Testing for hair loss can make a big impact on treatment before hair loss is noticeable. Most hair loss is genetic or stress related and treatment options will work better if it is detected at an early stage. Minoxidil is a popular FDA-approved treatment for hair loss in both men and women and can be bought over the counter. Using it before hair loss is noticeable will increase your chances of prevention. The first step to treatment is testing and diagnosis.
Step 1
Tell your doctor about any medications, stressful situations or illnesses you may have had. This will help him determine causes of existing hair loss and help to prevent future hair loss due to these factors.
Step 2
Visit your physician for a pull test. The doctor will place her hand on your head, palm down and slide her fingers along the hair shaft. She will then count the number of hairs that came out in her hand. If it is only a few then that is normal, however more than four could indicate hair loss. She will most likely examine the hairs under a microscope, to determine DNA risk for hair loss based on genetics or other causes, such as medication.
Step 3
Request a genetic hair loss test. During this test, the doctor will place a cotton swab on the inside of your cheek to gather DNA. The swab is then sent to a laboratory and your hair loss profile is received in a couple weeks. The lab determines hereditary risk of male- or female-pattern baldness in the future.
Step 4
Undergo a scalp scraping to determine if infection is causing excessive hair loss. Your doctor will collect skin cells from your scalp or pull a hair out and closely examine the sample under a microscope. This will tell the doctor if you have any bacteria that is causing hair loss or has the potential to cause hair loss.
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