The role of dermoscopy in the diagnosis of cicatricial marginal alopecia

‘Black dots’ seen under trichoscopy are not specific for alopecia areata

“…The image is presented on a computer screen, and may be saved for future evaluation. Trichoscopy has proven to be useful in the diagnosis of alopecia areata (AA), 1,4 androgenetic alopecia (AGA), 5 trichotillomania, 5 congenial and acquired hair‐shaft disorders, 6–8 tinea capitis, 9 and scarring alopecia 10 …”

Dermoscopy use by French private practice dermatologists: a nationwide survey

“…Diagnosis of pigmented and non‐pigmented tumours on special location sites such as the face, palms and soles, mucous membranes and nails has also been developed 9–14 . Dermoscopy is also now used in nontumoral conditions including scabies, 15 alopecia 16,17 and various inflammatory diseases 18,19 …”

Trichoscopy: a new frontier for the diagnosis of hair diseases

“…Furthermore, cicatricial marginal alopecia (CMA) was described as a new distinctive pattern of alopecia [20]. Trichoscopic features of this entity are low hair density with loss of follicular ostia, reduced diameter of the remaining hairs and absence of perifollicular hyperkeratosis or abnormal scalp vessels [21]. CMA must be considered in the differential diagnosis of FFA and ophiasis type AA.…”