How to diagnose hair loss.

Adrianna J Jackson, Vera H Price

Journal: Dermatologic clinics 2013;31(1):21-8

PMID: 23159173

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

This review presents a systematic approach to the diagnosis of hair loss. An accurate diagnosis is based on history, clinical examination, laboratory tests, and scalp biopsy. Whether the hair loss is a cicatricial or noncicatricial alopecia guides one's history taking. After assessing the patient's global appearance, the hair and scalp are evaluated, aided by a hair pull, hair tug, Hair Card, and hair mount. Scalp biopsies can confirm a diagnosis and are essential in all cases of cicatricial alopecia. In all patients with hair loss a complete blood count, ferritin, thyroid stimulating hormone, and vitamin D 25OH should be ordered.

Address: Advanced Dermatology, 430 S. Mason Rd #101, Katy, TX 77450, USA.

DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2012.08.007

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MeSH Terms: Alopecia, Biopsy, Cicatrix, Diagnosis, Differential, Hair Follicle, Humans, Trichotillomania