in 72 patients (29%) with hair loss and in six controls (3.3%; P < 0.0001); 25 of the 72 patients with trichodynia underwent psychiatric evaluation and 19 of the 25 patients were found to have psychopathologic signs (76%). In the control group, only five patients had psychopathologic signs (20%; P = 0.0004). Of those with hair loss, trichodynia was more frequent in the TE group than in the AGA group (P < 0.0071). Conclusions Trichodynia is a common symptom in patients with TE and AGA, and often coexists with psychopathologic findings, including depression, obsessive personality disorder, and anxiety.     

Trichoscopic findings of androgenetic alopecia and their association with disease severity

Trichoscopy is a novel tool for the diagnosis of hair loss disorders such as androgenetic alopecia (AGA), but there are still few reports on the association between trichoscopic findings and disease severity, especially in the Chinese population. A case–control observational study was conducted to observe the trichoscopic findings of AGA and to evaluate their relationship with disease severity. Trichoscopic examination was performed with a handheld dermoscope on 750 Chinese male AGA (MAGA) and 200 female AGA (FAGA) patients, along with 100 male and 50 female normal controls. Trichoscopically, AGA was featured by hair shaft thickness heterogeneity (HSTH), brown peripilar sign (BPPS), white peripilar sign (WPPS), yellow dots, pinpoint white dots, focal atrichia and scalp pigmentation. No significant difference in the occipital area was found between AGA and controls (P > 0.05). HSTH of more than 20% was demonstrated in all MAGA patients, and HSTH of more than 10% was seen in all FAGA patients. WPPS, yellow dots, pinpoint white dots, focal atrichia and scalp pigmentation were positively related to severity of disease (P < 0.05), while BPPS was the contrary (P < 0.05). HSTH is an essential criterion for diagnosing AGA. BPPS was more common in early AGA. However, WPPS, yellow dots, pinpoint white dots, focal atrichia and scalp pigmentation are positively correlated with advanced AGA.     

Alopecia areata: Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and unusual cases

Alopecia areata (AA) is a nonscarring hair loss disorder with a 2% lifetime risk. Most patients are below 30 years old. Clinical types include patchy AA, AA reticularis, diffuse AA, AA ophiasis, AA sisiapho, and perinevoid AA. Besides scalp and body hair, the eyebrows, eyelashes, and nails can be affected. The disorder may be circumscribed, total (scalp hair loss), and universal (loss of all hairs). Atopy, autoimmune thyroid disease, and vitiligo are more commonly associated. The course of the disease is unpredictable. However, early, long‐lasting, and severe cases have a less favorable prognosis. The clinical diagnosis is made by the aspect of hairless patches with a normal skin and preserved follicular ostia. Exclamations mark hairs and a positive pull test signal activity. Dermoscopy may reveal yellow dots. White hairs may be spared; initial regrowth may also be nonpigmented. The differential diagnosis includes trichotillomania, scarring alopecia, and other nonscarring hair loss disorders such as tinea capitis and syphilis.     

PULSED ADMINISTRATION OF CORTICOSTEROIDS IN THE TREATMENT OF ALOPECIA AREATA

Background. Widespread alopecia areata (AA) is difficult to treat and modalities such as topical and systemic steroids, topical sensitizers (e.g., squaric acid dibutylester and diphencyprone), psoralen-ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy, minoxidil, and immunomodulators have been tried. Methods. Patients with widespread alopecia (> 40% scalp involvement), including alopecia totalis (AT) and universalis (AU), were treated with 300 mg oral prednisolone pulses at 4-week intervals, for a minimum of 4 doses or until cosmetically acceptable hair growth was obtained. Response to therapy was monitored by serial photographs and patients were examined monthly for side effects of steroids. A 1000 mg oral prednisolone pulse was administered to five patients with alopecia totalis/universalis and to three failures of the 300 mg-pulse treatment. Results. Thirty-two patients (24 men, 8 women) with a mean age of 29 years were recruited. They had alopecia for a mean period of 2.8 years. Twenty-seven patients (21 alopecia areata, 5 alopecia universalis, 1 alopecia totalis) received 300 mg pulse therapy and eight patients received 1000 mg prednisolone pulses. Fourteen (58.3%) patients (13 AA, 1 AT) out of 24 evaluated treated with 300 mg pulse therapy showed complete or cosmetically acceptable hair growth. Response was evident on average after 2.4 months and was cosmetically acceptable at 4 months. Three (AA, AT, AU-one each) out of seven patients assessed for the 1000-mg pulse had cosmetically acceptable hair growth at 6–9 month. Conclusions. An oral monthly pulse of prednisolone 300 mg is effective, safe, and can be administered on an outpatient basis. It is recommended as one of the modalities for the treatment of widespread alopecia areata.     

Five‐year experience in the treatment of alopecia areata with DPC

Background The effectiveness of Diphencyprone (DPC) in alopecia areata (AA) was demonstrated in several studies with highly variable response rates ranging from 5% to 85%. Objective The response rate and variable factors affecting the prognosis were studied focusing on long‐term follow‐up with or without maintenance therapy. Methods A total of 135 cases of AA were treated with DPC. Patients were divided into five groups according to the area of scalp affected: Grade 1 AA: 25–49% scalp affection; Grade 2 AA: 50–74% scalp affection; Grade 3 AA: 75–99% scalp affection; alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis. An initial response was defined as appearance of new terminal hair within treated sites. Excellent response was defined as terminal hair covering >75% of the scalp. Relapse meant >25% hair loss. Maintenance therapy meant ongoing therapy once every 1–4 weeks after excellent response. Follow‐up was performed to detect any relapse of AA. Results Ninety‐seven patients continued therapy for ≥3 months. After an initial 3 month lag, cumulative excellent response was seen in 15 patients (15.4%), 47 patients (48.5%), 51 patients (52.6%) and 55 patients (55.7%) after 6, 12, 18 and 24 months respectively in a mean median time of 12 months. The only patient variable affecting the prognosis was baseline extent of AA. Excellent response was seen in 100%, 77%, 54%, 50% and 41% in Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, AA totalis and AA universalis patients respectively. Side‐effects were few and tolerable. Hair fall >25% occurred in 17.9% of patients on maintenance and 57.1% of patients without maintenance therapy (P‐value = 0.025). Conclusion Diphencyprone is an effective and safe treatment of extensive AA. A long period of therapy is needed and will increase the percentage of responders especially in alopecia totalis and universalis. Maintenance therapy is recommended to reduce the risk of relapse.     

Histopathologic features of alopecia areata incognito: a review of 46 cases

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) incognito represents a variant of AA characterized by acute diffuse hair thinning. Dermoscopy shows yellow dots and short regrowing hairs. The differential diagnosis with telogen effluvium (TE) and androgenetic alopecia may be difficult. Methods: In order to establish histopathological criteria for the diagnosis of AA incognito, we evaluated retrospectively 92 specimens (46 horizontal and 46 vertical) of 46 patients diagnosed with AA incognito within 1 year. All specimens were assessed for 20 features, including hair counts and follicular ratios. The numbers were compared with 46 control specimens, consisting of 21 cases of TE and 25 cases of androgenetic alopecia. Results: The following main criteria are proposed: (a) preserved number of follicular units and decreased number of terminal follicles; (b) increased number of telogen structures (mean count of 37%) with presence of at least one telogen germinal unit or/and one small telogen follicle (c) decreased terminal:vellus ratio (mean ratio of 3.3 : 1) and (d) dilated infundibular openings. Conclusion: Two histopathologic clues for AA incognito include the presence of dilated infundibular openings and small basaloid aggregates of cells with round, irregular or polygonal shape, lack of hair shaft and no apoptosis in the outer root sheath, corresponding to small telogen follicles. Miteva M, Misciali C, Fanti PA, Tosti A. Histopathologic features of alopecia areata incognito: a review of 46 cases.     

Videodermatoscopy Enhances Diagnostic Capability in Some Forms of Hair Loss

Background: Videodermatoscopy is a non-invasive technique that allows in vivo skin observation at high magnifications. Objective: The goal of this study was to determine if videodermatoscopy enhances diagnostic capability beyond standard clinical observation in three series of patients: one group of patients with overt alopecia areata (AA), one with overt androgenetic alopecia (AGA), and one with hair loss with no apparent diagnostic features. Methods: The first group consisted of 200 patients affected by acute (140 patients) and chronic (60 patients) AA, and the second group of 100 patients affected by AGA. In both groups, the clinical diagnosis was confirmed by pull tests and trichograms. The third group consisted of 50 patients with clinically undifferentiated hair loss. In all groups, videodermatoscopy was performed at magnifications ranging from 20× to 600×. Results: In acute AA (n = 140), three videodermatoscopy patterns were identified, characterized by: (i) ‘exclamation point’ and/or ‘cadaveric’ hairs (n = 62); (ii) ‘vellus’ hairs, in some cases with increased proximal shaft thickness and pigmentation (n = 38); and (iii) coexistence of all the features from (i) and (ii) [n = 40]. In chronic AA (n = 60), in those cases who were recently converted to chronic form from acute AA (n = 35), videodermatoscopy showed a scalp skin that appeared smooth and thin, with evident follicular openings. In cases of long-standing chronic AA (n = 25), hair follicle openings appeared to be obstructed by keratotic plugs. However, whether the two follicular patterns were related to disease duration or to some unknown factors is unclear. In some patients with chronic AA, videodermatoscopy also revealed hair regrowth, which appeared either as homogeneous, indicating early disease remission (upright ‘vellus’ hairs), or as sparse, thin, and twisted vellus hairs that were usually lost in a few weeks time. In AGA patients, videodermatoscopy observation allowed an accurate assessment of the ratios of miniaturized to normal hairs, a finding that was interpreted as a prognostic feature. Interestingly, videodermatoscopy clearly demonstrated the hair abnormalities corresponding to both diseases in those patients with concomitant causes of hair loss, as we observed in five patients simultaneously affected by AA and AGA. In the third group, videodermatoscopy allowed identification of early or minimal forms of AA (n = 20), AGA with mild hair loss of the centro-parietal area of the scalp (n = 20), and scarring alopecia (n = 10). Conclusion: The results indicate that videodermatoscopy represents a very useful tool in the evaluation of hair loss, both for differential diagnosis (especially in early, transitional and mild forms) and for prognostic evaluation. It allows rapid, detailed, and non-invasive observation of the scalp skin and hair, and it provides high-resolution quality imaging.     

Use of trichoscopy for the diagnosis of alopecia areata coexisting with primary scarring alopecia in a female hair loss patient

Despite patchy hair loss being typically observed in alopecia areata (AA), similar lesions can be seen in other forms of alopecia and the diagnosis is sometimes challenging. Of note, patchy primary scarring alopecia (SA) needs to be clearly distinguished from AA as SA can leave permanent hair loss. Herein, we report a previously unreported case of AA coexisting with SA successfully diagnosed by detailed trichoscopic investigation. A 42‐year‐old woman visited us with patchy hair loss lesions on the scalp. On physical examination, alopecic lesions sized up to 2 cm in diameter were observed in the right temporal and parietal regions. A gentle hair pull test collected dystrophic anagen hairs from some patches. Trichoscopy detected tapering hairs and black dots. The diagnosis of AA was made. However, some reddish patches were totally hair pull test negative, urging us to further evaluate the remaining lesions. Additional trichoscopic investigation revealed the disappearance of follicular ostia and the presence of a white and milky‐red area and peripilar scales, suggestive of SA. In histology, the clinically AA lesion showed peribulbar cell infiltration, while the potentially SA lesion demonstrated inflammatory cell infiltration around the isthmus and the decrease in hair follicles, some of which were replaced by fibrotic tissue. The final diagnosis of AA coexisting with SA was made. Intralesional corticosteroid injection improved AA but not SA. These findings emphasize the need for thorough trichoscopic examination for accurate diagnoses of rare hair loss conditions.     

308-nm Excimer Laser for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata in Children

Abstract:  Alopecia areata (AA) is a common skin disease which is characterized by nonscarring localized or diffused hair loss. In this study we assessed the efficacy of 308-nm Excimer laser in the treatment of alopecia areata in children. A total of 9 children with 30 recalcitrant patches alopecia areata and two children with alopecia areata totalis were enrolled in this study which included seven male and four female patients, aged between 4 and 14 years and the durations of their disease were between 7 and 25 months. All of these patients had more than one lesion of alopecia areata and at least one of them was left as a control for comparison. The lesions were treated with the 308-nm Excimer laser twice a week for a period of 12 weeks. Regrowth of hair was observed in 18 (60%) alopecia patches in the scalp, while there was no response in the control patches and over the extremities. Only four patients with scalp lesions showed a recurrence of alopecia after 6 months post laser therapy. So, 308-nm Excimer laser is considered an effective safe therapeutic option for patchy alopecia areata in children.     

Dry dermoscopy in clinical treatment of alopecia areata

Although dermoscopy is conventionally utilized with immersion gel for diagnosis of pigmented tumor, we utilized dry dermoscopy, which is dermoscopy without immersion gel, for clinical treatment of alopecia areata (AA). The scalp skin and hair of a 38-year-old Japanese male, and 23-, 22- and 47-year-old Japanese females with AA, whose normal hair color was black, were examined by dry dermoscopy. Exclamation mark hairs, short hairs, fractured hairs and black dots, all characteristic of AA, were detected by dry dermoscopy of the scalp of the 23-year-old female with ophiasis type AA. In the case of the 47-year-old female with round hair loss on the occipital scalp and diffuse hair loss over the fronto-vertical region, dry dermoscopy was useful for diagnosis of AA based on hair characteristic of AA. After she received corticosteroid pulse therapy with 500 mg of i.v. methylprednisolone on 3 successive days, her hair showed apparent regrowth and disappearance of the abnormal hairs characteristic of AA, evidenced by dry dermoscopy 1 month later. In a case of long-lasting AA in the 23-year-old female, we found a follicular plaque-like appearance at the opened hair follicle pores by dry dermoscopy. Histopathologically, the incompletely differentiated remnant hair shaft was packed in the follicular infundibulum. In addition, regrowing vellus hairs, which were difficult to clinically recognize, were detected by dry dermoscopy. Dry dermoscopy is therefore useful for both diagnosis and follow up of AA.     

Scalp dermoscopy of androgenetic alopecia in Asian people

Although dermoscopy is used mainly for diagnosing pigmented skin lesions, this device has been reported to be useful in observing alopecia areata and frontal fibrosing alopecia. Herein, we investigated the dermoscopic features and their incidence of androgenetic alopecia (AGA; n  = 50 men) and female AGA (FAGA; n  = 10 women) in Asian people. More than 20% hair diameter diversity (HDD), which reportedly is an early sign of AGA and corresponds to hair follicle miniaturization, was observed in the affected area of all AGA and FAGA cases, suggesting that HDD is an essential feature to diagnose AGA and FAGA. Peripilar signs, corresponding to perifollicular pigmentation, were seen in 66% (33/50) of AGA and 20% (2/10) of FAGA women. This incidence in the present study was lower than previously reported in white subjects possibly because the Asian skin color conceals slight peripilar pigmentation. Yellow dots were observed in 26% (13/50) of AGA and 10% (1/10) of FAGA cases and the number of yellow dots in AGA and FAGA was limited to 10 on the overall hair loss area. Yellow dots possibly indicate the coincidence of AGA and enlargement of the sebaceous glands caused by common end-organ hypersensitivity to androgen. In conclusion, dermoscopy is useful to diagnose AGA and FAGA and provides insights into the pathogenesis of AGA.