Starting treatment directly for hair fall can be a big mistake. Only with proper diagnosis can the cause of hair loss be known and effective treatment is possible.
Most of the people make the same mistake when they have hair fall problem. They panic, look for solutions on the internet and immediately start trying oils, shampoos, supplements or expensive clinic treatments. It is natural to do so. Watching your hair thin can be stressful. But starting treatment directly without knowing why hair is falling is one of the biggest mistakes. Many times this mistake leads to wastage of both time and money.
Hair fall is not one problem, it can be the result of many different problems
Often people do not understand this. When seen from outside, the symptoms of hair fall appear almost the same – finding more hair on the pillow, widening of the hair or receding of the hairline. But the reason behind this may be different from person to person.
Some of the major types of hair fall are:
- Androgenetic Alopecia: Hair loss caused by genetic factors and sensitivity to DHT.
- Telogen Effluvium: Temporary hair loss caused by stress, illness, nutritional deficiencies or hormonal changes.
- Alopecia Areata: An autoimmune condition, in which the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles.
- Scalp related problems: Like Seborrheic Dermatitis or Scalp Psoriasis.
- Traction Alopecia: Hair fall caused by tight hairstyles or frequent heat styling.
The treatment for each of these conditions is different. Treatments that may be effective for hair loss caused by DHT may not be effective at all or may even make the condition worse for someone with hair loss caused by iron deficiency or thyroid problems. Treating the wrong cause can cost months of time and a lot of money, but yield no results.
Why are expensive treatments not always effective?
Nowadays many people start undergoing expensive clinical treatments without proper diagnosis. As:
- Laser Therapy
- Mesotherapy
- PRP Treatment
All of these treatments can be effective under the right circumstances, but not for every person.
For example, in PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma), platelets are extracted from a person’s own blood and injected into the scalp in an attempt to activate hair follicles. There is also a scientific basis behind this. But if your hair is falling due to severe iron (Ferritin) deficiency or thyroid problem, then getting PRP done alone will not remove the root cause.
The problem lies not in the hair follicles, but in the nutritional or hormonal conditions inside the body. In such a situation, treatment done only on the scalp cannot correct that deficiency. This does not mean that these treatments are useless. Rather, it means that starting any expensive treatment without knowing the exact cause is just guessing.
What does a correct hair loss diagnosis involve?
A good hair loss diagnosis is not limited to just examining the scalp. In this, complete health is evaluated. These usually include:
- Detailed information about your medical history, such as recent illness, surgery or prolonged stress.
- Blood tests, which may include testing for Ferritin, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Thyroid Hormones (TSH, T3, T4), and if needed, Testosterone or DHT.
- Examination of the scalp, so that the condition of the hair follicles and the pattern of hair fall can be understood.
- Family history of hair loss, questions related to diet, sleep and lifestyle.
Some experts also do Trichoscopy. In this, with the help of special equipment, the scalp and hair follicles are viewed in large size and their density, miniaturization and condition of the scalp is evaluated.
On the basis of all this information, the real cause of hair fall is understood and a proper treatment plan is made accordingly.
The problem of repeatedly trying different treatments
Hair growth is a slow process. Every hair goes through three stages:
- Anagen: hair growth stage
- Catagen: stage of infection
- Telogen: resting and hair loss phase
This entire cycle continues for several months. So if you start a treatment and it is not effective, it may take 3 to 6 months to notice. Then you start another treatment and have to wait for a few months for that too. In this way, two or three unsuccessful treatments can take a year or more. While for many types of hair loss, the sooner proper treatment is started, the better the results can be.
So a correct diagnosis not only saves money, but also time—and time is of the essence when it comes to hair follicles.
If you don’t know where to start
If you don’t know how to get started, it might be helpful to start with an online hair assessment. For example, the Traya Hair Test asks questions about your health, lifestyle, and hair loss patterns, which can help identify potential root causes. This makes it easier to decide the direction of further investigation and treatment.
After this, getting the necessary blood tests done and consulting a qualified Dermatologist or Trichologist gives you more clear and accurate information.
final thoughts
In most cases, hair fall is treatable, but only if you know the root cause of the problem. Before getting expensive treatments or buying tons of products, it’s important to take some time to understand why your hair is actually falling out.
Correct diagnosis is not a delay in treatment, but the first and most important beginning of effective treatment. This is the step that helps in getting better and sustainable results in the long run.