Before making a diagnosis, Dr Eissan will give you a physical exam and ask about your medical history and family history. She may also perform tests, such as the following:

 

Blood test -

This may help uncover an underlying medical condition, a vitamin or mineral deficiency, or a hormonal imbalance related to hair loss.

 

Pull Test-

During a pull test, Dr Eissan grasps small sections of hair, about 40 strands, from different parts of the scalp and gently pulls, This simple test measures the severity of hair loss

 

Tug Test -

During a tug test, the doctor grasps a section of hair and holds it with two hands, one near the root and one near the tip, then tugs to see if any of the strands break in the middle. This test gives the dermatologist information about the brittleness or fragility of your hair strands.

 

Trichoscan -

A computer-aided method of determining hair density and hair root status and is best suited for progress monitoring in patients with alopecia.

 

Light Microscopy -

This is a special instrument to examine hairs trimmed at their bases. Microscopy helps uncover possible disorders of the hair shaft.

 

Fungal Culture -

Scrape or swab the scalp or take a small sample of skin or hair for laboratory testing. It can take several weeks of incubation in the laboratory for a fungus culture to become positive.

 

Punch Biopsy -

Using a device the size and shape of a pencil to puncture the scalp and remove a small tissue sample. This sample is sent to a lab for testing, and the incision is closed with a few stitches. Biopsies are frequently used to distinguish between the types of cicatricial, or scarring, alopecia.