Alopecia history and symptoms

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

History and Symptoms

Alopecia Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Alopecia from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Study of Choice

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

Electrocardiogram

X-ray

Echocardiography and Ultrasound

CT Scan

MRI

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Laser Therapy

Concealing Hair Loss

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Alopecia history and symptoms On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Alopecia history and symptoms

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Alopecia history and symptoms

CDC on Alopecia history and symptoms

Alopecia history and symptoms in the news

Blogs on Alopecia history and symptoms

Directions to Hospitals Treating Alopecia

Risk calculators and risk factors for Alopecia history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ogechukwu Hannah Nnabude, MD

Overview

The quantity, timing, and onset of hair loss can be important clues in narrowing down a diagnosis. It may happen overnight or over a span of months or years. Also, the clinician should inquire about the presence of stressors, co-morbidities, family history, use of bathing and hair care products, hygiene, diet, and overall health. Physical examination may also uncover important indicators of the cause of hair loss. Characteristics such as the pattern of hair loss as in androgenetic alopecia in which male patients tend to lose hair from the frontal and temporal area and female patients tend to lose hair at the central scalp area, or classic alopecia areata in which patients may lose hair from a single area or the face and scalp, as seen in alopecia totalis. In tinea capitis, the classic presentation is black dots associated with broken hair, while favus correlates with the scarring type of alopecia. Telogen effluvium classically presents with diffuse thinning of hair, and a positive pull test. In a patient with alopecia mucinosa, the patient would have multiple flesh-colored papules and nodules infiltrating the skin of the scalp.

History and Physical Examination

A careful medical history and examination of the hair and scalp are usually enough to diagnose the cause of hair loss. Questions may include:

  • Is the hair loss isolated to only hair from the scalp or from other parts of the body as well?
  • Is there a pattern to the hair loss, such as a receding hairline or thinning or bald areas on the crown, or is the hair loss throughout the head?
  • History of recent illness or high fever
  • History of dyeing of hair
  • History of use of blow dry? How often?
  • History of frequency of using shampoo, kind of shampoo, hair spray, gel, or other product on hair
  • History of unusual stress lately
  • History suggestive of nervous habits that include hair pulling or scalp rubbing?
  • Other symptoms like itching, flaking, or redness of your scalp
  • Medication history including over-the-counter drugs?

Some of the specific observations that should be noted are as follows:

Symptoms

Hair loss usually develops gradually and may be patchy or all over (diffuse). You lose roughly 100 hairs from your head every day. The average scalp contains about 100,000 hairs.

References

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