Evaluation of Dermatoscopic Patterns in Hair and Scalp Disorders: A Clinical Observational Study

The study involving 345 patients at a Tertiary Health Care Centre in Southern Rajasthan demonstrates the effectiveness of trichoscopy, a noninvasive diagnostic tool, in identifying specific dermatoscopic patterns associated with various hair and scalp disorders. Key findings include the prevalence of short vellus hair, empty follicles, and hair diameter diversity, with specific patterns like yellow dots in androgenetic alopecia and black dots in alopecia areata. Trichoscopy is highlighted as a valuable tool in diagnosing conditions such as androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, tinea capitis, trichotillomania, and cicatricial alopecia, potentially reducing the need for invasive biopsies. The study suggests that trichoscopy enhances patient care and calls for further research to understand trichoscopic features across diverse populations.