title: Evaluation and diagnosis of the hair loss patient: part I. History and clinical examination.
abstract: Hair loss (alopecia) is a common problem and is often a major source of distress for patients. The differential diagnosis of alopecia includes both scarring and nonscarring alopecias. In addition, many hair shaft disorders can produce hair shaft fragility, resulting in different patterns of alopecia. Therefore, an organized and systematic approach is needed to accurately address patients' complaints to achieve the correct diagnosis. Part 1 of this 2-part continuing medical education article on alopecia describes history taking and the clinical examination of different hair loss disorders. It also provides an algorithmic diagnostic approach based on the most recent knowledge about different types of alopecia.
authors.affiliation: Al Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Department of Dermatology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Thamer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mubki
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neuropeptides, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rudnicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olszewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Skin Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Dermatology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York. Electronic address: jerry.shapiro@vch.ca.
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shapiro
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D001505:Beauty Culture; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000150:complications; D010808:Physical Examination; D011379:Prognosis; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014256:Trichotillomania / Q000523:psychology
keywords: alopecia areata; androgenetic alopecia; discoid lupus erythematosus; dissecting cellulitis; hair; lichen planopilaris; patterned hair loss; telogen effluvium; trichoscopy