Trichoscopy as a useful method to differentiate tinea capitis from alopecia areata in children at Zagazig University Hospitals.

Trichoscopy corresponds to the scalp, and hair dermoscopy has been increasingly used as an aid in the diagnosis, follow-up, and prognosis of hair disorders. Trichoscopy represents a valuable link between clinical and histological diagnosis. Tinea capitis (TC) and alopecia areata (AA) are considered the most common causes of hairless patches of the scalp in pediatrics. TC may have the same clinical appearance of AA, so dermoscopy has recently become a useful diagnostic tool for AA and TC, particularly in doubtful cases. The aim of this study is to identify the trichoscopic features of TC and AA in children that may facilitate in their differentiation from each other and choosing the appropriate treatment, which is a non-invasive method of diagnosis.