October 23, 2007

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Hair Loss

Browse » Health Digest » » Body Care » Hair Loss » Symptoms and Diagnosis of Hair Loss
There are a wide range of potential causes of hair loss in patients. As hair loss can be a potential indicator for conditions such as diabetes, it is essential that effective and accurate diagnosis...


There are a wide range of potential causes of hair loss in patients. As hair loss can be a potential indicator for conditions such as diabetes, it is essential that effective and accurate diagnosis is made as early as possible to ensure that any underlying conditions are treated effectively and promptly. Having said that, the causes of hair loss can be somewhat more benign, ranging from stress to mere aging, so it is important to strike a balance between caution and sensibility. A good idea is to firstly look at your family to determine genetic qualities which may leave you open to hair loss. If you are a male of middle age, and other males within your family saw similar symptoms at a similar age, it is likely you are genetically programmed to see hair loss and baldness. Embracing this can be difficult for many males, although there are numerous options available to disguise its progression.

If you are suffering from hair loss which is unexplained, or unsuspected, it is also worth knowing that stress through traumatic experience, or operation can also cause the loss of hair, and again this is perfectly natural, and the effects will last only a short period for normal hair growth cycles will resume. Additionally, hormonal imbalances as a result of disease of the thyroid gland, or even pregnancy can lead to the loss of hair in both men and women at any age.

By ill-treatment of the hair, patients can also experience a degree of hair loss which is the result of damage to the scalp of to the hair follicles, and by reversing the damaging treatment, such as chemical perms or tight hair styles, you should again see a recurrence of natural hair growth within a short period of time. Certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies, or even a surplus of vitamin A can also cause symptoms of hair growth, and the appropriate diagnosis of such can be particularly beneficial for redress, and for the body as a whole which relies on these substances to remain healthy.

If hair loss is small and patchy, with oily or red areas where the hair used to grow, this can be a strong indication of ringworm, or conditions such as alopecia, which require medical intervention to reverse their symptoms. Through effective treatments of these conditions, you can see the resumption of normal hair growth patterns fairly quickly, which will result in effective coverage of the problematic areas.

If you are suffering from hair loss, it is usually a good idea to visit your doctor. He will be better placed to determine the symptoms on which to base diagnosis, and will ultimately be more capable of offering effective treatment for the underlying problems, rather than addressing the symptoms specifically. This will ensure longer term results, and will halt the progress of any more serious conditions which could be causing these symptoms. A specialist consultant may also be involved to assist with diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment for the patient's specific needs.

Recommended Reading

  1. Coping With Hair Loss
  2. Hair loss, although highly emotionally damaging and stressful, doesn't have to be a major problem. By altering your lifestyle, you...
  3. Research into Hair Loss
  4. Seeing hair loss in patients is demoralising for the medical profession. Feeling relatively helpless with limited treatment options, it is...
  5. The Causes of Hair Loss
  6. Hair loss in patients can be caused by a range of various factors. From genetic pre-disposition through to infection of...
  7. What is Hair Loss?
  8. Hair loss is a common part of growing old for many men across the world. Mainly thanks to genetic predisposition,...
  9. Management of Hair Loss
  10. With constant advertisements claiming to improve the quality of hair, or even stimulate re-growth, it is important to understand the...

Leave a Comment or Ask a Question

Fields marked by an asterisk (*) are required.

All material on this website is provided for your information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction.
No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information; instead, readers
should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being.