Disability Resource Directory

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 an 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 just getting older, so it is important to strike a balance between caution and sensibility.  A good idea is to first look at your family history 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 of time before the normal hair growth cycles 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 or to the hair follicles. 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, 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 treatment 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 may also be involved to assist with diagnosing and recommending appropriate treatment for the patient's specific needs.

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