title: Clinical and dermatoscopic patterns of alopecia areata: a tertiary care centre experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatoscopy is a new noninvasive tool for the diagnosis of various skin and hair disorders. Dermatoscopy of alopecia areata (AA) shows various specific features, which may aid in confirming the diagnosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the various clinical patterns and the dermatoscopic features of AA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 75 patients of AA were evaluated with a dermatoscope (magnification ×25 and ×60).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of onset of AA was 23.58 years. Males were more commonly affected. Scalp was most commonly involved. Patchy alopecia was the most common pattern observed. 10 patients showed concomitant nail changes. The dermatoscopic features included yellow dots (YDs) in 43 (57.33%) patients, black dots (BDs) in 63 (84%) cases, broken hairs (BHs) in 28 (37.33%) cases, short vellus hair (SVH) in 51 (68%) patients and tapering hair (TH) in 14 (18.67%) cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most common dermatoscopic finding observed was BDs, followed by SVHs, YDs, BH and TH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Sattur, Dharwad, Karnataka,, India.
authors.forename: Spandana Prakash
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hegde
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Sattur, Dharwad, Karnataka,, India.
authors.forename: Kikkeri Narayanasetty
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Naveen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Sattur, Dharwad, Karnataka,, India.
authors.forename: Sharatchandra Bhimrao
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Athanikar
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Sattur, Dharwad, Karnataka,, India.
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reshme
keywords: Alopecia areata; black dots; dermatoscopy; short vellus hairs; yellow dots