Hair Loss Around Punch Biopsy By Dermatologist

Hey doc, about two months ago the dermatologist gave me a punch biopsy on my right temple. Since then there is a red spot on where she did the punch biopsy from and I’m getting a little hair shedding only from the right side on where the punch biopsy was taking. My left side is perfect infact the left and the right side does not equal since I got the punch biopsy. what do you think the problem is? because the dermatologist said to wait 6 months after the punch biopsy to see what happens.

Thanks!

You may have lost hair around punch biopsy area for two reasons:

1. Shock loss, if your hair in that area has been prone to balding. Irritation of the wound healing may have aggravated the loss of hair in that area. This could be reversible to some degree with no certainty depends upon the weakness of your hair in that area to start with. If it reverses, you will see the reversal within 8 months after the biopsy.
2. The punch biopsy may have transected some of the hair follicles if not done in the same direction as the hair shafts. This condition may be permanent and you should not expect to grow any of those hairs back.

In either case it won’t hurt to wait 6-8 months as your doctor told you to do. If you don’t see any growth during this time, your hair loss is probably permanent. At that time you can see a hair transplant surgeon if it is bothering you. The balding area could be filled with hair transplants if need be.