The most common complaint in this area is hair loss and baldness (both male and female). The dermatologist is responsible for identifying the cause, through the history (anamnesis) and clinical examination during the medical consultation and, if necessary, also requesting additional tests, in order to arrive at the diagnosis and adequate treatment plan.
In addition to hair loss, trichology also covers treatments for hair loss after chemotherapy, damage to the hair shafts caused by chemical and physical cosmetic procedures (such as dyeing, coloring and straightening), as well as scalp infections (dermatitis), psoriasis, mycoses and folliculitis, among others.
Currently, due to high demand, trichology is an area that attracts many interested parties. Worldwide, the number of research and discovery of new medical treatment protocols in this area has grown significantly.
Biopsy is an exam that consists of the surgical removal of one or two fragments of skin from the scalp, which are sent for anatomopathological analysis.
This procedure is indicated when the dermatologist needs to evaluate the scalp more accurately, in cases of doubt about the clinical diagnosis, or when scarring alopecia is suspected. It is performed under local anesthesia, in a doctor’s office, and the patient can return to their activities on the same day.
Trichoscopy is an exam performed for the correct diagnosis of hair and scalp diseases. It is also a great ally in monitoring treatment.
It allows the dermatologist to see enlarged images of the hair and scalp, which allows for an accurate assessment of potential problems.
The exam is simple and quick, performed during the clinical consultation.
The analysis of lost hair strands is an exam done with the aim of identifying the type of fall. If it comes from the root or a fracture of the stem, thus differentiating the fall from capillary breakage.
To perform it, after guidance from the dermatologist, the patient must collect the hairs that fell spontaneously from the scalp throughout the day and deliver them to the specialist during the consultation. Based on the material collected, it will be possible to identify whether hair loss is normal or increased, as well as verify the phase of the follicular cycle of the lost hairs.
