ABSTRACT
Hair loss and scalp problems are very common complaints in the everyday dermatological clinic. Hair loss of any kind frequently causes major distress for the patient and can lead to anxiety and depression. Patients who suffer from hair loss and scalp problems often see several physicians and frequently report that they were not taken seriously, nobody looked at their scalp, and they got the advice to just live with their problem. Many etiological factors can lead to clinical hair loss, including genetic predisposition, systemic illness, drugs, endocrine abnormalities, psychological distress, diet, trauma, infections, autoimmunity, and structural hair defects. A positive family history of alopecia areata or androgenetic alopecia may point to a genetic predisposition for hair loss. Some hair care practices may result in structural defects and hair breakage. Laboratory tests should be performed in every patient with hair loss. Scarring alopecias are considered true trichologic emergencies, as they result in irreversible hair loss.
