Dermatoscopic findings of syphilitic alopecia

Abstract

Syphilis is an infectious disease that has afflicted mankind for centuries, but a recent increase in worldwide incidence has been evidenced. The authors describe a patient with typical lesions of secondary syphilis and moth-eaten alopecia, whose dermoscopic examination demonstrated empty hair follicles, vellus hair, follicular hyperkeratosis, peripheral black dots, dilated and tortuous vessels, reddish brown background, and hypopigmentation of the hair shafts. Furthermore, this case presented an erythematous background more evident than previously described cases. (C) 2020 Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.