Diagnostic Yield and Clinical Impact of Trichoscopy in Alopecia: A Cross-Sectional Study From a Rural Tertiary Care Center

This study evaluated the diagnostic yield of trichoscopy in 200 alopecia patients at a rural tertiary care center in India. Trichoscopy was diagnostically contributory in 97.5% of cases, confirming the diagnosis in 95% and refining it in 2.5%. It helped re-diagnose cases of alopecia areata and telogen effluvium, preventing inappropriate treatments. Comma hairs were highly specific for tinea capitis, guiding targeted testing and reducing the need for scalp biopsies. The study concludes that trichoscopy is a valuable non-invasive tool in dermatology, especially in resource-limited settings, but recommends further validation.