How to Diagnose Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia is caused by the way androgen hormones are processed in the body. It's also known as male pattern baldness and accounts for 90 percent of men's baldness. Although commonly known as a man's affliction, it is found in about 20 percent of American women. Baldness is also caused by autoimmune disease and other physical factors, but the tendency for androgenetic alopecia is inherited. Most people develop it to some degree and by age 50 it's usually visibly noticeable. Complete several steps to diagnose androgenetic alopecia.

Instructions

• 1

  Note scalp areas that are balding. Men's androgenetic alopecia typically occurs in the front or top of the head while women's is diffuse along the top.

• 2

  Have a complete physical examination by your doctor. Reviewing medical history is crucial for diagnosing a physical rather than genetic cause of baldness.

• 3

  Determine through blood and hormone tests whether a hormone imbalance or blood deficiency is causing hair loss. Measuring sex hormones in addition to thyroid hormones could reveal the problem. Testing for blood count, iron deficiencies and syphilis is also helpful.

• 4

  Submit to the pull test by allowing your doctor to firmly pull about 60 hairs at a time near your scalp. A normal result is fewer than seven hairs removed per pull. To achieve most accurate results, refrain from shampooing for one day before testing.

• 5

  Perform scalp biopsy by allowing your doctor to remove a 4mm scalp section for examination. Scaling, scalp inflammation, follicle size, hair distribution, and strand composition are assessed to determine the type of alopecia. In androgenetic alopecia, follicle size shrinks, causing hair to thin.