Trichoscopy
Subrata Malakar, Uttam Banerjee, Purva Mehta, Samipa Mukherjee, Souvik Sardar, Surit Malakar, Sushrut Save & Priya Diwaker, Atlas of Dermatology, Dermatopathology and Venereology, 978-3-319-53810-5, 978-3-319-53811-2 l DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-53811-2_93
A dermoscope used to diagnose hair and scalp disorders is called a trichoscope. Approach to trichology is based on clinical expertise of the dermatologist and investigative techniques. Trichoscopy is a valuable asset in clinical practice as it simplifies diagnosis of common trichological conditions with similar presentations. It not only highlights the subtle trichoscopic points invisible to the naked eye but also serves as a prognostic and monitoring tool in therapeutic management. Trichoscopy goes a long way in improving the diagnostic and clinical acumen of the physician. Trichoscopic language deals with pattern analysis ranging from hair shaft patterns to follicular, perifollicular, and interfollicular patterns. This section on trichoscopy not only describes the key trichoscopic features of non-cicatricial alopecias and cicatricial alopecias but also helps to delineate various trichological mimics from each other. It highlights various trichoscopic points of genetic hair shaft disorders and pediatric trichological conditions.