Before your doctor makes a diagnosis, they will probably do a physical exam and ask about your diet, how you take care of your hair, and your medical and family history. You may also need some tests, like:
Blood Test
This can help find medical problems that may be causing your hair to fall out.
Pull test.
The doctor gently pulls a few dozen hairs to see how many come out. This helps find out how far along the hair loss is.
Scalp Biopsy
The doctor takes a small sample of skin or a few hairs from your scalp to look at the hair roots under a microscope. This can help tell if an infection is causing the hair loss.
Light Microscopy
The doctor uses a special tool to look at hairs that have been cut at their base. This helps find issues with the hair shaft.
Treatment
There are Hair Loss Treatment in Singapore available for some types of hair loss.
You may be able to reverse it, or at least slow it down. In some cases, like patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair might grow back on its own within a year. Treatments for hair loss can include medicines and surgery.
Medication
If your hair loss is caused by an illness, treating the illness is important.
If a certain medicine is causing the hair loss, your doctor may tell you to stop taking it for a while.
There are medicines available to treat pattern baldness (hereditary hair loss).
The most common ones are:
Minoxidil (Rogaine)
This is available without a prescription and comes in liquid, foam, and shampoo forms. To work best, women should use it once daily and men twice daily. Many people like using the foam when their hair is wet.
Products with minoxidil can help many people grow back their hair or slow down hair loss, or both.
It will take at least six months of use to stop further hair loss and start hair growth. It may take a few more months to see if the treatment is working. If it is helping, you’ll need to keep using it forever to keep the benefits.
Possible side effects include irritation on the scalp and unwanted hair growth on the face and hands.
Finasteride (Propecia)
This is a prescription medicine for men. You take it every day as a pill. Many men taking finasteride see a slowdown in hair loss and some may even get new hair growth. It may take a few months to see if it’s working. You need to keep taking it to keep any benefits. Finasteride may not work as well for men over 60.
Rare side effects of finasteride include lower sex drive and sexual function, and an increased risk of prostate cancer.
Women who are pregnant or might become pregnant should avoid touching broken or crushed tablets.
Other Medications
Other oral options include spironolactone (Carospir, Aldactone) and oral dutasteride (Avodart).