Determining the Cause of Hair Loss

For anyone that is concerned about their hair loss, the most important step is to see a hair loss specialist that can help diagnose the cause of your loss and develop a treatment plan specific to your needs.  There are many ways a hair loss specialist can determine the causes of your hair loss, which can include, but is not limited to, a review of your medical history and hair loss history, a physical review of your hair and scalp, or reviewing highly magnified photos of your hair.  One other potential diagnostic test is a blood test.

It is not necessary for every patient to get a blood test, however, for some patient’s a blood test can be very helpful in determining the cause of hair loss.  At Medi Tresse, the hair loss specialists may request a blood test if they feel that further evaluation is necessary to rule out any potential causes of hair loss.  While the blood test may differ for each patient, there are some standard levels we would for any blood test, and these include Ferritin, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Complete Blood Count (CBC), Vitamin D, and Testosterone.

• Ferritin: Ferritin is a blood cell protein that contains iron. Testing for ferritin can determine whether the patient is iron deficient, which can potentially lead to hair loss.
• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): TSH is tested to determine if the thyroid is working properly. When the thyroid is not working properly, whether it is too active or not active enough, it can cause hair loss.
• Complete Blood Count (CBC): A CBC is important as it can evaluate your overall health and potentially detect a wide range of disorders. If you have any underlying health issues they can affect the health of your hair.
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D deficiency can potentially be a cause of hair loss.
• Testosterone: Elevated levels of testosterone can directly cause hair loss.

Before you decide to go get your blood tested, it is important to see a hair loss specialist that can help walk you through this process and provide you with the best resources for reviewing the results, and determining if it is necessary.

Posted by Your Medi Tresse Team