Trichoscopy is a method of hair and scalp evaluation and is used for diagnosing hair and scalp diseases.[1] The method is based on dermoscopy. In trichoscopy hair and scalp structures may be visualized at many-fold magnification. Currently magnifications ranging from 10-fold to 70-fold are most popular in research and clinical practice.[2]
The method was developed by groups of dermatologists directed by: Lidia Rudnicka in Poland, Antonella Tosti and Giuseppe Micali in Italy and Shigeki Inui in Japan. In 2004 Francesco Lacarrubba and coworkers first described videodermoscopic features of alopecia areata (micro-exclamation hairs, yellow hyperkeratotic hair follicle openings, and black cadaverized hairs. In 2005 Malgorzata Olszewska and Lidia Rudnicka first used videodermoscopy for evaluation of disease severity in androgenic alopecia and for monitoring treatment efficacy.[3] Characteristic images of female androgenic alopecia included hair shaft heterogeneity and increased percentage of thin (below 30 micrometers) hairs at the vertex. The Polish group then developed criteria to diagnose female androgenic alopecia based solely on videodermoscopy images. In 2006 Elizabeth K Ross and coworkers specified videodermoscopy features of different acquired hair and scalp diseases.[4] In 2008 Adriana Rakowska and coworkers first showed usefulness of trichoscopy in diagnosing children with congenital hair shaft abnormalities. It was shown that this method is especially helpful in diagnosing monilethrix, Netherton syndrome and other pediatric diseases.[5] In 2008 the first atlas containing trichoscopy images was published by Antonella Tosti.[6]
The term "trichoscopy" was first introduced in 2006 by Lidia Rudnicka and Malgorzata Olszewska.[7]
^Olszewska, M; Rudnicka, L (2005). "Effective treatment of female androgenic alopecia with dutasteride". Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 4 (5): 637–40. PMID16167423.
^Ross, EK; Vincenzi, C; Tosti, A (2006). "Videodermoscopy in the evaluation of hair and scalp disorders". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 55 (5): 799–806. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2006.04.058. PMID17052485.
^Rudnicka L, Olszewska M, Rakowska A. Atlas of Trichoscopy
Dermoscopy in Hair and Scalp Disease. Springer Verlag, New York 2013
Further reading
Lacarrubba, F; Dall'oglio, F; Rita Nasca, M; Micali, G (2004). "Videodermatoscopy enhances diagnostic capability in some forms of hair loss". American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 5 (3): 205–8. doi:10.2165/00128071-200405030-00009. PMID15186200. S2CID11847338.
Rakowska, A; Slowinska, M; Czuwara, J; Olszewska, M; Rudnicka, L (2007). "Dermoscopy as a tool for rapid diagnosis of monilethrix". Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 6 (2): 222–4. PMID17373184.
Tosti A. Atlas: Dermoscopy of Hair and Scalp Disorders: Pathological and Clinical Correlations. Informa Healthcare; 2008[verification needed]