Hair, Scalp, & Nails

Patients affected by hair, scalp, or nail conditions may often times suffer tremendous physical and psychological distress as a result. Although rare, certain hair and nail conditions can signal internal health problems, and for this reason evaluation and management of these disorders are an essential part of patient care at St. Luke’s Dermatology.

Your St. Luke’s board certified dermatologist is available to help with the diagnosis and treatment of these specific hair, scalp, and nail conditions:

Alopecia (areata, totalis, and universalis)
Atopic Dermatitis (eczema)
Bacterial infections (folliculitis)
Contact dermatitis (allergic and irritant)
Cysts
Dandruff
Female pattern baldness
Hair loss related to autoimmune disorders
Hair shedding (telogen effluvium)
Hirsutism and Hypertrichosis (excessive hair)
Loose anagen syndrome
Male pattern baldness
Onychomycosis (nail fungal infection)
Psoriasis
Scarring alopecia (lichen planus, frontal fibrosing, central centrifugal)
Seborrheic dermatitis
Tinea capitis (hair fungal infection)

At St. Luke’s Dermatology, we offer a comprehensive evaluation of patients suffering from hair, scalp and nail conditions. Our goal is to determine the underlying cause of your condition and then suggest an individualized treatment regimen that matches your personal needs.

Diagnosis of these conditions starts with a thorough medical assessment that includes a detailed personal and family history and an examination of the affected areas. Your St. Luke’s dermatologist may also choose to use a dermatoscope, a special instrument that gives a magnified view of the affected area. Next, if your St. Luke’s dermatologist is concerned, he or she may ask your permission to sample a small portion of the affected hair, scalp, or nail tissue (i.e., a “skin biopsy”). Usually, this minor surgical procedure takes only a few minutes and can be done in the clinic. The sampled tissue is then processed so that a skin-focused pathologist can examine it under a microscope, giving a greater amount of information to your St. Luke’s dermatologist. Blood tests and nutritional assessments may also be helpful in certain situations.