Dermatological History and Examination

June 2013 in “ Medicine ”

Shalini Narayan

alopecia skin biopsy histological examination direct immunofluorescence mycological testing potassium hydroxide skin swabs Wood's light patch testing skin prick testing dermatoscopy hair loss KOH test Wood lamp

TLDR A thorough skin history and full examination are important for diagnosing and understanding the impact of skin diseases.

The 2013 document highlights the significance of a thorough dermatological history and examination, noting that skin diseases, while often not life-threatening, can lead to considerable morbidity for the 8 million affected individuals in the UK at the time. It details the systematic approach to history-taking, which includes inquiring about the duration, location, and associated symptoms of skin lesions, as well as medication, general medical, occupational, recreational, family, and contact history, along with factors such as residence, provocative factors, and travel. The examination process is described, emphasizing the need for natural light and full skin examination, with particular attention to hair and nails, which can reveal patterns of alopecia and indicate other medical conditions. Diagnostic tools mentioned include skin biopsy, histological examination, direct immunofluorescence, mycological testing with potassium hydroxide, skin swabs, Wood's light, patch and skin prick testing, and dermatoscopy. The document also discusses the use of quality-of-life measures such as the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI), Acne Disability Index (ADI), and the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) to evaluate the impact of skin diseases on patients.

View this study on medicinejournal.co.uk →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 1000+ results

community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

in Research 692 upvotes 4 months ago

Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

community I am a dermatologist with a clinical interest in alopecia. AMA

in Will treatment work for me? 2 years ago

In this conversation, 4990 discussed various treatments for hair loss, including oral minoxidil, PRP, transplan, Jak inhibitors, Dutasteride, Finasteride, Olumiant, Ketoconazole, RU58841, microneedling, baricitinib, and CCCA. They recommended scalp biopsies in unclear cases of DUPA, twice weekly to twice daily shampooing for topical minoxidil users, and two sessions spaced one month apart with follow up at month three to determine the effectiveness of PRP treatment.

community Fuck hair loss; acquire beard.

in Shaved/buzzed 932 upvotes 2 years ago

A user's transformation from an accountant to a spartan with a full beard, discussing the potential of DUPA and alopecia areata, as well as treatments like vitamins, topicals, and natural treatments for potential regrowth.

community DIY Dutasteride Mesotherapy....THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT WITH RESULTS!

in Finasteride/Dutasteride 149 upvotes 3 years ago

User tried DIY Dutasteride Mesotherapy for hair loss due to unsatisfactory Finasteride results. Used mesotherapy injection gun and liquid dutasteride for better results and fewer side effects.

community My skin is always dry and flakes like chalk (25)

in Transgender 6 upvotes 8 months ago

The user underwent a biopsy two years ago and was diagnosed with keratosis pilaris, leading to hair issues. They tried treatments including Minoxidil, betamethasone, lymecycline, topical Accutane, and dutasteride, as well as diet changes, without improvement in hair thickness or skin dryness.

community Fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution

in Research/Science 14 upvotes 9 months ago

A user has been experiencing hair loss for 4 years, with treatments like minoxidil, finasteride, and various supplements proving ineffective. They were diagnosed with fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution, a condition that may require a combination of anti-inflammatory and hair growth treatments.