Trichoscopic findings in androgenetic alopecia and their clinical correlation

 

 

Abstract              Background: Trichoscopy is the dermoscopic examination of the hair and scalp. It is a fast, non-invasive, and cost-efficient technique that improves diagnostic accuracy and follow-up with hair and scalp disorders. Not much has been published regarding trichoscopy findings in Indian population, despite the great prevalence of androgenetic alopecia(AGA). Aim: To study various trichoscopic patterns of androgenetic alopecia and to correlate the trichoscopic findings clinically. Materials And Methods: 100 androgenetic alopecia patients are included in the study. Clinical, trichoscopic examination is done and photographs are taken. Data is recorded in pre-structured proforma and then tabulated, analysed to get conclusions. Results: Out of 100 AGA patients evaluated, 72 are males and 28 are females. Most of the patients belong to 21-30 years age group in both males and females. Hair dimension diversity, peripilar sign are seen in all grades of AGA. Yellow dots are seen in 47%, white dots in 29%, honey comb pattern in 57%, focal atrichia in 35.7%, empty follicles in 60.7%, multihair follicular unit in 82.1%, hypertrophied sebaceous glands in 77%, and new hair in 82.1% of AGA patients. Conclusion: Trichoscopy is an easy, noninvasive procedure with both diagnostic and prognostic value in Androgenetic alopecia. Disease severity and activity can be assessed. The images can be easily stored and can be used to compare in the follow up in regard to activity of the disease, efficacy of the treatment. Statistically significant positive correlation is seen between yellow dots, honey comb pattern pigmentation , focal atrichia, empty follicles, hypertrophied sebaceous glands, and advanced stages of male AGA while multihair follicular units, new hair are seen in early stages of AGA of both males and females.

Key Words: Androgenetic alopecia, trichoscopy, peripilar sign, hair dimension diversity