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 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.

Hair loss news on the Web

Stress increases risk of hair loss
CORRECTION: The dermatologist quoted in this article is named Christina Kim, not Cristina Kim. Although hair loss is attributed to genetics, health professionals believe stress can exacerbate hair loss by triggering the release of certain hormones in the body which can damage hair follicles.

Seen At 11: Age-Proofing Your Hair
As we get older, we spend more time and money on products that help keep us looking young – but it’s not only our skin and body that show signs of aging. What can we do to recapture that youthful sheen to our hair?

Out to lunch with Diana Foote: In Florida, hair today may be frizz tomorrow
My hair has gone rogue, like Sarah Palin’s grammar. Yoooou betcha! In the Florida steam bath we call “weather,” every time I wash it, I long for Alaska — where I wouldn’t have to spend an hour or so every day wielding a blow dryer and flat iron and the 10 products it takes to tame my hair. Do nothing, and I’m a human frizz ball.

ESPN hires Ross Hair to replace Lynne Frank
The sports broadcaster ESPN is preparing to announce the appointment of Ross Hair, who joins from Sony Pictures Television and will take over as head of its operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Cleveland Indians' long day's journey into night ends in 4-3 loss in 16 innings
The Indians go 16 innings in a 4-3 loss to the Angels. The end their West Coast trip with a 4-3 record.

Renowned Hair Transplant and Restoration Specialist, Dr. Larry Shapiro, Selects TransMedia Group to Spearhead National ...
Dr. Larry Shapiro, the Southeast's most famous hair restoration specialist, is well-known not only from his catchy TV and radio commercials, but for the remarkable scope of his practice, having personally performed over 11,000 hair transplant procedures over the past 20 years.

Rhode Island Hair Salon Hosts Fundraiser For Diabetes
Press Release, North Providence - On September 24th 2010, from 2-8pm, Gloss Glamour salon will be hosting Red Carpet Glamovers to benefit the American Diabetes Association of Rhode Island. For a modest 25 donation, customers will receive a professional blow out, make-up touch-ups, and a polish change. The event will be held at Gloss Glamours North Providence salon located at 1006 Mineral...

Had a bad hair day?
A TV production company is looking for stories for a new project that aims to educate the public about the dangers of unregulated hair and beauty salons.

Bush on Possible Heisman Loss: ‘Out of My Hands’
*Reggie Bush is on the verge of losing the highest honors a college athlete can receive. He would not comment, however on the details of the issue. “At this point, it’s kind of out of my hands,” Bush said Wednesday after practice with the New Orleans Saints. The former Trojan said he could not confirm [...]

Hotel industry seeks ways to make up lost revenue
ISTOCKPHOTO The nation’s hotel industry, already struggling to pull out of its worst slump in decades, is now suffering from another loss in revenue because of the booming popularity of cell phones and laptop computers. In the past, hotel operators...