\u201cYou really do want to screen every patient for what\u2019s called body dysmorphic disorder, and it\u2019s really a lot more common than clinicians realize,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will have happier patients, you will be happier, and the practice will be better,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Documentation and Informed Consent<\/p>\n
She advised being systematic and documenting everything, including informed consent and clinical photography. She said the goal is objectively good or great results, with patients who come back and send their friends.<\/p>\n
Diagnosing Multifactorial Hair Loss<\/p>\n
Turning to alopecia, she emphasized making the correct diagnosis before starting treatment. She described hair loss as multifactorial, with a genetic component plus epigenetic influences including hormones, nutrition, inflammaging, and stress. She recommended a careful history, examination, photography, and targeted labs, with biopsy planned if the diagnosis is unclear.<\/p>\n
Early Intervention and Combination Therapy<\/p>\n
Because hair loss has more than one cause, she recommended starting early and combining modalities for the best possible outcome. She also stressed counseling patients on the timeline for response.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes a good six months, six to 12 months, to really see dramatic results and know if your treatment options are really working,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Hair Loss Treatment Pipeline<\/p>\n
She said her practice is conducting clinical trials of new medications expected to become available relatively soon. Agents in development include topical antiandrogens, JAK inhibitors, stem cells, and exosome products.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pipeline is exciting and we have more evidence growing and we are seeing new treatment options come available,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She said she is looking for data to guide these options and expects a lot of exciting things ahead.<\/p>\n