Ultraviolet-Enhanced Trichoscopy: A New Tool to Assess Pili Annulati

The study explores the use of ultraviolet (UV)-enhanced trichoscopy as a novel diagnostic tool for assessing pili annulati, a rare hair shaft disorder characterized by air-filled cavities creating a banding pattern. In a case involving a 22-year-old female patient, UV-enhanced trichoscopy revealed blue bands in the hair shafts, which were more visible than in regular polarized light, aiding in the diagnosis. The authors suggest that UV-enhanced trichoscopy could be a valuable, easily accessible tool for diagnosing hair shaft abnormalities, especially when standard videodermatoscopes are unavailable. The study also notes the potential concurrence of pili annulati with alopecia areata, although this association remains unclear.