Hair Loss and treatment

What causes hair loss?
First, your doctor or dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in skin problems) will try to determine the underlying cause of your hair loss. The most common cause of hair loss is hereditary male- or female-pattern baldness.

If you have a family history of baldness, you may have this type of hair loss. Certain sex hormones can trigger hereditary hair loss. It may begin as early as puberty.

In some cases, hair loss may occur with a simple halt in the cycle of hair growth. Major illnesses, surgeries, or traumatic events can trigger hair loss. However, your hair will usually start growing back without treatment.

Hormonal changes can cause temporary hair loss. Examples include:

pregnancy
childbirth
discontinuing the use of birth control pills
menopause
Medical conditions that can cause hair loss include:

thyroid disease
alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease that attacks hair follicles)
scalp infections like ringworm
Diseases that cause scarring, such as lichen planus and some types of lupus, can result in permanent hair loss because of the scarring.

Hair loss can also be due to medications used to treat:

cancer
high blood pressure
arthritis
depression
heart problems
A physical or emotional shock may trigger noticeable hair loss. Examples of this type of shock include:

a death in the family
extreme weight loss
a high fever
People with trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder) have a need to pull out their hair, usually from their head, eyebrows, or eyelashes.

Traction hair loss can be due to hairstyles that put pressure on the follicles by pulling the hair back very tightly.

A diet lacking in protein, iron, and other nutrients can also lead to thinning hairn

How is hair loss diagnosed?
Persistent hair loss often indicates an underlying health issue.

Your doctor or dermatologist can determine the cause of your hair loss based on a physical examination and your health history. In some cases, simple dietary changes can help. Your doctor may also change your prescription medications.

If your dermatologist suspects an autoimmune or skin disease, they might take a biopsy of the skin on your scalp.

This will involve carefully removing a small section of skin for laboratory testing. It’s important to keep in mind that hair growth is a complex process. It may take time to determine the exact cause of your hair loss.