By judicious consideration of the clinical appearance, by direct examination with magnification, and by culture results, skin biopsy, and other laboratory results, the clinician is able to diagnose most pathological conditions of the scalp. The scalp participates in many systemic disorders and frequently is the chief site of involvement. Similarly, many generalized disorders limited to the skin exhibit their most typical manifestations in the scalp. Whenever a diagnosis eludes the investigator, more than likely he or she has not considered all of the etiological possibilities or has not pursued an adequate laboratory investigation. A few scalp diseases initially present nonspecific clinical pictures. By utilizing follow-up examinations at appropriate intervals, the diagnosis can eventually be made. Once a diagnosis is made, appropriate treatment will generally produce satisfactory improvement or cure. Nevertheless, a few generally rare conditions will defy the physician's most enlightened and aggressive therapy.
通过对临床表现的审慎考量、借助放大设备进行直接检查、依据培养结果、皮肤活检以及其他实验室检查结果，临床医生能够诊断出大多数头皮的病理状况。头皮会参与许多全身性疾病，且常常是受累的主要部位。同样，许多局限于皮肤的全身性疾病在头皮上表现出其最典型的症状。每当诊断困扰着研究者时，很可能他或她没有考虑到所有的病因可能性，或者没有进行充分的实验室检查。一些头皮疾病最初呈现非特异性的临床表现。通过在适当的间隔时间进行随访检查，最终能够做出诊断。一旦做出诊断，适当的治疗通常会产生令人满意的改善或治愈效果。然而，有一些通常较为罕见的病症会使医生最明智且积极的治疗方法失效。
