Evaluation of Treatment Response by Using a Handheld Dermoscope in Patients with Alopecia Areata

Abstract

Objective: Treatment response is variable in patients with alopecia areata, and may not be understood until significant hair growth is obtained. The aim of this study is to determine the potential benefit of handheld dermoscope in evaluating of treatment success in alopecia areata.

Methods: Forty-nine patients who were diagnosed with alopecia areata were included in the study. Diagnosis was established clinically, and scalp biopsy was performed in doubtful cases. Dermoscopic examinations were performed by a polarized light and handheld dermoscope with 10-fold magnification. The images were taken by a digital camera with threefold optical zoom. Among 49 patients, 30 of them were followed-up during six months and concluded the study.

Results: Of the 30 patients, 12 had a complete response to treatment (group 1), whereas 18 patients did not respond well to treatment or were remained completely responseless (group 2). When the trichoscopic findings were examined pretreatment, only thinning hairs were significantly more frequent in group 1 than group 2. The pre- and posttreatment findings of group 1 was shown that yellow dots, black dots, thinning hairs and broken hairs decreased or disappeared after the treatment, and this difference was statistically significant. In all of the patients in the first group, short terminal hairs were appeared at the end of treatment.

Conclusion: According to our study, polarized light handheld dermoscope provides benefit for the evaluation of treatment success in patients with alopecia areata.