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Phototrichogram is a new and unique method that allows you to determine the condition of the hair and scalp.
This procedure is very popular for diagnosis. It allows you to accurately and quickly determine the presence of diseases or changes in the structure of the patient’s hair.
How is a phototrichogram performed?
Today, a phototrichogram is a mandatory study for those who care about their health. To carry out this procedure, a small amount of hair is removed from the parietal and occipital parts of the head with a hair clipper or trimmer. Two days later, the collected material is stained with a special paint that does not contain ammonia.
After that, the hair is examined using a special device – a trichoscope – with a 60x zoom. Thanks to such manipulations, the doctor can draw conclusions about the condition of the hair on one square centimeter.
In addition, there is general information about the amount of hair that is at the stage of active growth and the so-called “sleeping” hair. The latter, by the way, can lead to baldness. Hard hair and weakened hair are also viewed separately.
The collected information is recorded in a table to compare with the normative indicators for all types of hair. For example, in a person with good health and condition of the hairline, about 90% of the hair will be in the stage of active growth. If the patient has a value below normal, then the doctor determines the treatment and additional examinations to determine the root cause.
Thanks to the phototrichogram, you can find out about the number of fine hairs, their density and structure, the percentage of thick hair and the rate at which the patient’s hair is renewed.
If you regularly carry out the phototrichogram procedure, you can learn a lot not only about the condition of the hair, but also whether the patient uses the right means to cleanse the scalp. To carry out this procedure, you must contact the selected clinic twice.
At the first visit, the doctor will prepare the necessary area of the head for further manipulations. After 48 hours, on the second visit, the phototrichogram procedure itself is performed. Further, in the analysis, the human factor is completely excluded: the collected results are processed by a special computer program. It calculates the total number of hairs per square centimeter of the patient, reveals the percentage of telogen, anagen and dysplatic hairs, and also shows the presence of other problems.
To get a complete picture, the doctor compares the analyzes from the two zones. This data helps to determine hair loss if it is in the early stages. The program saves the obtained results and further serves as the initial result for comparison of indicators after treatment, if necessary.
If problems are found, the doctor prescribes treatment. It is worth noting that it is long, and the result can be seen in six months, depending on the degree of the disease. It all depends on the damage to the hair. There are cases when patients observed progress a year after the start of treatment. A second phototrichogram session can be done no earlier than three months from the start of treatment.
Indications and contraindications for a phototrichogram
A phototrichogram is indicated if a person increasingly notices such conditions of the scalp and hair:
- dandruff;
- the appearance of dermatitis, eczema;
- decrease in the moisture content of the upper layer of the epidermis.
As for contraindications for a phototrichogram, there are none. After visiting the trichologist and receiving the results of the procedure, the doctor will give a referral for examination by other specialists of a narrow profile: a gastroenterologist, an immunologist, a gynecologist and an endocrinologist. Next comes the healing and recovery process.
In the modern world of procedures and means to deal with problems of the scalp, there are many. The clinics offer their new and unique techniques: plasmolifting, mesotherapeutic special mixtures, ozone therapy, lasers, electrosleep and microcurrents.
This is not the whole list of what can be used for hair treatment. Doctors even suggest injecting MSC fibroblasts of the umbilical cord. Here, everyone chooses a procedure that will be affordable for him. In any case, the doctor will offer special care products in a different price range.
Discomfort during the phototrichogram procedure
The only discomfort that patients experience is a shaved area for taking material for analysis.
Doctors are convinced that it is not worth worrying too much. The shaved area is very small, and it is almost not noticeable. So ladies with a lush hairstyle may not worry about a spoiled appearance.
After about two months, when the shaved hair grows back, the places where the material was taken for research will not be noticeable at all.
Therefore, this inconvenience is covered by what can be obtained after a phototrichogram – beautiful and healthy hair. After all, there is no other effective and accurate method for diagnosing the condition of the hair and scalp.