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.