TLDR The pull and wash tests are simple, cost-effective ways to diagnose hair loss severity and type.
The document described two noninvasive methods for assessing hair loss in women: the pull test and the wash test. The pull test involved gently pulling hair from four different scalp areas to count the number of hairs shed, which helped determine the severity of hair loss and differentiate between non-scarring and scarring alopecias. The wash test required patients to refrain from shampooing for 5 days, after which shed hairs were collected and counted to assess the severity of hair loss, particularly telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia. Both methods were simple, cost-effective, and useful for diagnosing hair loss severity and type in a clinical setting.
3 citations
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October 2015 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Normal hair density and diameter ratios were established to help diagnose adult hair loss.
14 citations
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May 2013 in “Experimental Dermatology” The modified wash test is better than TrichoScan® for diagnosing hair loss.
31 citations
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October 2010 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Some people with heavy hair shedding might actually have a hidden form of alopecia, which can be identified by specific hair changes.
63 citations
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October 2005 in “Archives of Dermatology” Shorter, thinner hairs indicate AGA, while longer, thicker hairs suggest CTE; counting and measuring shed hairs helps diagnose hair loss type.
14 citations
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January 1999 in “Dermatology” Hair shedding in children is normal and increases with age.
1 citations
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September 2022 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Baricitinib helps grow eyebrows and eyelashes in severe alopecia areata patients.
July 2021 in “Indian journal of dermatopathology and diagnostic dermatology” Trichoscopy is a reliable method for diagnosing hair and scalp disorders quickly and non-invasively.
Baldness is often hereditary and linked to male hormones, becoming noticeable when half the hair is lost.
4 citations
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January 2017 The pull and wash tests are simple, cost-effective ways to diagnose hair loss severity and type.
109 citations
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May 2011 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss that can lead to complete baldness, often associated with other autoimmune conditions, and half of the cases may see hair return within a year.
Trichotillometry can measure hair plucking force, aiding alopecia treatment evaluation.
