The significance of yellow dots in diffuse non-scarring alopecia: A case-control study

Diffuse non-cicatricial alopecias are commonly caused by pattern baldness and telogen effluvium. Differentiating between the two may be challenging as patients may have features of both telogen efflubium and pattern baldness. The number of yellow dots that are seen on trichoscopy may help in making differentiation between these conditions, which is of significance from the treatment and prognosis aspects of view. In this case-control study, yellow dots were significantly seen in pattern baldness and in combined TE and pattern baldness in all five scalp areas examined. In the frontal area, they had a sensitivity of 62% and 76.6% and a specificity of 96.2% and 96.2% for diagnosing pattern baldness and combined TE and pattern baldness respectively. The smallest cutoff value for yellow dots in the frontal area in both conditions was four yellow dots while in the occipital area, it was one yellow dot..