New trichoscopy findings in trichotillomania: flame hairs, V-sign, hook hairs, hair powder, tulip hairs.

Abstract

Differential diagnosis of trichotillomania is often difficult in clinical practice. Trichoscopy (hair and scalp dermoscopy) effectively supports differential diagnosis of various hair and scalp diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of trichoscopy in diagnosing trichotillomania. The study included 370 patients (44 with trichotillomania, 314 with alopecia areata and 12 with tinea capitis). Statistical analysis revealed that the main and most characteristic trichoscopic findings of trichotillomania are: irregularly broken hairs (44/44; 100% of patients), v-sign (24/44; 57%), flame hairs (11/44; 25%), hair powder (7/44; 16%) and coiled hairs (17/44; 39%). Flame hairs, v-sign, tulip hairs, and hair powder were newly identified in this study. In conclusion, we describe here specific trichoscopy features, which may be applied in quick, non-invasive, in-office differential diagnosis of trichotillomania.

• Authors: Adriana Rakowska, Monika Slowinska, Malgorzata Olszewska, Lidia Rudnicka
• Journal: Acta dermato-venereologica (Acta Derm Venereol) Vol. 94 Issue 3 Pg. 303-6 (May 2014) ISSN: 1651-2057 [Electronic] Sweden
• PMID: 24096547 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Alopecia (pathology)
• Dermoscopy (methods)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Hair (pathology)
• Humans
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Trichotillomania (pathology)