skip to main content

Alopecia Areata Trichoscopy — SCE Dermatology MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

HardHair DisordersAlopecia Areata TrichoscopySCE Dermatology

A patient with suspected alopecia areata has patchy non-scarring scalp loss. Which validated clinical score should be recorded to quantify the percentage of scalp hair loss at baseline and follow-up?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A — Severity of Alopecia Tool score documenting percentage scalp loss

The best answer is “Severity of Alopecia Tool score documenting percentage scalp loss”. The Severity of Alopecia Tool records the percentage of scalp surface without terminal hair and provides a reproducible baseline for monitoring; trichoscopic activity signs support diagnosis but do not replace an extent score. The alternatives “Psoriasis Area and Severity Index documenting plaque-psoriasis extent”, “Nail Psoriasis Severity Index documenting nail-psoriasis severity”, “SCORAD index documenting atopic-eczema severity and symptoms”, “Melasma Area and Severity Index documenting facial pigmentation” are clinically adjacent possibilities, but they do not fit the defining morphology, distribution, histopathology, risk signal or management sequence in this stem.

Reference: BAD alopecia areata living guideline 2024: https://academic.oup.com/bjd/article/192/2/190/7829170