HairSite Quality Assurance Program for Hair Transplant & Hair Replacement

Farrell Hair Replacement - Voted # 1 for 5 Consecutive Years

• # 129

SPONSORS

• Measuring Hair Loss and Hair Loss Classification

• HairSite Editorial

• 7/12/00

FORUM

• MEASURING HAIR LOSS - discussion group

This is probably the first thing that everyone should ask before pouring all kinds oflotions and potions on your scalp - am I really losing my hair or am I just losing my mind ? Many of our female readers complain about doctors being insensitive to
their concerns. Nothing is more frustrating than having your doctor told you that you are not losing your hair, when you know for a fact that is the case. Worse
still, some doctors make it sound like you are imagining things or simply that you are losing your "mind", not your hair.

Here we are going to use a little bit of science to validate your hair loss concern.

Measuring Hair Loss - a topic that deserves a lot of attention and yet nobody is
talking about this. This is first and foremost what everyone should do upon first noticing signs of hair loss. It is the best defense mechanism that we have to combat hair loss. Believe this: if you do this correctly, it will make a big difference. You don't even have to spend a dime. And you HAVE TO if you are serious about solving your hair problems.

There are three things that you need to know when it comes to measuring hair loss.

1) Measurement technique,
2) Record Keeping & Diagnosis
3) Classification.

"Measurement Technique" and "Record Keeping & Diagnosis" are the most important among the three. Patience and persistence pay off tremendously.If you conduct these two rituals accurately and consistently, they can become invaluable
diagnostic tools for your hair problems.

1) Measurement Technique - We are not going to glamorize this ritual by slapping
the term "technique" to it. In essence, it is simply about how you are going to
COUNT your hair loss on a regular basis. Measuring on a daily basis seems to be
the most logical choice. The next thing is to establish a "circumstantial reference" - analogous to picking a crime scene with hair loss being the crime. Since it is virtually impossible to count exactly how many hairs you lose during the day, it is important to define the parameters of the daily activites that you intend to measure. In order words, count your hair loss against a recurring activity, incidence, or event that occurs on a daily basis. Our recommendation: set the morning rituals to be your parameters. Do a meticulous count against the following activities in the morning:

a) Do a count on your pillow when you wake up in the morning
b) Do a count in the sink after you shampoo your hair in the morning.
c) Do a count in the sink after you dry or style your hair.

This is just a suggestion. Everyone is different and you should know best how to
customize a counting ritual that is representative of your hair loss situation on a daily basis.

The important thing is to establish a pattern. We understand that it is impossible to count every single hair that fell to the drain while you shampoo. But as long as you are counting your hair loss against the same recurring ritual every day, you will be able to build a set of meaningful data necessary for your diagnosis.

2) Recording Keeping & Diagnosis - Track your hair loss count in a journal on a
daily basis. At the same time, include three types of qualitative analyses for the
daily count:

i) hair and scalp condition, ie: how does your hair and scalp feel that particular day, signs of scalp itch, flakes, dandruffs, irritations, oily scalp, dry hair etc.

ii) hair treatment records - detail all hair loss treatments that you use for that particular day, including all lotions, potions, shampoos, medications, herbal and dietary supplements etc. Note changes in treatments or regimens.

iii) health & lifestyle records - detail all lifestyle and health related issues
that you think may affect your hair problems, eg: medications, herbal
supplements, and vitamins that you use that particular day, any changes in diet
or lifestyle that you think may affect your hair loss, eg: stress levels,
smoking, sleeplessness etc.

In summary, your journal should look something like the following:

If you can journalized the above religiously for at least a year or more, you will most likely be able to see a pattern as to what causes you to lose your hair, eg: a change in diet, change in medication etc. People rarely realize that there are hundreds of reasons why we lose our hair, eg: change in diet, change in medications, use of bcp, use of acne treatment, use of anti-depressants, herbs, stress, smoking, alcohol, scalp inflammation, dandruff, flakes, ringworm, demodex mites, thyroid condition, wilson's syndrome, menopause, pregnancy, etc and you are doing yourself a disservice if you jump to conclusion that your condition is the untreatable hereditary hair loss.

To further illustrate our point, we have included a sample journal that tracks an individual's hair loss records for over 2 years. Click here to see the entire journal.

3) Hair Loss Classification - This is basically a scale with which people measure how bald he or she is. Hair loss classification is more useful for hair transplant surgeons. Hair transplant surgeons use the scale to predict the progress of the patient's baldness and to determine how many grafts the patient will need. For people who are losing his or her hair, hair loss classificatioin simply tells you where you stand on the hair loss scale, it doesn't really address the bottom line for you - ie: how can you grow your hair back. The most popular hair loss classifications are Norwood scale for male pattern baldness and Ludwig scale for female pattern baldness.


To go to Measurement Technique's discussion group, please click
MEASURING HAIR LOSS - discussion group

Other articles on Measuring hair loss:
Measuring Hair Loss - Quadrat Technique
Dr. Amorn on Measuring Hair Loss

HairSite Editorial
Questions, please email HairSite@aol.com

A Final Word from our Sponsors

Check out the very latest in hair loss treatments from around the world, brought to you by Pharmacy Care, one of the world's largest store for hair products. Full range of topical and oral treatments including Propecia, Regaine, Spironolactone, Oral Minoxidil, Diane35, ProstaGuard, Retin-A, Ho-Shou-Wu, Skinoren Azelaic Acid, Loniten and stuff that you haven't even heard of ....