Hair Loss Symptoms

added 7th February 2014

A significant 1 in 2 men and 1 in 4 women will experience hair loss at some stage of their lives. To determine the best solution, one must pay attention to the hair loss symptoms.

Are you losing hair on the top of the head or from the forehead or are you a victim of hair thinning? It could be androgenetic alopecia or inherited hair loss, which runs in the family.

If you notice symptoms like redness or inflammation of the scalp, it could be a result of your own immune system attacking your hair follicles.

If your thyroid gland is overactive or under active, or male (androgens) and female hormones (oestrogens) are out of balance, this too could result in hair loss.

If you have just delivered your baby and find that within two to three months tufts of hair are coming out in your brush, don’t despair. It is called post-partum hair loss or telogen effluvium. It is common and will usually rectify itself within a few months.

Are you recovering from a major surgery or severe infection? Then don’t be shocked by excessive hair loss. Some drugs used for treating gout, heart problems, arthritis or acne may cause temporary hair shedding. Drugs used for cancer or chemotherapy stop hair cell division. The patient may lose all his hair during the course of the treatment, but will hopefully regain his hair after the treatment stops some months later.

Diet plays an important role for inadequate hair growth and hair loss prevention. Hair loss symptoms are noticed in people who go in for crash diets and develop protein malnutrition in the process. Iron deficiency or inadequate protein intake may result in hair loss or hair thinning.

Are you stressed because of a sudden loss in the family? Is work too hectic and strenuous? Don’t ignore such situations as these, too, can cause temporary hair loss.

In almost all cases of hair loss, it is recommended to seek medical advice to determine whether genetics or a health-related issue is the cause of the condition.

Knowledge of the hair loss symptoms is one of the best tools to assist a medical practitioner determine the best method of hair loss treatment for an individual experiencing any of the above conditions.