Male Hair Loss - The Types

Men lose their hair in several ways. The most common are:
Receding
Hair Line (Thinning Hair)
Centralised loss on the top back of the head
(vertex)
Diffuse thinning where hair thins all over without losing the shape
of the hair line

The Norwood scale is the most common way of identifying which type of hair
loss, and the level of hair loss you are suffering. It also shows you what is
the likely outcome should your hair loss remain untreated. It is also good once
you have started treatment to evaluate the results of that treatment to see if
the treatment has been a success or not.

Different treatments are better at treating different types of hair loss and
we will examine those in the next section - Types Of Hair Loss
Treatments.

Extent of Male Hair Loss

The extent of your current hair loss is probably the most deciding factor on
how well you will respond to treatment. A practically bald scalp with only
microscopic hair follicles will not respond well to any treatment especially if
it has been that way for several years. If your hair has only just started to
succumb to male patterned baldness then you have an excellent chance of treating
the condition successfully.

How Long Have You Suffered Hair Loss?

The longer you wait to treat your hair loss the harder it will be to achieve
good results. This is the hard and fast rule. The process of losing your hair
takes years to progress so the sooner you do something about it the better your
chances of achieving a successful outcome. Fighting hair loss is about
prevention as well as reversal and this should always be understood. If you are
a young man in your twenties then you have a great chance of having a full head
of hair in the next 20-30 years as the balding process has not had as long to
progress yet. However, don't lose hope if you have been suffering from hair loss
for more than 5 years - a successful combination of treatments can reverse this
process. We will examine these treatments in the next step to this guide - Types of Hair Loss Treatment

Types of Hair Loss Treatment

Now you should have identified the type of hair loss you are suffering;
receding hair line, vertex loss or thinning hair. You should also be able to
identify the extent of your hair loss from the Norwood Scale above. The next
step is to examine the types of treatments available to you.Click here to proceed to
"Types of Hair Loss Treatments" page

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Female Hair Loss

As with any change in your body, hair loss may be a symptom
of an underlying disease such as anemia or hormonal imbalance. If hair loss
perists or worsens you should consult your dermatologist who can refer you to
the appropriate physican. Blood tests can be useful but frequently they will not
provide any more information than can be provided through a medical examination;
your physican or specialist will advise you accordingly.

Evaluating Female Hair Loss

There is a visual representation of female hair loss that will allow you to
assess your own situation. It is called the Ludvig Scale of Hair Loss.

You can now compare your hair loss to that Ludvig scale above. It
is also useful in understanding where you fall within this scale to assess any
treatments you might participate in and their levels of success.

Preparation before Visiting Your Doctor/Specialist

Before you visit your Medical Practitioner/Specialist you should understand
you need to prepare the facts for him/her so that they can refer you accordingly
and your Alopecia can be diagnosed properly. These two things are:

Clinical History
- How long have you been suffering this
hair loss?
- Is the hair falling out in full lengths or breaking off (partial
hairs)?
- Have you recently commenced the menopause or given birth?
- What
medications are you on if any?
- Do you have a family history of diabetes,
asthma, arthritis, vitiligo, anemia lupus or Addison's disease?

Blood Tests
There are a series of blood tests that maybe
required to help diagnose your Alopecia. The results need to be analysed by a
specialist and your scalp examined accordingly. Your physician will be able to
advise you if you need these tests.
- Hormone levels (DHEAS, Testosterone,
Androstenedione, Prolactin, Follicular Stimulating Hormone, and Leutinizing
Hormone)
- Serum Iron, Serum Ferritin, TIBC (Total Iron Binding
capacity)
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- VDRL
- Complete Blood
Count

Solutions to Female Hair Loss

Again, we need to reiterate that female hair loss should be examined by a
specialist in the field and all the tests should be done before treatment
begins. Once you have the results you can look to treatments. If your levels are
normal or you want to kickstart your hair growth then Click here to proceed to
"Types of Hair Loss Treatments" page