Persistent Elongated Corkscrew Hairs: A Potential New Trichoscopic Indicator in Endothrix Tinea Capitis in Immunocompromised Adults
By
Asmahane Souissi
Raquel de Melo Carvalho
Malek Ben Slimane
Mohammad Jafferany
Daniel Fernandes Melo
August 28, 2026
Objective: To report the observation of persistently elongated corkscrew hairs in two immunosuppressed patients with endothrix tinea capitis.
Approach: Trichoscopic Examination: Polarized dermoscopy was applied to the entire scalp of two patients to document characteristic trichoscopic findings.Key Findings: Both patients exhibited persistently elongated corkscrew hairs, a morphology not previously characterized in the context of tinea capitis. The fungal infection was confirmed to be caused by Trichophyton violaceum in both cases. Standard short corkscrew hairs were not observed in either patient. Limitations: The findings are based on only two case reports, necessitating further investigation to confirm the observations. No standardized measurement for the length of typical corkscrew hairs exists, making it difficult to define elongated corkscrew hairs quantitatively.
