I Can’t Visit A Specialist — How Do I Know If I Am Balding?

Dear Dr. Rassman
It is not possible for me to visit a specialist to have my hair mapped for minaturization, but would like to know if I am balding. I am 32 years old and over the last 4 months have noticed about 20-30 hairs on my hands everytime I wash my hair (every other day), although there is rarely any hair on my pillow. This is something new to me and I would like to know if this hair loss is temporary. I have thick hair, and for this reason, about 1 year ago I had a hair cut to really make my hair actually thinner to achieve the style I wanted. Is is possible that the hairs that were not cut, have reached then end of there growth cycle and are falling out? I am asking this because most of the hairs on my hands after washing are the longest hairs on my head, namely the ones at the front. If so when can I expect this cycle to stop?

Also I notice a few red spots and dryness on my scalp. Can this be related to the hair loss?
Thanks for any help

I am sorry to say, but at 32 years old you should be able to find the means to visit a specialist if you are serious about wanting to do something for your hair loss. Are you unable or unwilling to take charge of your hair loss? I would want to know why you can not connect to a good doctor to help you. I recommend that you review some of the past entries on this blog to find the answers to your questions. We all lose 100-150 hairs per day so if you are counting hair on the pillow and in the comb, you may be over reacting. That is the start of an answer that has already been posted many times here on this site. After a year or so, your hair should have grown to styling length, but as you get older, the hair may develop a different hair characteristic secondary to thinning of the hair shafts, common also with aging. In answer to your last question, red spots can be a reflection of folliculitis, vascular skin irregularities, and many other conditions that go beyond the scalp. If there are really a problem, again, see a doctor.