Isil Kamberoglu TURAN, Özlem ÖZBAĞCIVAN
Journal of Basic and Clinical Health Sciences - 2026;10(2):167-173
Purpose: Female androgenetic alopecia (FAGA) and telogen effluvium (TE) are two of the most common causes of hair loss in women. Due to the considerable overlap in their clinical features, accurate differentiation is essential for appropriate treatment planning. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 110 female patients clinically diagnosed with FAGA or TE at the Department of Dermatology, Dokuz Eylul University. Trichoscopic images of the frontal and occipital scalp regions were obtained at 40x magnification. The presence of predefined trichoscopic features was assessed by two blinded dermatologists. Results: Trichoscopic findings associated with FAGA included hair diameter diversity (p<0.001), short vellus hairs (p<0.001), increased single-hair follicular units (p<0.001), yellow dots (p<0.001), white dots (p=0.006), and the honeycomb pigmentation pattern (p<0.001). In contrast, perifollicular scaling (p=0.030) and simple red loops (p=0.008) were associated with TE. A comparative analysis of the frontal and occipital scalp regions revealed more pronounced thinning, a higher ratio of vellus hairs, and greater follicular miniaturization in FAGA patients (all p<0.05). Conclusion: This study highlights the utility of trichoscopy as a practical tool in the differential diagnosis of FAGA and TE.
