How Trichologists Diagnose Hair Loss Conditions




hair   If you experience unexplainable hair loss or thinning, you should pay a visit to a professional hair and scalp specialist - a certified trichologist, who will diagnose your hair loss condition and recommend the best ways to treat your problems and grow healthy hair. Examination usually includes the following steps:

1.   Collecting Information.

In order to arrive to a correct diagnosis, the trichologist needs to know some personal information about you, including your health and family history, because some hair loss conditions can be hereditary, while others may be a result of infectious or other diseases. The following issues are of a particular attention: your illnesses for the last several months, what types of medication you take, the presence of possible hormonal imbalances (usually caused by pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or a menopause), your diet, and the level of stress in your life. The family health history is also of a great importance since many health conditions, including those connected with hair loss, tend to run in families. Also, you will need to inform your trichologist about  how you care for your hair (how often you shampoo and groom it, how you protect it from the sun and cold, whether you swim or not, if your hair is exposed to chemical processing or dyes, etc.), what hair care products you use (shampoos, conditioners, hair creams, pomades, and so on), and what hairstyles you prefer (tight hairstyles can be directly responsible for some types of hair loss conditions).

2.   Physical Examination.

hair 2Physical examination of your scalp and hair is important. It reveals the presence of any scaling, redness, inflammation, or swellings of the scalp, sings of hail loss or thinning and their particular pattern (e.g. patchy or diffuse), and other important symptoms that can indicate a particular illness or infection of the scalp. During the examination, the trichologist should run his fingers through your hair to evaluate how thin it is and gently pull your hair to check the strength of the hair roots and a degree of shedding in different areas of the scalp. A hair and/or scalp flake sample should be obtained for a further microscopic examination. Also, the trichologist can take a few pictures of your hair and scalp for her records. Usually, the diagnosis is made after a careful examination of your hair samples and a thorough analysis of your case. After the initial appointment, a follow-up appointment is scheduled in order to inform you about the diagnosis and to prescribe treatment.

3.   Diagnosis.

 The microscopic examination of your hair and/or scalp flakes can reveal many hair loss conditions that could be caused by fungi, nutritional deficiencies, infections, hormonal imbalances, or weaknesses in the immune system. If no serious condition is present, the trichologist may recommend applications of herbal hair masks or medicated oils, gentle care, and a better protection of your hair from the wind, moisture, heat and UVA/UVB rays. If hair loss is caused by a particular disease, a certain treatment will be prescribed. In case of mineral or nutritional deficiencies, vitamin and mineral supplements are usually recommended, as well as a nutrient-rich diet to restore the health of your care. In most cases, hair responds to treatment within several months.

4.   Referrals to Other Medical Specialists.

If your hair loss is caused by a serious illness or a profound degree of stress in your life, the trichologist can recommend that your should see other medical specialists for a more thorough examination, including a blood test, evaluation, and effective treatment of the main condition. Remember that many serious diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, anaemia, hypothyroidism, chemical poisoning, liver problems, or kidney dysfunction, can be the main cause for hair loss or thinning.

Robin Makris

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Posted on October 25, 2007 
Filed Under Hair Loss Diagnosis

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