Yellow dots in trichoscopy: relevance, clinical significance and peculiarities

An Bras Dermatol. 2017 Sep-Oct;92(5):724-726. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20176157.

Abstract

Yellow dots are follicular ostium filled with keratin and/or sebum. Initially, they were exclusively associated with alopecia areata. Currently they have also been described in androgenetic alopecia, chronic cutaneous (discoid) lupus erythematosus, and dissecting cellulitis. Due to the growing importance of trichoscopy and its findings in the evaluation of the scalp, this article describes the main diseases in which yellow dots are a common trichoscopic finding, highlighting its characteristics in each dermatosis.

MeSH terms

  • Alopecia Areata / diagnostic imaging*
  • Alopecia Areata / etiology
  • Cellulitis / complications
  • Cellulitis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Dermoscopy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Scalp Dermatoses / complications
  • Scalp Dermatoses / diagnostic imaging*
  • Skin Diseases, Genetic / complications
  • Skin Diseases, Genetic / diagnostic imaging*

Supplementary concepts

  • Perifolliculitis Capitis Abscedens Et Suffodiens, Familial