1. Check Your Meds
What's a common culprit for hair loss (alopecia)? Medications--both prescription and over-the-counter. Have your pharmacist or doctor check for side effects of any medications that you're taking. Then, check for interactions between them. Be honest about everything you're taking, including vitamins and supplements. Birth control is also a common culprit, so make sure to let the doctor know if you're taking it.
2. See Your Doctor
Some medical problems cause hair loss. Schedule an appointment with your doctor to rule out any medical problems. Simple blood tests, such as a metabolic panel, identify deficiencies and other disorders that cause balding. He will probably ask about family history of alopecia, since that is a key risk factor for developing it. By thorough examination of all this information, the doctor creates a treatment plan that best suits the patient and their needs. Go over the side effects of any medication he prescribes for alopecia. Also, make sure to clarify what exactly it does. Many treatments stop hair loss, but don't actually re-grow hair.
3. It's Treatable
Hair loss is easiest to treat before it's all gone. If you notice significant hair loss, don't wait around to look for treatments. There are both prescription and over-the-counter remedies that help millions of people with alopecia. If the hair loss is inherited, re-growth is not possible, but medication can stop loss before it happens. In this case, surgical intervention to replace hair is the only way to get it back.
4. It's Not Just a Man's Problem
Alopecia is also a common diagnosis for women. However, because they are embarrassed of losing their hair, they rarely ever discuss it. Women often get overall thinning of the hair, as opposed to men, who lose hair around the forehead and top of the head. The same treatment options available to men are also available to women. Don't let embarrassment keep you from getting treatment. Doctors treat this problem all the time, in men and women, and can help.
5. Some Hair Loss is Normal
Normal hair loss is anywhere between 50 and 150 hairs a day. Women who have recently given birth lose more hair for a short time due to hormonal changes. Chemotherapy, used to treat cancer, causes hair loss. High stress levels and poor diet also contribute to excess hair loss. Check for other sources of hair loss before assuming it's just your body.
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