Hair loss, or alopecia, affects millions of people all over the world. It can be permanent or temporary, and can occur as a standalone condition or as the result of an underlying medical issue.
While it’s rarely debilitating, hair loss can be distressing. Some women have reported that losing their hair has caused problems in their marriage or career [1]. You may find that the stress of losing your hair actually makes alopecia worse, creating a vicious cycle of worry and hair loss.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to prevent and treat hair loss. It’s all about getting the right diagnosis. This is especially true for women, as diagnosing women’s hair loss can be difficult.
In this guide to hair loss, you’ll discover:
Hair loss is a symptom in and of itself. But as a patient, you can look for patterns of hair loss to help you better understand the cause of your alopecia. Spotting early signs will allow you to act faster and more effectively. Common patterns include:
In addition, look for any accompanying symptoms, such as:
There are several potential causes of hair loss, including:
If you’re concerned about hair loss or a potential underlying cause, your GP should be your first port of call. When you’ve ruled out any underlying issues, a trichologist can help diagnose and treat your alopecia.
You’re more likely to lose hair if:
Some types of alopecia are preventable and temporary. For example, if your hair loss is linked to poor nutrition, stress, or unhealthy styling practices, you can prevent hair loss with some lifestyle adjustments:
Unfortunately, the most common types of hair loss aren’t preventable, but they can be treated.
There are several hair loss treatment options available. Popular treatments include:
The table below shows which condition(s) each hair loss treatment can treat effectively:
*Minoxidil is most effective for alopecia areata when used alongside other treatments, such as steroid creams.
Men with male pattern hair loss can map their hair loss to the Norwood Scale. This 7-stage scale helps trichologists measure hair loss and calculate how many hair grafts you need for a hair transplant.
The Norwood Scale is only appropriate for men with androgenetic alopecia. Other types of hair loss can be measured using different approaches, such as the Ludwig Scale for female pattern baldness.
Sometimes hair loss treatments don’t give you the results you were hoping for. In these cases, hiding your alopecia is the next best option.
Scalp micropigmentation helps create the illusion of hair density across the scalp. Some people choose to get SMP after a buzzcut, while others use it to make the scalp less visible through thinning hair.
Wearing a wig or hairpiece can help you hide larger bald spots or more substantial thinning. Some UK patients are entitled to get a wig on the NHS (usually if you’re under 20 and meet certain other conditions).
If you want to restore your hair quickly and effectively, talk to a trichologist at the Wimpole Clinic.
Our team has more than 45 years’ experience treating all kinds of hair loss conditions. Whether you’re looking for hair transplant guidance, or you want to try medical therapy first, get free, impartial advice from our friendly team either online by video or face to face at one of clinic locations. We take your unique hair loss experience into account to find the most appropriate and effective treatment for you.
Book a free consultation with our trichology team to start your hair restoration journey.
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