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Hair & Nails

cosmetic. surgical. medical.

Learning you have a health condition of the scalp, hair, or nails may be painful and at times embarrassing. These conditions can have many causes. Some are genetic, while others stem from autoimmune problems. The most common hair and nail conditions include psoriasis, eczema, hair loss, fungal or bacterial infections as well as nail splitting or cracking. Immediate diagnosis and treatment can positively impact the overall health of your hair and nails. If you are noticing any problems it is important to consult a dermatologist and seek accurate, medically proven treatment.

Dr Angeline Yong is a dermatologist and dermatological surgeon whose clinical interest is in hair and nail disorders. She was an integral member of the hair and nail subspecialty unit, and the founding consultant and lead of the hair transplantation service at the National Skin Centre prior to leaving for private practice. Explore the links below to learn more about some of the most common conditions affecting the hair and nail.

Area of Concern

UNWANTED HAIR GROWTH AND HIRSUTISM

Unwanted hair and excessive hair growth due to hypertrichosis and hirsutism can be removed through laser treatments. Treatments typically require 4-6 sessions, with adequate healing time in between depending on area being treated.

The treatment involves highly concentrated light beamed into hair follicles causing the melanin pigment within the follicles to absorb the light, leading to destruction of follicles. A less painful procedure, which is much quicker than electrolysis, the lasers selectively target melanin, thereby heating up the basal stem cells in the follicle that causes excessive hair growth.

Melanin is considered the primary chromophore for all hair removal lasers currently on the market. Because of the selective absorption of laser light, only hair with colour such as black, brown, reddish-brown and dirty blonde can be removed. White hair cannot be removed by this method as it lacks the melanin pigment.

Some medical indications for hair removal include:

  • Hirsutism
    • Hirsutism is a male-pattern of secondary or post-pubertal hair growth occurring in women. It arises in the moustache and beard areas at puberty while hair also appears in non-hirsute women in the underarm and pubic areas. Hirsute women may also develop thicker, longer hair than usual on their limbs and trunk.
  • Hypertrichosis (congenital or acquired)
  • Pseudofolliculitis

Suitable devices include the long-pulsed Alexandrite lasers and long-pulsed Nd:YAG lasers – both of which are used at our clinic. The choice is made based on the skin type of the patient, with fairer skin types being more suited to the long-pulsed Alexandrite laser and darker skin types more suited to the long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser.

A non-laser device such as the intense pulsed light is another option.

A proper assessment is imperative before considering your treatment options, hence seeing a dermatologist that specialises in hair disorders is important. Dermatologists who are MOH-accredited specialists in managing disorders of the skin, hair and nails primarily manage hair disorders. Dr Angeline Yong is a dermatologist and dermatological surgeon whose subspecialty interests include hair disorders and hair transplantation. She was the founding consultant and lead of the hair transplant service at the National Skin Centre prior to her private practice.

WHAT IS YOUR AREA OF CONCERN?