Evaluation of Hair Loss
May 1996
in “
Current problems in dermatology
”
hair loss gentle hair pull forcible hair pluck timed shed-hair counts scalp biopsy androgenetic alopecia telogen effluvium alopecia areata scarring alopecias lichen planopilaris chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus horizontal preparation of biopsy specimens hair loss hair pull test hair pluck test hair count test scalp biopsy male pattern baldness female pattern baldness stress-related hair loss autoimmune hair loss scarring hair loss lichen planopilaris lupus-related hair loss biopsy specimen preparation
TLDR Detailed patient history and physical exams are crucial for diagnosing hair loss.
The 1996 document "Evaluation of Hair Loss" provided a comprehensive guide for diagnosing and evaluating hair loss, emphasizing the importance of detailed patient history and physical examination. It discussed various diagnostic techniques such as gentle hair pull, forcible hair pluck, timed shed-hair counts, and scalp biopsy, noting that no standard set of laboratory tests exists for hair loss evaluation. The document covered different forms of alopecia, including androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, and scarring alopecias like lichen planopilaris and chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus. It highlighted the classification of alopecia by pathogenic mechanisms and the significance of horizontal preparation of biopsy specimens in diagnosing complex cases.
