Guidelines for diagnosis of patients with hair loss and thinning hair

Guidelines for diagnosis of patients with hair loss and thinning hair

Hair loss and hair thinning can be divided into two main groups as follows:

Localized Alopecia

1. Localized non- scarring alopecia

• Alopecia Areata may be caused by an immune system disorder that damages the hair follicles, causing the hair follicles to shrink and eventually fall out. The hair will fall out in patches the size of a large coin. Some people may also experience pain. There may also be hair loss in the eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, and hair on the face or body.
• Tinea capitis (scalp fungus) is characterized by patchy hair loss, brittle hair that breaks easily, and may or may not be inflamed. Scalp เล่น UFABET ผ่านมือถือ สะดวกทุกที่ ทุกเวลา fungus often occurs in pre-teens and is visible as small flakes and short hairs protruding from the flaky areas on the scalp. The superficial fungus destroys the hair shaft, causing scalp pain and eventually hair loss.
• Trichotillomania is a mental disorder. When hair is pulled continuously for a long time, it can cause hair loss until it becomes patchy. Patients with tricotillomania have both conscious and unconscious hair pulling behaviors. In addition to pulling hair, patients with this disease may often curl their hair with their hands, including pulling hair in other parts of the body, such as eyelashes, eyebrows, biting nails, biting lips, etc.

2. Localized scarring alopecia

• Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE) is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the skin, which may occur on the scalp, causing damage to the hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. Areas of hair loss will have a red scalp with scales clogging the hair follicles. The center of the area of ​​hair loss is lighter in color, while the outer area is dark brown. Itching or soreness of the scalp may also occur.

Diffuse Alopecia

• Male Pattern Hair Loss (Androgenic Alopecia) is a hair loss in men. The hair follicles on the scalp are sensitive to the hormone DHT, causing the hair to have a shorter lifespan than normal. This makes it easy for hair to fall out and the new hair that grows in is thinner and smaller. This type of hair loss can occur in men in their 20s and older.
• Secondary syphilis infection may cause widespread, localized hair loss across the scalp, usually in small, circular patches all over the scalp.
• Hair loss, hair thinning due to genetics and sex hormones. The hair follicles gradually change from thick hair to fine hair. In men, the hair thins a lot in the middle of the head. In women, the hair thins in the middle or at the hair parting.

What are the treatments for hair loss and thinning hair?

To solve the problem of hair loss and thinning hair, you should initially consult a specialist to analyze the cause of hair loss, examine the condition of the hair, and choose the most appropriate treatment method. The medical treatment for hair loss is as follows:

Taking medication

When using hair loss medications, you should always consult your doctor to prevent possible side effects. The medications used to treat hair loss and thinning hair are as follows:

• Minoxidil is a liquid and foam medication that helps promote hair growth and prevents hair loss. It can be used by both men and women. 
• Finasteride is a prescription medication used only by men and helps slow the progression of hair loss and severe hair thinning.

Hair transplant surgery, hair root cell transfer

Hair transplantation or hair transplant surgery is a method to solve hair loss by transplanting hair roots onto the scalp in the area where hair loss, thinning hair or baldness occurs. The new hair that grows will be permanently in the transplanted area and can grow and fall out according to the hair cycle. Currently, there are the following hair transplant methods:

• FUE hair transplant is the transplantation of hair follicle cells into areas where hair loss and thinning occurs, creating permanent hair follicle cells in those areas. Once the hair grows, it will not fall out again. FUE hair transplant can help solve the problem of baldness and receding hairline. In addition, the surgical wounds are very small. 
• Strip or FUT is a highly effective permanent hair transplant method. Stem cells or hair root cells are moved from areas with healthy hair to areas with thinning hair. The advantage of FUT hair transplant is that the hair roots are less damaged and the chances of the hair transplant being successful are higher.