​For some people, hair loss is a temporary condition that resolves itself. If your parents or grandparents experienced hair loss, you may be more likely to suffer from it as well. There are many causes of hair loss, and it can be difficult to determine the underlying cause without proper testing. Blood tests should be the first step to diagnose the problem of hair loss. This profile covers the most common markers linked to this particular problem. ​​Vitamins and minerals ​​Zinc – helps to build proteins in your hair. Zinc deficiency is responsible not only for hair loss but also for weak nails, feeling irritable, loss of appetite, or even changes to your taste and smell. Your body can’t produce this mineral, so make sure your diet contains nuts, shellfish, legumes, or red meat if you’re not vegetarian. ​​Vitamin D – this hormone is linked to thinning hair and hair loss. It stimulates hair follicles to grow. A vitamin D deficiency can be connected to alopecia areata, where the body attacks the hair follicles. ​​Vitamin B12 – helps to produce red blood cells, which is beneficial to hair growth. ​​Folate – like Vitamin B12 (Folate is also known as Vitamin B9), it helps replenish red blood cells in the body, and also stimulates the proliferation of the hair follicles, and prevents greying of hair​.​ ​​Hormones ​​TSH, Ft4 – abnormalities within your thyroid can be one of the causes of hair loss. Thyroid conditions, when untreated, can affect your body significantly, including the development of new hair. Your hair may look thinner or you can notice bald spots and patches. ​​Testosterone – very low or very high levels of Testosterone can cause hair loss. A small amount of this hormone is converted into DHT, a hormone found in the skin, hair, and prostate. DHT is thought to cause hair follicles to miniaturize, and this contributes to male pattern hair loss. ​​Screening tests ​​Ferritin shows the amount of iron stored in your body. Ferritin deficiency is one of the most causes of female hair loss problems.​ ​Some ferritin is stored in hair follicles, and when your body is low in iron, it can restore it from ferritin stored in your hair, leading to weaker and thinner hair. ​​Full blood count and biochemistry – this will help you understand how your body works in general and can help diagnose any deficiencies or anemia. You will get an overview of your blood cells activity.