Are You Aware Of Different Tests For Female Pattern Hair Loss

Hair loss may entirely change your look; of course you may not like it but tests for female pattern hair loss determine the exact nature and reason of hair loss. Few specific diagnostic tests are available primarily due to limited research on hair loss problems.

Common hair-related problems: Androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, trichotillomania alopecia, hair shaft defects from cosmetic processing and excess hair growth (hirsutism or hypertrichosis).

Different steps to understand hair loss problem:

• Check out your family history to understand whether your hair loss problem is hereditary.
• When did you experience hair loss problem - from birth or you developed at some point of time in your life.
• Visual study by dermatologist may help him to know the exact nature of hair loss. If visual study is not enough to know the problem dermatologist may ask different tests.

Dermatologists follow different steps mentioned above to collect clues for proper diagnosis.

Common practice by dermatologist

1. Dermatologist will take scrapings of skin from the affected area if he suspects it to be the result of bacteria, yeast or fungi.
2. If a fungal infection is suspected the dermatologist may look at the hair under a light source called a Wood's Lamp.
3. To examine roots of fiber and shaft, dermatologists gently pull on a few strands of hair.
4. In normal cases scalp biopsy test is not conducted. If however, he feels the need he may do so.
5. Dermatologist may take a blood sample or ask you to visit an endocrinologist or immunologist if he suspects hair loss a result of internal body dysfunction.

Different tests for female pattern hair loss

Densitometer, an instrument that magnifies a small area of the scalp which helps to understand if there is progressive decrease of the hair shaft’s diameter and length in response to hormones referred to as miniaturization.

If the front and/or top of the scalp indicates gradual thinning of hair, frontal line remaining unaffected, suggests-miniaturization and history of hair loss.

The diagnosis can be difficult if the hair loss diffuses all over rather than in the typical female pattern on the front and top. The presence of miniaturization in the areas of thinning usually confirms the diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia.

Hair-pull is the technique used by dermatologist to understand female pattern hair loss. In the hair pull, the physician takes hold of on to 20-30 hairs with his fingers and gently pulls them. If five or more come out in the pull then this is suggestive of the increased shedding associated with telogen effluvium, a reversible type of female hair loss.

Hair pluck is another method to study hair loss pattern in female. In the hair pluck, 20 to 30 hairs are forcibly plucked from the scalp with a small clamp. The hair bulbs are then examined under a microscope to determine the ratio of anagen (growing) hairs to telogen (resting) hairs. Normally, at least 80% of the follicles should be in the anagen stage.

Different tests to diagnose any hair loss

• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
• Hormone levels (DHEAS, Testosterone, Androstenedione, Prolactin, Follicular Stimulating Hormone, and Leutinizing Hormone).
• Serum Iron, Serum Ferritin, TIBC (Total Iron Binding capacity)
• Scalp Biopsy
• VDRL
• Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Some dermatologists are often blamed of having limited knowledge, as they do not spend much time on research. Make sure you visit a reputed dermatologist or trichologist who knows different tests for female pattern hair loss as such can easily diagnose the problem and work out its remedy.

More on hair loss caused after pregnancy

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