Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dermoscopy

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Practical Aspects of Hair Transplantation in Asians

  • 940 Accesses

Abstract

Over the past decade, dermoscopy has seen an increase in popularity among dermatologists and other physicians for examining skin and scalp conditions. The high magnification of dermoscopy enables physicians to observe small details and subsurface skin structures which are not visible with the naked eye and therefore provides physicians with an enhanced visual diagnostic tool. Although several hair disorders like pattern hair loss or androgenetic alopecia are easy to diagnose and may not need any visual enhancement aid, there are in fact times when such diagnosis cannot be simply made.

Dermoscopy can identify the difference between scarring (cicatricial) and non-scarring alopecia. In some cases, with small alopecic patches or mild conditions, it could be difficult to make a proper diagnosis, and in these situations, dermoscopy helps to increase diagnostic certainty and reduce unnecessary biopsies.

Dermoscopy can also differentiate between trichotillomania and alopecia areata, as well as distinguishing the differences between androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium.

It is not only useful in clinical diagnoses, but when used by hair transplant surgeons, dermoscopy is also useful in donor hair quality and density assessments in order to achieve the desired target number of grafts in hair transplantation.

This chapter provides up-to-date information on dermoscopic findings associated with common hair and scalp disorders and its practical uses in hair transplantation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Miteva M, Tosti A. Hair and scalp dermoscopy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;67(5):1040–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2012.02.013. [pii] S0190-9622(12)00140-5

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Mubki T, Rudnicka L, Olszewska M, Shapiro J. Evaluation and diagnosis of the hair loss patient: part II. Trichoscopic and laboratory evaluations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;71(3):431.e1–e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2014.05.008. [pii] S0190–9622(14)01435–2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Rudnicka L, Olszewska M, Rakowska A, Czuwara J. Alopecia areata. In: Rudnicka L, Olszewska M, Rakowska A, editors. Atlas of trichoscopy dermoscopy in hair and scalp diseases. London: Springer; 2012. p. 205–20.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kowalska-Oledzka E, Slowinska M, Rakowska A, Czuwara J, Sicinska J, Olszewska M, et al. ‘Black dots’ seen under trichoscopy are not specific for alopecia areata. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2012;37(6):615–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2230.2012.04401.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Ross EK, Vincenzi C, Tosti A. Videodermoscopy in the evaluation of hair and scalp disorders. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;55(5):799–806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2006.04.058. [pii] S0190–9622(06)01237–0

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Rakowska A, Slowinska M, Olszewska M, Rudnicka L. New trichoscopy findings in trichotillomania: flame hairs, V-sign, hook hairs, hair powder, tulip hairs. Acta Derm Venereol. 2014;94(3):303–6. https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-1674.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Hughes R, Chiaverini C, Bahadoran P, Lacour JP. Corkscrew hair: a new dermoscopic sign for diagnosis of tinea capitis in black children. Arch Dermatol. 2011;147(3):355–6. https://doi.org/10.1001/archdermatol.2011.31. [pii] 147/3/355

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Lacarrubba F, Verzi AE, Micali G. Newly described features resulting from high-magnification dermoscopy of tinea capitis. JAMA Dermatol. 2015;151(3):308–10. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2014.3313. [pii] 1938925

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Lee WS, Lee HJ, Choi GS, Cheong WK, Chow SK, Gabriel MT, et al. Guidelines for management of androgenetic alopecia based on BASP classification—the Asian Consensus Committee guideline. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013;27(8):1026–34. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.12034.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Inui S, Nakajima T, Itami S. Scalp dermoscopy of androgenetic alopecia in Asian people. J Dermatol. 2009;36(2):82–5. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1346-8138.2009.00593.x. [pii] JDE593

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. de Lacharriere O, Deloche C, Misciali C, Piraccini BM, Vincenzi C, Bastien P, et al. Hair diameter diversity: a clinical sign reflecting the follicle miniaturization. Arch Dermatol. 2001;137(5):641–6. [pii] dob10023

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Deloche C, de Lacharriere O, Misciali C, Piraccini BM, Vincenzi C, Bastien P, et al. Histological features of peripilar signs associated with androgenetic alopecia. Arch Dermatol Res. 2004;295(10):422–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-003-0447-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Torres F, Tosti A. Female pattern alopecia and telogen effluvium: figuring out diffuse alopecia. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2015;34(2):67–71. 10.12788/j.sder.2015.0142.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Rakowska A, Slowinska M, Kowalska-Oledzka E, Warszawik O, Czuwara J, Olszewska M, et al. Trichoscopy of cicatricial alopecia. J Drugs Dermatol. 2012;11(6):753–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Duque-Estrada B, Tamler C, Sodre CT, Barcaui CB, Pereira FB. Dermoscopy patterns of cicatricial alopecia resulting from discoid lupus erythematosus and lichen planopilaris. An Bras Dermatol. 2010;85(2):179–83. [pii] S0365-05962010000200008

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Lanuti E, Miteva M, Romanelli P, Tosti A. Trichoscopy and histopathology of follicular keratotic plugs in scalp discoid lupus erythematosus. Int J Trichology. 2012;4(1):36–8. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-7753.96087IJT-4-36. [pii]

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Tosti A, Torres F, Misciali C, Vincenzi C, Starace M, Miteva M, et al. Follicular red dots: a novel dermoscopic pattern observed in scalp discoid lupus erythematosus. Arch Dermatol. 2009;145(12):1406–9. https://doi.org/10.1001/archdermatol.2009.277. [pii] 145/12/1406

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Tosti A, Miteva M, Torres F, Vincenzi C, Romanelli P. Hair casts are a dermoscopic clue for the diagnosis of traction alopecia. Br J Dermatol. 2010;163(6):1353–5. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.09979.x. [pii] BJD9979

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kim GW, Jung HJ, Ko HC, Kim MB, Lee WJ, Lee SJ, et al. Dermoscopy can be useful in differentiating scalp psoriasis from seborrhoeic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol. 2011;164(3):652–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.10180.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Dermatology, 420/7 Rajvithi Rd., Rajthevee, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Chinmanat Tangjaturonrusamee M.D.

Authors
  1. Chinmanat Tangjaturonrusamee M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chinmanat Tangjaturonrusamee M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. DHT Clinic Private Practice, Bangkok, Thailand

    Damkerng Pathomvanich

  2. Yokobi Clinic Private practice, Yokohama, Japan

    Kenichiro Imagawa

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Japan KK, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Tangjaturonrusamee, C. (2018). Dermoscopy. In: Pathomvanich, D., Imagawa, K. (eds) Practical Aspects of Hair Transplantation in Asians. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-56547-5_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-56547-5_11

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-56545-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-56547-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation