What is the best hair loss treatment?

So, what is the best hair loss treatment? Alopecia areata cannot be diagnosed through a decisive medical test. Doctors do not have a clear overview on what it really is. It is not known if alopecia represents a disorder, or it is the outcome of different disorders. In order to be properly diagnosed, the doctor will analyze a set of symptoms related to a certain disease. A cure for it consists in treatments for hair loss that are known and effective. However, alopecia is more complex than that. The hair loss is just the main symptom, but there are also other causes. Doctors have to do a thorough research because each case is treated differently.

The dermatologist will examine the lesion and try to eliminate other causes. This will help him find out if alopecia is the true cause of hair loss. The symptoms of this disorder are different from one person to another. Some may present just a small patch on the scalp, while others may have it on the entire body. A distinctive feature could be the appearance of a bald patch on the scalp, but not necessarily, within 24 hours. However, this is not 100% relevant since the disease does not really have a distinctive feature; therefore, it is very hard to diagnose. A hair pull test may be performed by your dermatologist. If the hair comes out easily, it may indicate alopecia. This will lead to further hair loss.

The hair extracted from the affected area will be sent for further testing. An electron microscope will show any modifications. The hair, which is not close to the scalp, will not show any significant modifications. However, the shape will not be normal for the one near the scalp. Deposits of keratin, which is the protein from which the hair is made, can be noticed. Another aspect is the presence of constrictions in the fiber of the hair. Cracks along the hair are another symptom. One thing is that the volume of keratin present is not a conclusive aspect. A hair does not look normal if its structure is not good.

The hair may look like an exclamation mark or have weak spots. The latter feature leads to hair damage. These are symptoms of alopecia, but it is not a rule. Your dermatologist will analyze these aspects, but he cannot diagnose you with alopecia because of this.

Another symptom of alopecia is related to fingernail problems. Many people have this issue and it is not related to a particular disorder. However, 10 to 30 % of the patients have this problem. Medical surveys vary, thus you cannot know for sure. Your fingernails may be very soft, have a poor growth or they may show roughness.

Skin biopsy is another type of test that could be performed. A small piece of your skin will be removed (maximum 4 mm in diameter) and it will be analyzed under a microscope. In this case, one of the clearest signs of alopecia could be seen: focal inflammation of the hair follicles. This test could be performed through blood samples instead. However, this technique is not considered proper.