While hair loss may not usually be a threat to your health, it can have devastating effects on your self-image and sense of well-being. Your hair has much more significance than the physiological purpose of regulating your temperature and providing protection for your scalp. For most people, it is a definition of their personality, style, and fashion. When hair loss occurs, it has a damaging effect on our psyche. Your dermatologist is a highly skilled medical professional that diagnoses and treats a wide variety of conditions that can affect the scalp and cause hair loss.

What Causes Hair Loss?

The medical term for hair loss is Alopecia but there are many different types and causes. Both men and women may experience it in varying degrees from a slight thinning of the hair to complete baldness.

Examples of the most common hair loss disorders are:

• Alopecia Areata– an autoimmune condition in which the hair follicles are attacked by the body’s immune cells
• Androgenetic Alopecia– patterned baldness that develops in males and females due to hereditary and hormonal factors
• Telogen Effluvium– a condition associated with excessive hair shedding of hair several months after the body experiences a major stressful event.
• Chemical Hair Damage– hair becomes dry, and brittle and breaks off in pieces after being exposed to a chemical that is too harsh
• Traction Alopecia– hair loss due to pulling on the hair from tight braids or hair pieces

Hair loss may also be the result of underlying health issues such as anemia or thyroid abnormalities.  Changes to your hair and scalp might indicate health problems such as diabetes or lupus or any number of other conditions, therefore, it is important that you take sudden changes in your hair seriously.

So, What Should You Do If You Start Losing Your Hair?

The first step in the treatment of hair loss is to determine the cause. Visit your dermatologist to have them examine your hair and scalp and diagnose your disorder. Many forms of hair fall are temporary or can be reversed with the proper medications or therapies. Other forms may cause scarring which can lead to permanent baldness but can be slowed significantly through regular treatment sessions if the process is started early.

 To properly diagnose your type of hair fall your dermatologist will ask about your medical history, any recent illnesses you may have had and any medications you may be taking including over the counter medicines. Are you experiencing hair loss on your body as well as your scalp? Your hair care routine is also vital information to share with your doctor. Such things as the hair care products you use, how often you shampoo and whether you color your hair or use a hair dryer are valuable bits of information that can help with your diagnoses.  It is useful to bring these products in when you see the dermatologist for a consultation. They will also ask questions about other family members who may also have experienced hair loss to determine your genetic predisposition to baldness. Most diagnoses’ are made through skillful evaluation of your scalp, hair and medical history but occasionally further medical testing is necessary. Again, these tests may include blood work to rule out underlying medical conditions, examination of a hair sample under a microscope or a skin biopsy to evaluate the scalp tissue of the affected area.

Skin City has expertise in using a combination approach to hair fall to minimize the side effects and to improve the safety of the therapies adopted. Skin City is one of the very few centers to give excellent results in hair fall.