Alopecia is a very common condition with a progressive nature that affects 40% of men aged between 18 and 39 and 95% of men over the age of 70. In total 80% of men will have alopecia at some point in their lives. It also has a high rate in women as 40% of women will suffer from pattern hair loss during their lives.
Alopecia, or the abnormal loss of hair, is a multifactorial condition that combines genetic and external factors. Pattern hair loss is hereditary but many of the factors that also promote alopecia are known, for example: high testosterone levels, hormone changes, inflammation, circulatory changes, vitamin and/or mineral deficit, stress, pollution, etc.
There are various drugs that have been effective in slowing down the progressive process of alopecia. There are different lines of treatment: anti-inflammatories, antiandrogens, prostaglandins, circulation stimulants, collagen synthesis, vitamins and minerals or growth factors. But they are not all equally as effective in all patients, there may be a genetic predisposition that leads to a better or worse response to each of them and additionally we need to consider the factors (both genetic and external) that cause alopecia.
It has been clear that our genetic markers can have an effect on alopecia and that they also make us respond better or worse to different treatments. Due to this, if we analyse these specific variations of our DNA, we will be able to gather useful information about certain health conditions and the metabolism of medications.
Trichotest analyses both genetic factors and other relevant characteristics (extrinsic factors) obtained via the patient’s medical history. This process provides a complete understanding of the factors that affect the development of alopecia.
It consists in an innovative genetic test that helps us to personalise the alopecia treatment. The genetic sample is obtained in the clinic by rubbing a stick against the patient's oral mucosa, it is not painful or invasive and will give us information on 48 genetic variations related to alopecia. This will allow us to create a fully personalised therapeutic formulation for each patient based on their genetic results.
At Clínica Áureo we know that it is a cosmetic problem that affects many of our patients, both men and women, emotionally, causing low self-esteem and interfering with their personal and working lives. Avoiding or preventing hair loss is only possible if we understand the cause.
