Nail Involvement in Pediatric Alopecia Areata: Clinical and Onychoscopic Features: A Series of 42 Cases

This study of 42 children with alopecia areata found that nail involvement is common, occurring in 42.8% of cases, and often goes unrecognized. The study highlights the importance of dermoscopic evaluation, which can detect subtle nail changes and provide prognostic information. Nail abnormalities were more prevalent in females and included conditions such as onychorrhexis, pitting, and leukonychia. The findings suggest that systematic clinical and dermoscopic evaluations should be conducted in pediatric patients with alopecia areata to improve diagnosis and management.