A CLINICAL, BIOCHEMICAL, AND TRICHOSCOPIC STUDY OF FEMALE PATIENTS WITH NON-SCARRING ALOPECIA

Alaa Abdulrahman Sulaiman; Dindar Sharif Qurtas

doi:10.46903/gjms/22.4.suppl.1473

A CLINICAL, BIOCHEMICAL, AND TRICHOSCOPIC STUDY OF FEMALE PATIENTS WITH NON-SCARRING ALOPECIA

Alaa Abdulrahman Sulaiman, Dindar Sharif Qurtas

Abstract

Background: Telogen effluvium and female pattern hair loss are the leading causes of non-scarring alopecia in females. Clinical similarity may exist between them, especially in the early stage of pattern loss. Trichoscopy is a helpful diagnostic tool. This study evaluated the association between trichoscopic features of both conditions with the diagnosis and some laboratory parameters.

Materials & Methods: Ninety-two female patients with diffuse hair loss were involved in this cross-sectional study. The patient’s history was taken; clinical and trichoscopic examinations were performed. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), serum ferritin, and Vitamin D3 level were assessed. A t-test was used to compare the means of the groups and a Chi-square test for categorical data analysis.

Results: Telogen effluvium (TE) was the diagnosis in the majority. The most frequent age group was the 16-25 years old. Neither serum ferritin, serum Vitamin D3 nor TSH was associated with the type of hair loss. Trichoscopic features, including anisotrichosis, empty follicles, and Peripilar sign, were significantly associated with female pattern hair loss (FPHL), while regrowing hairs were highly associated with TE. The mean number of vellus hair was markedly higher in FPHL, and similarly was the number of follicles with a single hair.

Conclusion: Trichoscopy with a handheld dermatoscope helps differentiate the different types of non-scarring alopecia precisely.

Keywords

Trichoscopy; Female pattern hair loss; Telogen effluvium.

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References

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46903/gjms/22.4.suppl.1473