When you visit a doctor about hair loss, they'll start with a thorough scalp examination. They'll look at your hair distribution, checking for the typical pattern of male baldness. The doctor will also look for signs of inflammation or scarring, which could indicate other causes of hair loss. They may use a special magnifying device called a dermoscope to get a closer look at your hair follicles.

One simple test your doctor might perform is the 'pull test'. They'll gently tug on a small bunch of hairs to see how many come out. If more than 10% of the pulled hairs come out easily, it could indicate active hair shedding. However, this test isn't specific to male pattern baldness and can indicate other types of hair loss too.

In some cases, your doctor might recommend a scalp biopsy. This involves removing a small piece of scalp skin to examine under a microscope. It's not usually necessary for diagnosing male pattern baldness, but it can help rule out other conditions. The biopsy can show the ratio of growing to resting hairs and reveal any inflammation or scarring around the hair follicles.

While diagnosing male pattern baldness often seems straightforward, a proper medical evaluation ensures accuracy and rules out other potential issues.