Dermoscopic findings in acute and diffuse total alopecia = Dermoscopic findings in acute and diffuse total alopecia

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Background: Acute diffuse and total alopecia (ADTA) is a type of alopecia totalis. Although a number of studies have been reported on dermoscopic finding of alopecia areata, studies on dermoscopic finding of ADTA are extremely limited. If a non-invasive method, dermoscopy, can identify ADTA, clinicians will be able to diagnose ADTA faster and reassure patients.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of ADTA using dermoscopy
Methods: We studied whether dermoscopy can enhance the diagnosis of ADTA using Dermlite DL3N. Patients with ADTA diagnosed by clinical and histological findings were examined by dermoscopy. We also photographed 10 hairless areas with a digital camera connected to dermoscopy.
Results: In 18 patients, 180 scalp lesions were examined by dermoscopy. In 180 lesions, yellow dots and black dots were observed in 132 lesions (73.3%) and 137 lesions (76.1%), respectively. Broken hairs and short vellus hairs were seen in 114 lesions (63.3%) and 101 lesions (56.1%), respectively. Tapering hair appeared in 43 lesions (23.8%).
Conclusion: The simultaneous increase in the number of broken hair and black dot, suggesting sudden hair loss, and short vellus hair, suggesting regrowth of hair, is consistent with the clinical symptoms of ADTA. In other words,, the increase of short vellus hair on the dermoscopy that accompanies clinically severe hair loss is the greatest feature of ADTA.