Initial Considerations To Make If Hair Loss Is Identified

How do we know if we have hair loss?
Although there are no hard and fast rules to test for hair loss, here are some simple checks we can do to assess our hair:

Gently pull on 40-60 hairs in 3 different areas of your scalp. If a total of more than 10 hairs are pulled out this may be a sign of hair loss.
After combing collect hairs in a bag for 14 days. If the average number of hairs collected is more than 100 per day this may be a sign of hair loss

These are rough guides to check for hair loss, it’s important to remember that for each person this may vary. In some people hair loss is obvious, in others it can be insidious.

It may be helpful to look back at old photographs to see how hairline or density has changed with time. At this point, it is also a good idea to take some baseline photos at different angles to be able to monitor hair loss down the line.

How do we get to a diagnosis?

In order for us to work out which of the above factors is causing hair loss, here are some questions to consider:

Is the whole scalp involved or does the hair loss occur in specific areas?
Does the hair loss follow a specific pattern?
Is there evidence of scarring or inflammation to the scalp?

Do I need to see a hair loss specialist?

When we consider the questions above, you may find it easy to describe the pattern of your baldness.

However, identifying whether hair loss has occurred in combination with scarred or inflamed skin can be more challenging and may require a specialist eye.

In such circumstances seeking professional help may be required. If you think your hair loss may be associated with other medical symptoms or medication, then you may want to discuss this with your general practitioner.

At this stage, you may have read enough to want to seek specialist advice for hair loss. If not, our next blogs explore in more detail how certain patterns of balding associated with different symptoms can help lead to a diagnosis for your hair loss.

Although many conditions are shared between men and women, we hope that having a separate 'female hair loss' and 'male hair loss' blog will help focus your path to treatment.

If you want to read more, the experts at Consulting Room really know what they're talking about and have put together non-surgical hair loss, hair transplant, hair loss drugs and Hair loss FAQs just for you.

If you have more questions, you can use the non-surgical hair loss, hair transplant, hair loss drugs and Hair loss questions feature to talk to our panel of trained medical experts.

If you're keen to get started with any of these treatments right away then you're in luck - those clever folks also have a list of trusted, accredited non-surgical hair loss, hair transplant, hair loss drugs and Hair loss clinics in your area.

Many thanks to the author Dr Dilan Fernando.

As lead hair transplant surgeon at The Treatment Rooms London, he has seen first hand the life-changing results surgery can have.

Undergoing the procedure is a highly personalised choice and Dr Fernando goes the extra mile to ensure high-quality natural hair growth results that account for the future.