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Trichoscopy
What is a trichoscopy?
A trichoscopy provides diagnosis of the condition that causes hair loss, and enables the doctor to promptly apply an appropriate and targeted treatment.
A trichoscopy is a type of “dermoscopy” of the scalp, notably it works as a dermatology check for hair and scalp.
A trichoscopy is a diagnostic method used in cases of hair loss, to enable the doctor to:
- Diagnose the condition of the scalp
- Evaluate the gravity of the condition
- Determine the appropriate treatment for the problem
Trichoscopy is important for a timely diagnosis of hair loss.
It is a purely scientific, and the most appropriate method to identify and treat the problem.
How does trichoscopy work?
In trichoscopy, the doctor uses a hand-held dermatoscope or a polarised light source video microscope to examine the scalp and the hair’s shaft. Through trichoscopy, the doctor is able to see hair follicles magnified and can get a detailed note of the following:
- The quality of the hair, the thickness and any damages to the shaft, the root and the skin.
- The number of hairs and hair follicles.
- Any damages to the blood vessels surrounding hair follicles.
- The number of single follicles.
The dermatologist examines various elements and collects detailed information which is especially useful in identifying the type of alopecia that the patient suffers from.
Trichoscopy may:
- Solve differential diagnosis problems in diffuse alopecia and in identified types of alopecia
- Provide an assessment of the treatment and its efficiency, along with prognosis information about alopecia.
Detailed analysis and diagnosis are followed by selection of a treatment appropriate to the patient.
Advantages of trichoscopy
Trichoscopy’s ability to provide a plethora of information and details about the scalp makes it a valuable and necessary tool for dealing with the multi-faceted condition of hair loss.
Trichoscopy involves no risk of side-effects, is a painless method that should be repeated every three or six months, depending on the patient’s condition.
Moreover, this test may precede a hair transplant and help the doctor create a plan.
Trichoscopy and trichogram
Another test helping to diagnose hair loss and, in addition to that, seeing through the various types of alopecia is the trichogram, in which a special tool is used to pluck 60-80 hairs from the patient’s scalp.
A few hairs are plucked with their root from a specific area of the scalp and are examined under the microscope.
This way we get a direct and objective picture of the condition of our hair.
We also get to see the rates of hairs in the various phases of their life cycle and whether they are within permissible limits.
Normally, anagen hairs are over 70%, telogen hairs up to 20%, catagen hairs up to 1% and dystrophic hairs up to 5%.
We are thus able to shed light to the causes of hair loss, customise treatment, assess its efficiency and approach prognosis for the future.
The test is almost pain-freeand is carried out only by dermatologists specialising in alopecia.
For the test to be efficient, hair must not have been washed for 3-5 days.
It should be repeated after 6 months or one year according toour doctor’s recommendations.
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