What You Can Expect When You Consult A Doctor
If you consult a dermatologist (a skin doctor who normally deals with hair issues), they will first check if you are losing hair volume because your hair is falling off and not getting replaced or because it is beginning to miniaturize. Normally, the doctor will take some hair between the index and middle fingers and lightly tug – it is normal for 5-8 strands to come out. More than this is a sign that something is wrong. The hair will also be checked with an instrument called the densitometer for the miniaturized hair.
Once unusual hair loss has been established, the dermatologist will check for what could be causing the loss, and decide the treatment based on the findings.
You can expect the doctor to quiz you on:
Your lifestyle and any major life-stressors- Examples include questions like - have you been ill or injured, or have you given birth or gone through menopause recently? Are you on a diet? Are you on a crash diet? Do you smoke ? The average amount of sleep you get and so on.
Your general health and the medications you are taking – Do you have asthma or diabetes? Are you on oral contraceptives, blood-pressure or cholesterol medication, antidepressants, multivitamins?
The doctor will also check for signs of anemia or thyroid disease, or hormonal problems (severe acne, increased body hair, irregular periods, infertility, breast secretions). Based on these findings, tests may be prescribed to verify
- Hormone levels, especially testosterone, DHEAs, and prolactin;
- Iron levels and anemia, including the complete blood count (CBC), serum iron, and total iron binding capacity;
- Thyroid disease, T3, T4, and TSH; and
- Diseases like lupus or syphilis, ANA, STS, or VDRL.
