KUMJ | VOL. 24 | NO. 2 | ISSUE 95 | APRIL - JUNE, 2026

Dermoscopic Findings in Alopecia Areata: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study
Sayami A, Adhikari R, Duwal A, Sayami M

Abstract:
Background Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition characterized by non-scarring hair loss affecting the scalp and other hair-bearing regions. Dermoscopy, a non-invasive diagnostic method, significantly improves the ability to confirm diagnosis, evaluate disease progression, and monitor treatment outcomes. Objective To evaluate the clinical and dermoscopic patterns of alopecia areata among patients attending a tertiary dermatology centre in Nepal. Method A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out over one year at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital’s Dermatology Outpatient Department including 60 patients clinically diagnosed with alopecia areata. Scalp and affected areas were examined using a Heine Delta 20 contact dermoscope with 10–16× magnification. Demographic, clinical features, and dermoscopic findings were collected and analyzed. Result Sixty patients were evaluated. Male patients predominated (41/60), and the largest age group was 21–30 years (35/60). Disease duration was less than six months in 48/60 patients. Localized patchy alopecia was the predominant presentation (49/60), with the occipital scalp being the most frequently involved site (27/60). Dermoscopy most frequently demonstrated yellow dots (58/60), followed by short vellus hairs (42/60), black dots (37/60), broken hairs (35/60), exclamation mark hairs (32/60), and white regrowing hairs (14/60). Conclusion Dermoscopy is a rapid and non-invasive modality that demonstrates characteristic findings in alopecia areata. In this cohort, yellow dots, short vellus hairs, black dots, broken hairs, and exclamation mark hairs were frequently observed. Further analytical studies are required to determine their associations with disease duration and SALT severity. Dermoscopy also offers economic value by reducing the need for unnecessary laboratory investigations in resource-limited settings.
Keyword : Alopecia areata, Dermoscopy, Hair loss, Nepal, Scalp