Causes and Diagnoses
Causes and Diagnoses of Hair Disorders
There are many causes of hair loss, each resulting in a different pattern and causing different symptoms. Causes may include:
- Aging
- Heredity (family history of baldness)
- Hormonal changes
- Severe illness
- Thyroid disorder
- Auto-immune disorders
- Infections, such as ringworm
- Medications, including anabolic steroids and birth control pills
- Chemotherapy
- Burns and trauma
- Eating disorder or other nutritional deficiency
- Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder)
- Tight hairstyles
- Shock
- Stress
Diagnosing hair disorders
Diagnosing your hair loss begins with a physical examination of your scalp and a complete medical history, including family history of hair loss, diet, hairstyles and medications. Tests may include:
- Hair analysis: This test checks for dietary deficiencies or chemical imbalances.
- Scalp biopsy: A small sample of the skin on your scalp can be tested for underlying autoimmune disease or infections.
- Blood test: A sample of your blood will be analyzed in a lab for thyroid disease, hormonal imbalances and other causes of hair loss.
