Hair Loss Disease - Genetics, Causes

Diagnosis Of Hair Loss Disease

Diseases causing hair loss are many. The type of hair loss would however depend on the kind of disease you have suffered from. It is only a dermatologist who can diagnose a hair loss disease. Only a right diagnosis can determine the right treatment of a disease.

There are almost 20 types of hair loss diseases reported till date. Only four of them are more prominent among them. They are effluvium, chemical over processing, telogen and cicatrical alopecia.

The diagnosis of the disease involves both laboratory tests and questioning of the patients suffering from hair loss. A test called hair pluck also helps identify the disease causing hair loss.

Diagnosis of the disease through questioning is the first stage of the process of identifying the hair loss diseases. It decides if the disease is genetic, acquired, congenital or anything else.

In the case of a congenital disease dermatologist asks questions related to the patient's family background. If the problem is acquired the questions revolves around lifestyle and health. Questions may get complicated if any other hair loss complication is involved.

Diagnostic tools also help recognize the cause of hair loss. The hair pulling disease is recognized with the help of hair pull test. It gives an idea regarding how many hair follicles are shed from the affected scalp. The number of hairs pulled out indicates the stage of the disease called telogen.

In normal case only 5 to 15 hairs can be pulled out. If the number exceeds this, the disease is telogen. But this test is not always reliable as the number of pulled hair may vary. It may happen due to dirty hair condition. In hair pluck test the roots of the hair follicles are examined. But the test is painful.

A laboratory test on the other hand is more reliable. The fungus ringworm is detected through the potassium hydroxide test. It is done in the case of localized hair loss only. Skin biopsy is one reliable method in detecting the hair loss disease. Disease like cicatrical alopecia is tested through skin biopsy. It also helps determine the scarring. Accordingly the hair loss treatment is decided.

There is an auto immune disease that causes hair loss in men and women. It happens due to unstable immune system of an individual. Hair loss may start if the natural immune power of an individual is responding the way it should be. In such case the treatment for hair loss is really difficult.

In such case only a positive change in the life style is likely to change the condition. Lack of awareness regarding the hair condition and dirty hair also develops hair root diseases. One such disease is dandruff. It is nothing but the scalp that starts wearing away in the event of long dry hair. Thus it is not difficult to diagnose the hair loss disease. What is difficult is to choose a good hair loss treatment.

Hair Loss Disease - Hair Loss

Diagnosis Of Hair Loss Disease