Almost every person faces a problem such as hair loss. Most often, this natural process does not cause discomfort. But if the hair falls out in large quantities, then it is worth thinking about the diagnosis of possible pathologies and the treatment of this condition.
Consider the features of a computer trichogram and phototrichogram as the main diagnostic measures for excessive hair loss. What are the diagnostic methods and what are the differences and when is it worth thinking about treatment?
Causes of Hair Loss
The condition of the hair depends on various factors, ranging from taking medications or vitamins to the emotional state of a person. Diagnostics is used to determine the cause of hair loss. Only a trichologist with the help of visual examination and special research methods can determine the cause of baldness and choose the appropriate therapy.
Common causes of excessive hair loss:
- hormonal imbalance;
- disorders in the thyroid gland or gastrointestinal tract;
- hereditary factor (most often, baldness in men is transmitted from generation to generation);
- uncontrolled medication;
- avitaminosis;
- negative impact of the external environment;
- low-quality hair care products;
- skin diseases;
- stress or diet.
When should you contact a trichologist?
When hair begins to fall out in large quantities, most often a person goes to the pharmacy for a special remedy against baldness. They also buy balms and masks, which help strengthen the bulbs and prevent hair loss. In most patients, this problem is seasonal in nature and occurs most often in the fall and leaves after some time. For others, pathology becomes a serious problem and requires immediate consultation of a specialist.
It is necessary to visit a trichologist in case of rapid hair loss in whole strands, with the appearance of excessive dryness of the skin and its redness, a large amount of dandruff. These factors often arise due to internal changes in the human body. That is why special attention is paid to the diagnosis of hair trichoscopy and phototrichogram, with which you can identify the root causes of this condition. Only a trichologist appoints such examinations after a visual examination.
Features of the diagnosis of hair
A specialist who deals with various diseases of the scalp is called a trichologist. He knows everything about hair. It is he who must prescribe treatment after diagnosis, give advice on the correction of nutrition, choose the means of care in each individual case.
In his practice, he uses not only visual inspection, but also other diagnostic methods. The most common are trichogramma and micro-video diagnostics. Therapy is prescribed only on the basis of the results of the examination. Sometimes, to establish the exact cause, the trichologist may refer the patient to a consultation with other specialists. For example, to a psychologist, endocrinologist or nutritionist.
Important in the diagnosis is also the identification of the degree of baldness in humans. Hair loss can be total or partial.
Computer hair diagnostics
The main task of computer hair diagnostics (trichograms and phototrichograms) is to establish the ratio of the amount of hair at different stages of growth. There are two stages of hair growth - anagen (active growth phase) and telogen (dormancy). Significant hair loss, which is determined by the trichogram method, is established when the active growth phase is reduced, and the telogen, on the contrary, is increased. In this case, the trichologist states that the operation of the hair follicles is impaired and identifies the cause of the pathology.
With the help of the latest developments, it became possible to assess the structure of the hair and determine the possible deviations at one or another stage of growth. This helps the trichologist to choose the most optimal treatment.
Indications and preparation for the trichogram
Many patients wonder: trichogram of hair, what is it, how to prepare for the procedure? It is worth noting that this is one of the main diagnostic methods that trichologists use in their practice to assess the condition of the hair.
Indications for the trichogram are:
- accelerated baldness, especially at a young age;
- disturbances in the structure of the hair (a large number of split ends, increased dryness, or vice versa, oily hair);
- dandruff and itching.
During the examination, the hairline is scanned, and with the help of the sensor, the image is displayed on the screen. Then comes an assessment of the structure of each hair.
Features of preparation for the trichogram:
- At least one day before the diagnosis, you do not need to wash your hair.
- Before conducting a trichogram (what we found out earlier), other tests (OAC, a blood test for TSH, vitamin D and hormones) may be required. Analyzes are not required before the examination, but often the cause of the pathology lies precisely in the malfunction of the internal organs, so it is recommended to come with ready-made analyzes.
There are no special requirements for preparation for the study. But the sooner the patient passes the diagnosis, the more effective will be not only an examination, but also treatment. Early-stage baldness is treatable.
Trichogramm
So, we proceed directly to the process of conducting trichograms of hair. What we consider in more detail. In the process of the diagnostic method, the condition of the hair is examined, both already dropped out and those that still grow on the head. Using such computer diagnostics, it is also possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy.
To obtain the results of trichograms, special digital trichoscans are used, which, using a computer program, read all the information about the structure of each hair.
Using a trichogram, you can determine:
- the amount of hair at different stages of growth;
- hair density;
- the presence of core and dysplastic hair.
Diagnosis of the condition of the hair is carried out in different areas of the head, and then the average value is displayed. Information as a result is presented in the form of a graph that captures the actual data on the condition of the hair and compares them with normal indicators. At the same time, normal growth and hair structure indicators depend on the color type. They are different for owners of light, red and dark hair.
What is the difference between phototrichogram and computer diagnostics?
Having figured out that this is a trichogram of hair, it is worth familiarizing yourself with other methods for determining the condition of the hair. Computer diagnostics includes trichoscopy. A specialist evaluates the structure of the hairline by conducting an examination using a magnifier. Often, such a method is sufficient to determine the causes of the pathology. But the most reliable results are obtained by trichologists when conducting trichograms or phototrichorgamma.
If according to the results of a trichogram, it is possible to assess how far the structure of the state of the hair is far from normal, then with the help of a phototrichogram, the hair growth rate is estimated. The latter option is considered the most modern and informative.
Phototrichograms
You already know what trichogram and phototrichogram are in trichology and waiting for what these methods are used for. Let us dwell on the latter in more detail.
Phototrichogram is a modern method for diagnosing the structure of the hairline and scalp. In the process, there is not only inspection, but also the creation of photographs, on the basis of which a report is made. For example, with a significant increase, you can examine the hair shaft and reveal the nature of the damage on it. You can also calculate the density and diameter of the hair in the active stage of growth.
Diagnosis is carried out on a certain area of the head, on which the least hair, that is, baldness (alopecia) is pronounced. The doctor determines this area during a visual examination. The most commonly studied is the occipital and frontoparietal region.
To conduct a phototrichogram 3 to 4 days before the diagnosis, hairs are shaved on a selected area of the head. It is during this period that the active stage of growth begins. Before the procedure, the shaved area is stained with a special dye that does not contain ammonia. Then, with the help of a trichoscope, which increases the studied area by 40 times, each hair is examined. All results are entered into the database and processed by a special program.
It is believed that modern diagnostic methods allow in most cases to identify the root causes of the pathology and, accordingly, choose the appropriate treatment.
Hair Loss Treatment Methods
When carrying out trichograms of hair, what kind of disease that caused baldness is detected in the vast majority of cases. Then therapy is prescribed. A mandatory recommendation, regardless of pathology, is a change in lifestyle, food quality and cosmetic care products. The solution to the problem of hair loss should be approached comprehensively.
The therapy prescribed by the trichologist includes the intake of vitamins, medications, cosmetic procedures to stimulate the growth of hair follicles (mesotherapy, ozonoterpia, plasmolifting).
The principle of mesotherapy is that vitamins and minerals are injected subcutaneously, which act directly on the hair follicle. Funds that focus on the cause of baldness are selected by a trichologist. Ozone therapy saturates the scalp with oxygen, but the procedure is quite painful. The same applies to iontophoresis, during which the microcurrent acts on the scalp.
Reviews
Judging by the reviews, not many of those who have encountered the problem of hair loss, turn to trichologists. But those who nevertheless decided to get a specialist consultation noted that the therapy prescribed after a series of diagnostic measures had a positive result.
Diagnosis in trichology helps to assess the structure of the hair, identify the causes of the pathology, and even track the results of the prescribed treatment in dynamics. Research methods are quite effective and, as users note, completely painless.