For millions of people across the world, thinning hair is a significant psychological problem. If you happen to be one of the people who suffer from hair loss, what are your options for treatment? Where do you turn? Is there hope?

The first step in treating hair loss is determining the cause. There are many causes of hair loss. Hair loss can be genetic or it may indicate a more serious underlying medical condition. For some, treating the medical condition will cause the hair loss to resolve. For others, hair transplant surgery may be in order.

Visiting your family physician is the first step in evaluating the cause for alopecia. A completely history and physical examination can often provide the diagnosis. If this is not enough, blood testing may help or a biopsy may be necessary to determining the cause for the alopecia. In some cases, referral to a dermatologist or a hair loss specialist may be necessary to obtain the appropriate diagnosis.

After a diagnosis for alopecia has been established, attention can be turned to treatment. While the treatments for hair loss are as varied as the causes, some are quite effective. Treatment may be aimed at correcting an underlying medical condition, such as thyroid dysfunction; steroids injections; or surgical removal of bald areas. While not all treatments will be effective at restoring hair growth, some treatments are aimed at preventing future loss – such as those treatments for androgenic alopecia. In some cases, medical treatment combined with hair restoration surgery may be necessary to obtain the best results.

Be careful of over the counter products marketed for hair loss. Some herbal and dietary supplements have evidence to suggest they can help with certain types of hair loss. Others rely on slick advertising and have no scientific proof of benefits. As with any type of medication, be sure to talk with your doctor before starting any treatment, including dietary supplements. Some of these can adversely interact with other medications and defeat treatment for other medical conditions.