Category 1:Scalp & Hair Biology & Diagnostics
This stage of the hair growth cycle is known as the active growth phase, lasting anywhere from two to seven years.
What is the Anagen phase?
This autoimmune nonscarring condition typically causes well-demarcated, patchy hair loss on the scalp without clinical inflammation.
What is Alopecia Areata?
This opportunistic yeast genus, part of the normal scalp microbiome, is directly implicated in the pathogenesis of Seborrheic Dermatitis and Dandruff.
What is Malassezia?
Conditioners coat the hair shaft to reduce friction, neutralize static charge, and smooth down this outermost layer of the hair fiber.
What is the cuticle?
This daily habit, when done too frequently or aggressively—especially on wet hair—can cause mechanical damage to the hair cuticle and lead to shaft breakage.
What is excessive or harsh brushing / combing?
These three primary baseline laboratory investigations are recommended during a hair loss consultation to screen for systemic causes such as anemia or endocrine dysfunction.
What are CBC, Ferritin, and Thyroid Function tests (TSH)?
This type of hair loss results from repeated, persistent tension on the hair roots, often due to tight hairstyles like braids or ponytails.
What is Traction Alopecia?
This topical antifungal drug class represents the first-line pharmacologic treatment for active Seborrheic Dermatitis.
What are topical azoles (or topical antifungals, e.g., Ketoconazole)?
This essential micronutrient is critical for oxygen delivery to hair follicles, and its deficiency (measured via serum ferritin) is a major cause of telogen effluvium in women.
What is Iron?
Chemical treatments such as permanent hair coloring, bleaching, and chemical relaxers degrade these strong structural bonds within the hair shaft, weakening its integrity.
What are disulfide bonds?
This simple in-office physical examination technique involves gently applying firm traction to a cluster of approximately 50 to 60 hair shafts to assess the severity and active phase of ongoing hair loss
what is Hair Pull test?
This fungal infection of the scalp occurs primarily in children and carries a risk of causing permanent scarring hair loss if left untreated.
What is Tinea Capitis?
These active ingredients found in medicated shampoos work as keratolytic agents to break down excess scale in scalp psoriasis and severe dandruff.
What are Salicylic Acid and Coal Tar?
Despite being widely marketed in popular hair supplements, evidence-based literature shows this B-vitamin only improves hair growth in individuals with a proven baseline deficiency.
What is Biotin (Vitamin B7)?
This physiological benefit is achieved through mechanical scalp massage, which helps promote a favorable environment for hair follicles.
What is increasing localized blood circulation / vasodilation?
This clinical pattern of hair loss is characterized by widespread hair shedding occurring across the entire scalp, typically weeks to months following a physiological stressor or childbirth.
What is Telogen Effluvium?
These two inflammatory scarring alopecia conditions are characterized by lymphocytic destruction of hair follicles, leading to permanent hair loss in progressive patterns.
What are Lichen Planopilaris (LPP) and Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA)?
This antimicrobial active ingredient in over-the-counter medicated shampoos helps control scaling and fungal load by disrupting yeast cell walls.
What is Zinc Pyrithione (or Selenium Sulfide / Ciclopirox)?
This regenerative approach utilizes an autologous preparation of the patient's own blood enriched with growth factors to stimulate hair follicle growth.
What is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)?
Over-exfoliating the scalp or using harsh physical scrubs too frequently can strip this protective natural oil layer and disrupt the scalp skin barrier.
What is sebum?
Unlike nonscarring alopecias, scarring alopecias present with these key clinical indicators that require an urgent dermatologist referral and biopsy.
What are loss of follicular ostia (pores), scalp atrophy/fibrosis, severe erythema, or pustules?
This neutrophilic scarring alopecia presents with painful follicular pustules and leads to multiple hair shafts emerging from a single dilated pore, known as tufted folliculitis.
What is Folliculitis Decalvans?
This dermatological condition is distinguished from seborrheic dermatitis by thick, silvery-white plaques with sharply demarcated borders that extend past the hairline.
What is Scalp Psoriasis?
These extracellular vesicles derived from stem cells are currently evaluated in regenerative dermatology, but require rigorous appraisal regarding long-term safety and regulatory approval.
What are Exosomes?
This essential macronutrient serves as the primary structural building block of the hair fiber (specifically in the form of keratin), making adequate dietary intake crucial for hair shaft synthesis.
What is protein?