A PDF of coloured circles is not a prescription. It is a map the dermatologist already walked. Translating it on Reddit is how people start the wrong drug. This is not medical advice.
Dermoscopes and trichoscopes magnify follicular ostia and shaft caliber. In pattern loss, mixed thick and thin hairs (anisotrichosis / hair-diameter diversity) is a commonly taught clue of miniaturization. Alopecia areata teaching lists yellow dots, black dots, and tapering “exclamation” hairs. Scarring alopecias may show lost openings, peripilar casts, or white dots where follicles died. None of these bullet points replaces the rest of the exam — history, pull test, sometimes biopsy. The American Academy of Dermatology treats trichoscopy as an adjunct, not a vending-machine diagnosis. This page will not invent a scoring PMID you cannot look up and is not medical advice.
Ask who performed the exam, whether photos were taken in the same sites over time, and whether the summary is descriptive or a billed “AI hair score.” Marketing percentages are not Drug Facts. Do not start oral finasteride because a printout said “DHT 87%” — that number is not a labelled assay on a 1 mg insert. Minoxidil remains dry-scalp leave-on if it belongs. Related pages: miniaturization, DUPA, areata brows.
If the summary says scarring or “rule out lichen planopilaris” and you only bought foam, book the follow-up. This is not medical advice.
Try the free self-check →Sources: AAD ↗
FAQ
Does hair-diameter diversity prove male-pattern baldness?
It is a clue of miniaturization, not a courtroom proof. Telogen, traction, and mixed disease exist. The clinician integrates the whole scalp.
Are yellow dots the same as dandruff?
Yellow dots in areata teaching are follicular, not a shampoo brand. Flake from seborrhea is another file. Do not self-label.
Can I trichoscope myself with a phone?
Consumer gadgets are not a licensed diagnosis. Lighting lies. A dermatologist’s scope plus history still wins.
Should I change minoxidil millilitres based on the score?
No. Follow the carton or the prescriber. A number on a summary is not a new Drug Facts panel.
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⚠️ When to see a doctor — don’t self-treat
- Sudden patchy or circular bald spots
- Redness, scaling, pus, pain or itch (possible scarring alopecia — treat urgently)
- Broken hairs or rapid loss
- Loss with body-wide signs (weight loss, fatigue, cycle changes, acne, extra hair)
- Loss right after a new medication
- Any hair loss in a child