What should you know about Capillus hair loss?

Hair loss can involve gradual thinning, increased shedding, broken hairs or smooth patches. The pattern matters: thinning at the temples or crown differs from round bare patches, scalp scale, or loss along areas exposed to repeated pulling.

Possible explanations include inherited pattern hair loss, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium after a physical or emotional stressor, traction alopecia, or scalp ringworm. These conditions need different approaches, so a light device may be relevant to one situation but not another.

Arrange a scalp examination if shedding continues, the pattern is changing, or you have itching, pain, scale or broken hairs. Keep a note of when the change began, recent illness, restrictive dieting, new medicines, pregnancy or hormonal changes, and styling practices.

Use any device only as directed and discuss expectations with a dermatologist. Ask whether photographs, a hair-pull assessment or blood tests are appropriate. Do not use a cosmetic device to postpone assessment of an inflamed or infected scalp.

Seek timely medical advice for sudden patchy loss, eyebrow or eyelash loss, tenderness, pus, marked redness, thick scale or a shiny area where follicles seem absent. A child with scalp loss and scale should be assessed promptly because infection can spread and may need prescription treatment.

What pattern of hair loss do I have? Could a recent illness, medicine, nutrition change or styling habit be contributing? Is low-level light treatment suitable for me? How long should I use it before reviewing progress? Would another treatment, such as finasteride for appropriate patients, be more suitable?