What to Expect at Your Office Visit

A careful medical history and examination of the hair and scalp are usually enough to diagnose the cause of your hair loss.

Your doctor will ask detailed questions such as:

♦ Are you losing hair only from your scalp or from other parts of your body as well?

♦ Is there a pattern to the hair loss, like a receding hairline or thinning or bald areas on the crown, or is the hair loss throughout your head?

♦ Have you had a recent illness or high fever?

♦ Do you dye your hair?

♦ Do you blow dry your hair? How often?

♦ How often do you shampoo your hair?

♦ What kind of shampoo, hair spray, gel, or other product do you put on your hair?

♦ Have you been under unusual stress lately?

♦ Do you have nervous habits that include hair pulling or scalp rubbing?

♦ Do you have any other symptoms like itching, flaking, or redness of your scalp?

♦ What medications do you take, including over-the-counter drugs?

♦ Tests that may be performed (but are rarely needed) include:

♦ Blood tests to rule out disease

♦ Microscopic examination of a plucked hair

♦ Skin biopsy

Click the link to learn more: via Hair Loss – Symptoms, Causes, Tests – NY Times Health Information.