Hair Loss Questionnaire: How Worried Am I?

According to comedian Jeff Foxworthy, ‘You might be a redneck if your wife gets her hair caught in the ceiling fan.’

If you’re on the other end of the spectrum and don’t have to worry about getting your hair caught in the ceiling fan, you may be worried about losing your hair.

According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, you may be worried if you answer ‘yes,’ to three or more questions:

I think about my hair loss all the time
I wish I had more hair
I worry about losing even more hair
I feel frustrated and helpless about my hair
I feel self-conscious about my looks
I worry about how my looks will affect my career/marriage/dating/sexual activity
I worry that I am unattractive

What non-medical conditions can cause this condition?

Poor Nutrition

Lack of protein, iron, or lack of anti-oxidant vitamins, A, B, C, D, E, and biotin can contribute to poor nutrition and possible hair loss. Crash diets or anorexia/bulimia may also cause poor nutrition leading to this condition.

Medication

Certain drugs used to treat gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems and high blood pressure may cause hair to fall out.

Disease

Diabetes and lupus may contribute to losing hair.

Medical Treatments

Chemotherapy or radiation may cause alopecia during treatment. Once treatment ceases, hair will typically grow back.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes due to pregnancy, birth control pills, menopause or thyroid imbalance, can cause temporary hair loss. Correcting the hormonal imbalances may stop the process.

Hair Treatments

Excessive use of chemicals or over-processing while coloring, tinting, bleaching or relaxing the hair can damage and break the hair shaft.

Scalp Infections

Infections may result in alopecia. Once treated, the hair generally grows back.

Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder)

Trichotillomania is a type of mental illness in which people have an irresistible urge to pull out their hair, in different areas of the body. On the scalp, hair pulling leaves patchy bald spots.

If you are worried about any of the above conditions, see your physician or dermatologist.

If you are interested in permanent or semi-permanent solutions to hair loss, consider the following options:

The only permanent solution to male or female pattern alopecia is hair restoration surgery.
Topical (minoxidil ) and oral medications (finasteride) are semi-permanent solutions and have good results in a majority of cases, but for results to be maintained, usage must be continued.
Hairpieces, wigs and weaves are a non-surgical, non-permanent means to restore hair by covering bald areas of the scalp.
Cosmetic enhancers, including colored creams, sprays, and powders that, when applied to the thinning scalp, help camouflage thinning areas, as long as there is still some hair present in the area.