Hair loss

Diagnosis

The following procedures will assist healthcare providers in diagnosing hair loss, this includes:

• Physical examination: Hair loss is easily recognizable, but a healthcare provider can confirm the diagnosis through a physical examination of the scalp. They’ll inquire about medical history and observe the hairline and affected areas for signs of thinning or balding. They will also ask about the diet, and hair care routine.
• Blood test: A blood test can be helpful in identifying medical conditions that may be responsible for hair loss.
• Pull test: This test helps determine the stage of the shedding process. A healthcare provider may gently performs a hair-pull test, plucking several dozen hairs to assess the amount that comes out.
• Scalp biopsy: To investigate the cause of hair loss and determine if an infection is responsible, a healthcare provider may scrape samples from the skin or from a few plucked hairs from the scalp. This examination helps in analyzing the hair roots under a microscope and identifying potential infections.
• Light microscopy: In order to uncover potential disorders of the hair shaft, a healthcare provider uses a special instrument, known as microscopy, to examine hairs trimmed at their bases.

Treatment

There are effective treatments available for certain types of hair loss, which can potentially reverse or slow down the process. In cases like alopecia areata (patchy hair loss), hair may regrow naturally within a year without any treatment. Hair loss treatments encompass medications and surgical options.

• Medication: If hair loss is due to an underlying medical condition, treatment for that specific disease will be essential. In cases where hair loss is linked to a particular medication, the healthcare provider may recommend discontinuing its use for a few months.

There are medications available for treatment. The most common options include:

• • Minoxidil: Available over-the-counter without a prescription, is offered in liquid, foam, and shampoo formulations. For optimal effectiveness, it is advised to apply the product to the scalp once daily for women and twice daily for men. Applying the foam while the hair is wet is a common preference among many users.

Minoxidil products help with hair regrowth and slowing hair loss. Treatment for at least six months is needed to prevent further hair loss and see regrowth. Continued use is essential for retaining the benefits.

• • Finasteride: Finasteride is a prescription drug for men taken daily as a pill. It can slow hair loss and promote new hair growth. Results may take a few months to become apparent, and continued use is necessary to retain benefits. However, it may not be as effective for men over 60.

Pregnant or potentially pregnant women should refrain from touching crushed or broken tablets.

• • Other medications: Additional oral options for hair loss treatment include spironolactone and oral dutasteride.
• Hair transplant surgery: The most prevalent form of permanent hair loss typically affects only the top of the head. Hair transplant or restoration surgery offers a solution to maximize the utilization of the remaining hair you have.

In a hair transplant procedure, hair is taken from a hair-bearing area and transplanted to a bald spot. It can involve micrografts, minigrafts, or larger strips of skin. Sedation medicine is used to manage discomfort. Risks include bleeding, bruising, swelling, and infection. Multiple surgeries may be required for the desired effect, but hereditary hair loss may continue to progress despite the procedure.

• Laser therapy: A low-level laser device has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat male and female genetic hair loss. Only a few research have suggested that it might increase hair density. To ascertain its long-term consequences, more study is needed.
• Platelet-rich plasma: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy involves a healthcare provider extracting blood, processing it, and then injecting it into the scalp to promote hair growth.