Hair Trichoscopy
Dermanext Hair Transplant (DHT)
Trichoscopy – examination of hair and scalp A look inside your hair health with trichoscopy
What is Hair Trichoscopy?
An advanced, modern form of diagnostics that allows you to assess the condition of the scalp and hair is trichoscopy. It can help find the cause of hair loss or the formation of lesions on the skin. Trichoscopy significantly facilitates the selection of treatment and avoids performing more invasive tests.
It makes it possible to determine the condition of all layers of the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue located on the head, as well as to take a close look at the structure of the hair.
Trichoscopic examinations make it possible to determine whether hair is falling out or breaking in a specific area, which is often very difficult to see when performing other trichological examinations.
Indications
All people who notice excessive hair loss, brittleness or sudden thinning, which becomes visible during everyday life, should undergo trichoscopic examinations. They will also be useful when we are dealing with androgenic, telogen effluvium, scarring or areata, and during anti-hair loss therapy to assess its results. Trichoscopy will also be a very helpful examination for people who have undiagnosed lesions on the scalp.
Examples of such changes may be red spots, scales, dry dandruff or excessive irritations and wounds. It is also performed in people suffering from seborrhea of the scalp, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, as well as types of mycosis that are difficult to treat.
Trichoscopic examinations allow for comprehensive diagnostics of the condition of the scalp and hair.
Contraindications
Basically, there are no contraindications for trichoscopy as it is completely non-invasive and painless. It is even carried out in people with extremely sensitive and diseased scalp, as well as in the elderly, children and pregnant women. All concerns regarding the course of the procedure can be discussed with the doctor performing the procedure at any time. There is also no need to prepare yourself for the examination.
It is enough to wash your hair as usual 24-72 hours before performing trichoscopy. It is best not to apply any masks, conditioners, gels or rubs to the scalp before the examination. In the period leading up to them, it is also not allowed to dye the hair or perform other hairdressing treatments that may affect the scalp. If such activities were performed in the near term, it is worth waiting a few weeks before carrying out trichoscopic examinations.
How to prepare for the test?
To properly prepare for trichoscopy, you should ensure that your scalp is in its natural state. The hair should not be washed on the day of the test – it is best to wash it 24-48 hours earlier to preserve the natural oiliness of the skin, which facilitates diagnosis. Do not use styling cosmetics such as varnishes, gels or foams, as they may distort the image of the examination.
If you plan to dye your hair, it is worth doing it at least a week before the visit to avoid false results. It is also important not to mechanically remove hair on the area of the scalp that will be examined. If you are using topical medications or scalp preparations, it is best to stop applying them for a few days before the examination, unless your doctor advises otherwise.
It is also worth preparing information about your health history, including the medications you take, supplements and cosmetics used, as well as any hair problems in your family. This preparation will ensure the accuracy of the results and allow for the correct diagnosis.
What does the examination look like?
Trichoscopy involves applying a head to the patient’s scalp, which displays an image on a computer screen. The equipment allows the skin to be viewed at up to 100x magnification and photos of the examination to be taken and saved, greatly facilitating diagnosis. Maximum magnification is helpful, but mostly the skin is viewed by positioning the diagnostic tool in different ways.
During the examination, special attention is paid to pathological changes, but using a dermatoscope it is also possible to determine the condition and quantity of hair and hair follicles, as well as to take a closer look at the growth phases of individual hairs – the doctor is able to assess which of them are currently in the growth phase. , downtime, and which are in the dying phase and determine whether the observed state of affairs is within normal limits. The examination usually takes 20 to 30 minutes.
It is also worth preparing information about your health history, including the medications you take, supplements and cosmetics used, as well as any hair problems in your family. This preparation will ensure the accuracy of the results and allow for the correct diagnosis.
The images taken during trichoscopic examinations are sent for analysis. Usually about 5 of them are made, taking into account all the parts of the patient’s head that are relevant to the diagnostic process. The study focuses on different areas of the scalp – frontal, temporal and occipital. Thanks to a very accurate image, it is possible to determine, among other things, the number of hairs per section of the patient’s scalp, the number of active, empty and plugged hair follicles and their condition, as well as the rate of scalp exfoliation.
The amount or presence of regrowth hair can also be determined. The results of the study are presented in the form of a trichology report, which includes information about the study, the number of hairs and their diameter or two- and three-hair units. The patient’s skin and hair are examined both quantitatively and qualitatively. Analysis can be done manually or automatically with a dermatoscope, or a video dermatoscope.
Study results
After trichoscopic examinations, there are no irritations, inflammation does not increase, and the problem of hair loss does not worsen. However, they allow us to propose appropriate treatment tailored to the patient’s ailments. Trichoscopy makes it possible to distinguish between different types of alopecia and to find the cause of scalp problems. It is also useful in identifying the most effective methods to deal with the problem quickly.
It is characterized by no need to collect skin or hair samples for testing. There is also no need to shave the skin, which could cause discomfort for some people. Pictures taken during the trichoscopic diagnosis can be compared at each visit to the doctor. After completing the diagnostic procedure, the Patient receives the test results in paper form, which they can take home with them.