Trichoscopy in Clinical Studies: The Challenges of Standardization - A Scoping Review

Abstract

Introduction: Standardization of trichoscopy images, regarding the compatibility of before and after images poses a challenge. The aim of this study was to investigate the methodologies used by researchers in clinical studies in the field of trichoscopy.

Methodology:  The keywords 'trichoscopy' and 'hair' were searched in the Scopus, Web of Science and Embase databases. Studies published from 2019 to December 2023 were included.

Results and Conclusion: Among the 4,088 studies found, 341 were duplicates, 3,742 did not meet the objectives of this review; thus, 5 studies were selected and 4 were subjected to appraisal of this scope. According to the review, the compatibility of trichoscopy images in clinical studies depends on the techniques developed by researchers, which are few in number, yet innovative. The TrichoLAB software appears to be a promising tool, yet it requires a high investment, which makes it difficult for researchers to access. The standardized grid by Starace et al. (2019, 2020 and 2021) and Alessandrini et al. (2021) needs to be further explored and explained so that other researchers can benefit from the use of this model. It is also suggested to apply tests based on the FMaps concept by Kasprzak et al (2019) to prove the efficacy of the grid. Given that the challenge of compatibility of before and after trichoscopy images is a real issue, it's suggested that other standardization models be developed. Likewise, it is possible that some studies were not included in this review; therefore, the continuation of this research is suggested.