Scalp biopsy tomorrow for hair thinning, anyone able to share experiences?

[TheMeatyDrop]

Posting on here for traffic as appointment is tomorrow...

I have had thinning hair for a while, general thinning rather than patches. I also have had some sort of scalp condition since my teen yrs (I'm now in peri), could be eczema could be psoriasis but various gp have never diagnosed as they told me 'the treatment is the same' topical steroid. I've used a topical steroid on / off for decades.

After a v long wait I saw a dermatologist a few months ago about my hair loss. He wanted to do a scalp biopsy to finally give an actual diagnosis of my long term scalp issues to help decide what is causing my thinning & focus any treatment better.

I've just been given a cancellation appt tm & now I'm really nervous! Is anyone able & willing to share scalp biopsy experiences?

Questions...

How obvious is the site they biopsy from left immediately afterwards?

How do they dress it? (I'm taking tm off work but wondering if it will be obvious that I've had this done if I'm back in the office on Thursday)

Were you OK to drive afterwards?

How did your scars heal?

I don't know if I'll get any say in which sites they take from but thinking if there's anything I need to take into consideration if I do have a choice.

Thanks in advance :-)

I had one in 2014- it wasn’t too unpleasant and I had 4 stitches in my scalp afterwards which then fell out a week later. There were no dressings- it’s not a big cut they make at all. Absolutely fine to drive.

Thank you @tiptoptoemaytoe
Were the site / stitches visible the following day? Or could it be hidden by surrounding hair?
Do you have a small clear patch now or did the stitches pull the skin together so there's not really a circle of scar tissue?
I think they'll want one from top of my head & possibly one from back or side.

I sent you a PM earlier today answering some of your questions. Not sure if you have seen it. (Have changed my username)
wishing you all the best for tomorrow.

I couldn’t/can’t see it so don’t know. I was diagnosed with AA afterwards so whether there’s a patch up there due to the biopsy or AA, I have no idea. I have short hair and remember just carefully covering where the biopsy had taken place with a side parting. It sounds scary but is such a short procedure. Try not to worry (sorry, not being patronising).

Did they check your iron levels? I was severely anemic and had hair thinning and breakage. I got an iron infusion and it's finally getting better

@ScalpBiopsy thank you :-)))

@tiptoptoemaytoe not patronising at all. I have long hair that needs a shorter style as I fear the length draws attention to how thin it is now. But I will hopefully be able to part it or clip it for coverage of sites after tm. Will take clips & comb.

@Ladyzfactor my ferritin is low, it was around 20 at first testing end of 2024. I have been on iron tabs since, at last bloods in Feb it was up to 50. Still not where I need to be but moving in the right direction slowly. Was your iron infusion on nhs? How long does it last?

I'm American, so I can't help you with the NHS question. Thankfully my insurance covered all of it. I also got an IUD to stop my periods because the root cause was fibroids that caused very heavy bleeding. I felt better almost the day after my infusion. They plan to do one more infusion then I'll probably be good after that as long as we monitor my levels. It's also nice because my hair is starting to grow back to normal levels.