Diagnostic Evaluation of Hair Loss: A Narrative Review

October 2023 in “ European medical journal. Dermatology ”

Abena Minta, Lucy Rose, Shogo Kobayashi, Brittany Dulmage

alopecia trichoscopy hair pull test hair tug test dermatologists quality of life diagnosing hair loss disorders hair loss hair examination

TLDR Hair loss greatly affects quality of life, and dermatologists are crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.

This narrative review by Minta et al. emphasizes the significant psychosocial impact of alopecia on patients' quality of life and the critical role of dermatologists in evaluating hair loss. It provides a systematic approach for diagnosing hair loss disorders, including thorough history taking, physical examination, and specialized tests such as trichoscopy, laboratory tests, and hair pull and tug tests. The review highlights the importance of understanding various types of alopecia, their unique clinical presentations, and the need for standardized quality of life tools to promote earlier referrals to dermatology and appropriate management strategies.

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