Alopecia Symptoms: Patterns of Hair Loss to Know

Accompanying Clues

• Fatigue, pallor, breathlessness → check iron and thyroid
• Irregular periods, acne, facial hair in women → check PCOS
• Recent fever, surgery, childbirth, or crash diet in the past 2-3 months → telogen effluvium
• Family history of early balding → pattern baldness

The Classical Symptom Picture

The classics distinguished the patterns too: Khalitya - gradual thinning where the scalp progressively shows through; Indralupta - hair falling suddenly "as if burnt," in patches; Palitya - greying, which the texts discuss alongside because premature greying and thinning share causative factors in the classical view. The texts also describe the qualitative signs: dryness and roughness (Vata), burning and yellowish tinge (Pitta), stickiness and itching (Kapha).

The modern echo: pattern recognition first, treatment second. A dermatologist does in one visit what no oil can do - a trichoscopy examination that names the actual pattern, per NHS hair loss guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much daily hair fall is normal? Roughly 50-100 hairs a day. Counting is unreliable - watch instead for visible thinning, a widening parting, or clumps in the drain.

Is a receding hairline at 22 abnormal? It is early but common in pattern baldness, especially with family history. Early medical treatment preserves far more than late treatment.

Do bald patches always mean alopecia areata? Mostly, yes - but fungal infection and scarring conditions mimic it. A dermatologist can tell in minutes with a dermatoscope.

Can hair loss be the first sign of illness? Yes - thyroid disease, iron deficiency, and autoimmune conditions all announce themselves through hair sometimes. New unexplained shedding deserves basic blood tests.