Hair evaluation methods and approach to the patients with hair loss

Hair loss can be viewed a problem from different perspectives: as a disease, a disorder which affects appearance of an individual, and its psychological effects. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the causes and types of hair loss. This review summarized hair loss evaluation methods with significant emphasis on their clinical aspects. According to relevant literature reviews, the major approaches to hair loss are taking medical history, primary investigations and detailed hair examination. Although several invasive and non-invasive, clinical and paraclinical examinations can be used for hair loss assessment, it is generally accepted that using clinical evaluation methods and physical examinations are more efficient. In conclusion, diagnosing hair loss is complex and sometimes time-consuming process. However, precise hair examination may lead to the suspicion of an endocrine disorder.