Dermoscopy Tips to Recognize Alopecia Areata

In this lecture on recognizing alopecia areata through dermoscopy, key diagnostic features and differentiation from other conditions, like trichotillomania, are discussed. The presentation emphasizes achieving high-quality trichoscopy images, including avoiding the use of interface liquid and focusing on pulled hairs, which can reveal dystrophic hairs. Several important trichoscopic signs of alopecia areata are highlighted, such as yellow dots, black dots, broken hairs, tapering hairs, and short vellus hairs. Yellow dots represent dilated infundibular openings, while black dots indicate broken hairs typical in acute alopecia areata. The presence of tapering hairs, although typically associated with alopecia areata, is not exclusive to it. The lecture differentiates findings in children from those in adults, noting variations in these features. Trichoscopy is reinforced as a vital tool for monitoring treatment and understanding disease progress, including recognizing signs of relapse or improvement through hair regrowth. The session concludes with the importance of integrating various trichoscopic features for a comprehensive diagnosis instead of relying on isolated signs.