Signs of Balding

Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp and can be the result of heredity, certain medications or an underlying medical condition, reports CNN Health. When heredity is the cause, it's referred to as pattern baldness. If you think you might be going bald, there are several signs to indicate symptoms of hair loss.

Close-up of a balding man. (Image: Jupiterimages/Stockbyte/Getty Images)

Hair in the Sink and Bathtub

A clump of hair in your shower drain and sink is a telltale sign that you might be balding. You may also find more hair than usual on your clothes, car seat and pillow.

Packed Hair in Your Comb

The next time you comb or brush your hair, investigate the bristles. If you see them packed with hair, this is a sign that you can be balding. The best way to know for sure is to clean the brush out completely, then monitor it for a few weeks and pay attention to how fast it gets filled up with strands of hair.

Appearance

Find some old pictures that clearly show your head. Hold one or two up to a mirror as you look at your head currently. If there is any change in the thickness of your hair, you can be losing it. Focus on the front of the hairline; this is one of the most obvious places to recognize hair loss. According to the "New York Times", the typical pattern of male baldness begins at the hairline and gradually recedes to form an "M" shape. The most advanced cases of hair loss lead to a horseshoe shape of hair on the head.

Thinning Hair as the Crown of the Head

Baldness often starts on the crown of the head. To investigate this, turn your back to a large mirror while holding a small mirror at eye level at arm's reach. Move the small mirror around until you can see the top of your head in it. If you see flesh color, your hair is falling out.

Head Sensitivity to the Elements

When you step out in cold and hot weather, pay attention to how your head feels. If in the summer your head gets sunburned easily, you can be balding. During the winter, hair offers insulation from the cold. If you step out the door on a frosty winter day and the top of your head feels more cold than usual, you could be balding.