Utility of trichoscopy to diagnose early female pattern hair loss in resource-poor setting: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Trichoscopy is a reliable instrument for diagnosis and for tracking therapy-related changes in female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Videodermoscopic diagnosis of FPHL has been established, which requires fine measurements of hair-related parameters; the method requires an expensive equipment/digital program. Aim: To determine whether a low-cost, simple USB dermoscope can ascertain the hair-related changes in early FPHL. Methods: An age-matched, cross-sectional study was performed over 3 years on subjects with less than 6-month history of hair loss and without an obvious broadening of midline hair parting. Trichoscopic analysis of the frontal and occipital scalp of the study subjects were performed, using a USB-connected dermoscope. The subjects were analyzed for the presence of microscopic hair changes in the form of anisotrichosis, vellus-like hair, single hair follicle unit, peri-pilar sign and yellow dots. Results: A total of 230 cases and 230 controls were analyzed. The dermoscopic hair changes were found to be significantly associated with the frontal scalp zone of cases. Limitations: Histopathological evaluation of the cases was not done. Conclusion: Microscopic changes recorded with the help of a simple USB dermoscope are helpful in establishing a diagnosis of FPHL even in early disease.