Category Archives: Getting a Formal Diagnosis

It might have never happened to you before and you don’t know anybody else who has suffered from hair loss so it can seem really daunting and make you feel apprehensive about what is going on. However, there is no need to worry, many women in the UK suffer from hair loss during their lifetime and it can be caused by a number of different reasons.

In order to find out why you have suffering from hair loss, it would be worthwhile going to see your GP. Your doctor will be able to advise you on the type of hair loss that you are suffering with and the potential reasons why you are experiencing bald patches or thinning of the hair.

Once your doctor accurately diagnoses your hair loss, they can prescribe the necessary treatment and advise you on some lifestyle changes that could help to bring your hair back or halt the loss of any more hair.

Most women find it reassuring once they have visited their doctor and the doctor can answer all of the questions that have arisen as a result of the hair loss. Although it might be a stressful time, getting yourself stressed over your hair loss can result in you losing more hair.

There are many causes for hair loss in women, so it is important to get a proper diagnosis from your GP if you think you are suffering from a hair loss condition. Only when the correct cause of your problem is identified can the right solutions or hair loss management options be found.

One cause of hair loss in women is down to the thyroid gland. Found in the back of the neck, the thyroid gland is responsible for three main functions, such as:

• The production of proteins
• How quickly energy is used in the body
• The sensitivity of the body to other hormones

An underactive thyroid is known as hypothyroidism, whilst an overactive gland is called hyperthyroidism. Both of these conditions can cause female hair loss, thinning or brittle hair.

Hyperthyroidism – overactive

A condition more common in women than in men, hyperthyroidism occurs when there is too much thyroid hormone in the body. It causes many changes in the body, such as weight loss/gain, a loosening of nails and patchy hair loss known as alopecia.

Hypothyroidism – underactive

This is when the underactive thyroid gland is not producing enough of the hormone known as thyroxine, causing symptoms that may not show up for several years. When they do, sufferers may notice hair loss, muscle cramps, tiredness, depression and many other symptoms.

If you have been wondering why you are waking up and finding hair on your pillow and you are finding that your hair is going wispy and you might be getting bald patches? It might be time to consider going to the doctors to speak about getting a formal diagnosis. There are many conditions which result in hair loss but your doctor will be able to give you a proper diagnosis and tell you why you are losing your hair.

It can take a lot to pluck up the courage to go to the doctor and talk about what is happening to you but you need to be strong. There are many women out there who have unfortunately lost their hair as a result of many things that have gone on their lives. Some lose their hair to cancer whereas others lose theirs because of stress. Your doctor will be able to give you solutions to your problems and give you all of the advice that you need.

For some hair loss can be temporary and it will grow back over time and provided that you ensure that you take things easy and reduce the amount of stress in your life. However, for some it is permanent and this can be difficult to come to terms with and be very frustrating.

With there being so many different causes of hair loss, a number of different tests have to be carried out by a GP or dermatologist to establish which one is affecting you.

Iron
Iron levels are often tested as research has shown that low iron is often associated with loss of hair. It is not simply a matter of taking iron supplements, however, as this may not be the issue and you can have too much iron.

Thyroid check
Research has shown that hypothyroid and hyperthyroid can cause hair loss. This may be checked and you can be put on thyroid replacement medication. However, if you are already on such medication, there is a chance that this is the cause of hair thinning or loss as this can be a side-effect.

Hormone levels
High levels of testosterone can cause hair loss. The level of testosterone in women will tend to rise after the menopause and this may well trigger hair thinning.

Nowadays, there are thousands of websites offering ‘miracle’ cures and products for everything from weight loss to female hair loss treatment. The reason these fraudulent sites continue to exist is because there will always be people desperate enough to find a solution to a life-altering health problem to fall for the sales spiel.

The truth is, for female hair loss in particular, that spending your hard-earned cash on these ‘miracle’ products and treatments will ultimately lead to crushing disappointment. This is because the overwhelming majority of these products do not work, and the people who make and sell them are making money out of your willingness to believe they do.

Go to specialist clinic or doctor instead

The best way to avoid being ripped off on these internet products is to avoid disreputable or dubious- looking websites altogether. If the product and its low price seems too good to be true, it most likely is.

All this isn’t to say that there aren’t treatments and solutions out there for women suffering from hair loss, but the way to find them is through a registered GP or a specialist hair loss clinic.

Whenever a hair loss problem develops, the first thing to do is to go and see your GP. They will help you get to the root cause of your hair loss and only then will you be able to treat the condition correctly.

As part of the process, you are likely to have to see an NHS dermatologist. While dermatologists are commonly thought of as dealing with the skin, they also deal with hair, as hair follicles reside in the skin. However, there may well be a wait to see an NHS dermatologist. If you cannot wait, you do have another option. You can an appointment with a trichologist privately.

Trichologists deal with the hair and scalp and a typical consultation is an hour long. As with any medical position, there are qualifications for trichologists, so make sure you are being seen by a professional.

During you hour-long session, the trichologist attempt to diagnose your problem and should be able to recommend a subsequent course of treatment. If your condition is likely to result in substantial loss of hair, there are various hair replacement options that you can take a look at to help you manage the problem.