title: Evaluation of clinical signs and early and late trichoscopy findings in traction alopecia patients with Fitzpatrick skin type II and III: a single-center, clinical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traction alopecia refers to (often permanent) hair loss caused by prolonged physical damage. No study has yet described the unique trichoscopic findings of the condition. We describe the trichoscopic findings of traction alopecia and its relationships with the duration of traction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 25 patients who were clinically diagnosed with traction alopecia. The patients were divided into two groups in terms of traction duration. Trichoscopy was performed at a minimum of two scalp locations in each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reduction in hair density, hair diameter diversity, empty follicles, and vellus hairs were observed in all patients. In addition, the following were observed: loss of follicular openings in 19 (76%) patients, yellow dots and broken hairs in 17 (68%), black dots in 12 (48%), hair casts in 7 (28%), circular hairs in 5 (20%), and arborizing red lines in 3 (12%). The trichoscopic findings varied with the duration of traction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Traction alopecia is a chronic condition that is difficult to treat. Trichoscopy can be used for diagnosis. Our study is the first to identify the early and late trichoscopic features of traction alopecia. The limitation of the study is the lack of histologic diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Faculty of Medicine, Bolu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mualla
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D046169:Dermoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult