Dermoscopy of Traction Alopecia in Black Scalp Patients: Insights from a Literature Review.

Introduction: Traction alopecia (TA) is a form of hair loss from excessive tension due to specific hairstyling practices. It disproportionately affects black women, including children. Objective: Our study aimed to review the trichoscopy of TA. Methods: A literature search was performed in the scientific database PubMed for articles published between 1958 and 2023, using the terms “traction alopecia,” “black scalp,” “trichoscopy,” and “dermoscopy.” Results: The most frequent findings were vellus hair, hair casts, black dots, broken hairs, and white dots. Reduction in hair density, hair diameter variability, empty follicle openings, and vellus hairs may appear early or later during the disease course. Conclusions: Trichoscopy is a crucial diagnostic tool if associated with a suggestive clinical history. Despite non-specific, its common clinical findings offer relevant information about the disease’s progress.