TLDR Classifying hair diseases, like alopecia, is difficult and needs more research to understand their causes.
The 2012 document discusses the complexities in classifying hair diseases, especially alopecia, due to overlapping features. It differentiates between cicatricial alopecia, which leads to permanent hair follicle loss, and noncicatricial alopecia, which may be reversible. The document notes the challenge in classifying primary cicatricial alopecias because of the absence of specific biological markers and the possibility that clinical and histological features may reflect individual responses rather than distinct diseases. It reviews a classification system by the NAHRS based on inflammatory cells in biopsy specimens and an alternative approach that does not focus on these cells. The conclusion is that alopecia classification remains an ongoing effort that requires more research into the causes of these diseases.
44 citations,
November 1998 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology” Accurate diagnosis is key for treating different kinds of hair loss, and immune response variations may affect the condition and treatment results.
28 citations,
September 1998 in “Medical Clinics of North America” Most hair loss can be diagnosed with patient history and physical exam, and a few common types make up most cases.
2 citations,
October 2015 in “Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice” Doctors should diagnose hair loss by examining the patient and possibly doing tests, and then treat it based on the type, which may prevent permanent hair loss.
76 citations,
July 2011 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology” The document concludes that proper diagnosis and FDA-approved treatments for different types of hair loss exist, but treatments for severe cases often fail and future improvements may focus on hair follicle stem cells.
21 citations,
March 2006 in “Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery” Most hair loss disorders can be accurately diagnosed and treated in an outpatient setting.
1 citations,
October 2021 in “Cosmoderma” Hair transplants can work for permanent hair loss if the condition is stable and done carefully.
170 citations,
December 2009 in “Histopathology” The conclusion is that accurate diagnosis of different types of hair loss requires good teamwork between skin doctors and lab experts.
