Standard Operating Procedures in Trichological Practice

Effective trichological practice is not a closed art, to be mastered only after years of perfecting and struggling with the mysteries of hair growth and shedding, and the trichological consultation is not one that takes longer than any other dermatological issue, nor is the trichological patient more difficult to manage. Although everyone may want to do their job the right way, everyone's version of that right thing may vary. A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled to help carry out routine operations. SOPs aim to achieve efficiency, quality output, and uniformity of performance while reducing miscommunication and failure to comply with regulations. Working in alignment with SOPs is an essential aspect of any organization, especially in healthcare. As with any medical problem, the patient complaining of hair loss requires a comprehensive medical and drug history, physical examination of the hair and scalp, and appropriate laboratory evaluation to identify the cause. Once a diagnosis is certain, appropriate treatment is likely to control hair loss. However, treatment success relies on patient compliance that, on its part, relies on confidence and motivation. For this purpose, regular follow-up visits at 3, 6, and 12 months with global photographic assessments in tandem with epiluminiscence microscopic photography are recommended. The overall goal is to gain short-term compliance as a prerequisite to long-term adherence to treatment. Under these conditions, patients' adherence to follow-up is over 90%.