239TRICHOSCOPIC DIFFERENTIATION OF ALOPECIA AREATA AND TINEA CAPITIS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH PATCHY HAIR LOSS: A COMPARATIVE STUDYPediatric patients with patchy hair loss often pose diagnostic challenges for dermatologists, as various factors can contribute to this condition. Trichoscopy, a noninvasive and swift diagnostic tool, offers enhanced accuracy in detecting patchy hair loss patterns. Unlike conventional clinical dermatology, trichoscopy involves examining the skin perpendicular to its surface and parallel to the histological plane, revealing subtle features invisible to the naked eye. In this study, we aimed to differentiate between alopecia areata and tinea capitis in pediatric patients using trichoscopic analysis. Forty patients, comprising 20 with alopecia areata and 20 with tinea capitis, underwent comprehensive evaluations, including trichoscopy, clinical examinations, fungal culture, 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) laboratory investigations, and microbiological analyses. Trichoscopic examination revealed distinctive features: comma-shaped, corkscrew-shaped, and zigzag hairs were characteristic of tinea capitis, while short vellus hairs, yellow dots, and exclamation marks predominated in alopecia areata cases. Our findings suggest that trichoscopy enables rapid and accurate diagnosis of alopecia areata and tinea capitis in pediatric patients, offering a valuable noninvasive diagnostic approachEsha@gmail.comResearch922019Dermatology, Patchy hair loss, Trichoscopy, Alopecia areata, Tinea capitisDr.Esha RoyAssociate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences & Hospital, Osudu, Agaram Village, Koodupakkam Post, Puducherry - 605502.