A receding hairline refers to a condition wherein you experience hair loss in the temple area or on the top side of your head. Due to receding hairline, your forehead would look more prominent than before or the hair at the temple line would look thinner. This pattern of hair loss is mostly observed in men. This type of hair loss is known as androgenetic alopecia which is usually genetic.

Women mostly experience thinning of hair during hair loss. Thinning of hair occurs on the entire scalp but it might be a little more prominent in the crown area. Unless you have already lost a substantial amount of hair, thinning may not be even noticed or may be ignored thinking it to be normal and acceptable hair fall. But if you notice that while tying your hair you have to add an extra loop to the band to hold your hair up and tight, then it is a tell tale sign of hair loss and hair thinning. Hair thinning can be a result of postpartum effect, androgenetic alopecia, effect of medication, stress, illness, sudden weight loss or anemia. Protein and iron deficiency can also cause hair loss.

If you are used to parting your hair on one particular side or in the middle of the scalp, then you would notice the gap in the hair parting becoming wider than before during hair loss. This usually happens when the hair starts thinning making the parting broader and wider. You can also notice the difference if you periodically part your hair in the middle and pull the hair to reveal your scalp. If during such exercise more of the scalp is being exposed over time, then it is a case of hair loss. This is caused by hair thinning. So, any reason that leads to hair thinning can bring this symptom into existence.

If your hair comes off your scalp easily without much trauma, then you are suffering from hair loss. When you pull your hair slightly or pass your hands through the hair or make any such light gesture and your hair strands come off in your hand, then it is a serious problem of hair loss that needs your attention. Hair strands are supposed to hold on to the roots tightly and not fall off due to such light strain. This condition has been named as Telogen effluvium, wherein the loss of hair occurs during or post a major illness or during major stress.

A typical and common symptom of hair loss is the presence of fallen hair strands on your shirt or dress, bedsheets, pillows, towel etc. You might even find your hair strands on the floor or on the chair you sat on. Rare occurrence of such incidences may be ignored as a normal phenomena. But, when such instances come to your notice frequently or if the number of hair strands found on the bed, floor, dress etc. is worrisome, then you need to take it as a serious case of hair loss out of constant hair shedding. The factors responsible for hair thinning are also responsible for the presence of this sign during hair loss.

A person suffering from hair loss will notice huge hair fall during shampooing and also while combing or brushing hair. While finding a few hair strands on your brush after brushing your hair is perfectly fine, a comb filled with hair strands post combing is not. Notice if there is an increase in the number of hair left on the brush or if more hair strands fall off while brushing or combing than earlier. If yes, it is a sign of hair loss. This can occur post child birth or due to some serious illness or stress.

Losing hair at the crown of the head making a bald patch on the concerned area or a few small, round and bare patches on the head are significant signs and symptoms of hair loss. While receding hair at the crown would expose a single bald patch, making it very much noticeable for you as well as for others, in the other case there would be not one but a few small patches pointing at hair loss problem.

Baldness of crown can be a result of androgenetic alopecia, but a number of bare patches in the head is caused by alopecia areata wherein the immune system of the person attacks the hair follicles. Alopecia areata may be caused by hormonal imbalance or improper functioning of thyroid glands. Patchy hair loss can also be caused by Cicatricial alopecia that happens when hair follicles are damaged and scarred by inflammation.