title: Dermoscopic approach to a small round to oval hairless patch on the scalp.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various kinds of alopecia can show small round or oval hairless patch. Dermoscopy could be a simple, useful tool for making a correct diagnosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to investigate clinical usefulness of dermoscopy for diseases with small round or oval hairless patch on the scalp.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dermoscopic examination was performed for 148 patients with small round or oval hairless patch using DermLite® II pro. The type and its patient number of alopecia investigated in the study were as below: alopecia areata (n=81), trichotillomania (n=24), tinea captis (n=13), traction alopecia (n=12), lichen planopilaris (n=8), discoid lupus erythematosus (n=7), congenital triangular alopecia (n=2) and pseudopelade of Brocq (n=1). The significance of dermoscopic findings for each disease were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Characteristic dermoscopic findings of alopecia areata were tapering hairs and yellow dots. Those of trichotillomania and traction alopecia were broken hairs. Dermoscopic findings of tinea capitis included bent hairs, perifollicular white macules and greasy scales. Discoid lupus erythematosus and lichen planopilaris were characterized by dermoscopic findings of lack of follicular ostia. Furthermore, keratin plugs were frequently seen in discoid lupus erythematosus whereas perifollicular hyperkeratosis and erythema were frequently seen in lichen planopilaris.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dermoscopic examination for small round or oval hairless patch showed characteristic findings for each disease. Based on these results, we propose dermoscopic algorithm for small round or oval hairless patch on the scalp.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo-Haing
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Margie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hoon-Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea. ; Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea. ; Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea. ; Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon-Bum
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Alopecia; Dermoscopy