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Background: Hair loss studies have mostly been clinical with no trichoscopy features of the hair loss documented in Nigeria., Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the community prevalence, types of hair loss, trichoschopy features and the risk factors for the observed hair loss types., Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of traders (Fitz Patrick's skin types V-VI) at an urban market. The traders were clinically evaluated for hair loss. Sociodemographic, clinical and trichoscopy data were recorded using a study questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Statistics such as means, medians, frequencies, t-test and chi-square test were presented. Levels of significance of all tests was set at, P<0.05%., Results: A total of 307 participants (32.6% male and 67.4% female) with a mean age of 42.7±12.8 years were studied. The prevalence of hair loss was 68.7% (51% in males and 77.3% in females) and the mean age of those with hair loss was 44.8±12.3 years. The pattern of hair loss was patterned, diffuse and localized in 94.3%, 3.8% and 1.9% respectively. The main types of hair loss were androgenetic alopecia (26.9%) and traction alopecia (71.7%). The prevalent hair practices were; braids and weave-on (extensions) in 78.2%, turban-like head gear in 76.9%, and chemical relaxers in 73.8%. Trichoscopy features characteristic of the observed hair loss types were documented., Conclusion: Hair loss is common in the community. The common hair care practices and increasing age could be contributors to hair loss., Competing Interests: The Authors declare that no competing interest exists, (Copyright © 2022 by West African Journal of Medicine.)

Background: Studies on androgenetic alopecia in Nigerian females are few. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of female androgenetic alopecia, its severity and trichoscopic features., Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of androgenetic alopecia amongst 207 adult female traders at an urban market in Lagos, Nigeria. The study was conducted in February 2020. All recruited female traders were examined. Documentation of clinical findings, sociodemographic data and trichoscopy features was done using a predesigned questionnaire. Severity of female androgenetic alopecia was assessed using the Olsen's scale he IBM statistics software version 22., Results: The prevalence of female androgenetic alopecia (FAGA) was 4.8% (10/207) and median age of the participants was 59 (IQR 45,63) years. The severity of FAGA based on Olsen's scale was grade I, II and III in 30%, 20% and 50% respectively and severity increased with age. Trichoscopy features included prominent white dots (90%), reduced hair density (90%), vellus hairs (70%), preserved honeycomb pigment network (70%) and variable hair diameter (60%)., Conclusion: Androgenetic alopecia is uncommon in females. When present, it is noted to be severe. Trichoscopy features among African females in Nigeria are comparable to trichoscopy features in studies from other parts of the world., Competing Interests: The Authors declare that no competing interest exists, (Copyright © 2021 by West African Journal of Medicine.)