Hair Loss Symptoms- Only A Doctor Can Diagnose The Cause

Many men suffer from hair loss, but the symptoms can vary. It's important to understand the underlying causes when looking at hair loss symptoms. Without a diagnosis, effective treatment will be impossible.

Perhaps the best-known hair loss symptoms in men involve the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The hair loss symptoms are a gradually receding hairline and loss of hair at the vertex (crown). Hair begins to thin at the temples and frontal hairline. The top of the head also suffers thinning at the same time. Both areas eventually converge, leaving only a fringe of hair around the sides and back of the head. This is called "male pattern hair loss" or androgenic alopecia. This is an inherited condition caused by a genetic predisposition to DHT. DHT attacks the hair follicle, causing it to miniaturize and produce progressively finer hair. Eventually the hair becomes transparent and the follicle stops producing hair altogether.

If you lose hair suddenly from small patches on the head, you may be suffering from alopecia areata. These circular patches are thought to be caused by an auto-immune mechanism that causes the white blood cells to attack the hair follicle. The follicle enters a dormant phase and eventually the hair will fall out. The skin where the hair is lost is soft and smooth. Hair loss is sudden and can occur overnight. These hair loss symptoms must be medically treated.

Other hair loss symptoms are related to certain forms of medical treatment like chemotherapy. Hair loss is rapid and complete -- the hair comes out in clumps. Fortunately this type of hair loss is temporary. Other causes for temporary hair loss are overactive thyroid, underactive thyroid, diabetes, lupus or anemia. Although the hair loss is temporary, the hair will not regrow unless the underlying cause is diagnosed and treated.

Dry hair in poor condition with many broken hairs and split ends can also result in hair loss symptoms like falling out or breakage. Due to chemical treatments like coloring or permanents, hairstyles that pull the hair tight like braids or excessive heat from hair appliances, this type of hair loss is also temporary. If you have a lot of broken hair shafts, your hair may seem to be thinning when actually it is just damaged. Other causes of broken hair include fungal infection and nutritional deficiency.

Telegen effluvium has dual hair loss symptoms: slow growth and diffuse loss. Severe stress causes a large percentage of the follicles to enter a dormant phase for 2 - 3 months, after which they fall out. This condition is sometimes difficult to diagnose because the cause and the effect are far removed from each other.

Medications can cause hair to thin, break or fall out. Drugs like those for arthritis, high blood pressure, gout, depression and ulcers cause these hair loss symptoms. Heavy metals like mercury, high doses of vitamin A, pesticides and birth control pills can also cause these symptoms.

Given the myriad symptoms and related causes for hair loss, it's best to see you doctor to get a specific diagnosis for hair loss symptoms. Only then will you be able to choose an effective treatment.