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What is Hair loss?
Hair Loss, medically termed as Alopecia, is a condition of the fall of hair from the head or body more than the average shedding rate. The average shedding rate is 50-100 hairs a day.
Medically, as per the WHO studies, the condition is caused by three major factors: anagen, regression, and telogen. Apart from these, you can reach a condition where there is permanent damage to the hair follicles.
Understanding Hair Growth
Hair grows in cycles consisting of three main phases:
Anagen (growth phase): lasts several years
Catagen (transition phase): short phase of slowing growth
Telogen (resting phase): hair falls out, and new hair begins to grow
Hair loss occurs when this cycle is disrupted or when hair follicles are damaged.
What are the types of hair loss?
Here are the major or common types of hair loss:
- Androgenetic Alopecia: This type of hair loss is induced genetically, and it causes baldness in both males and females.
- Telogen Effluvium: This type of hair loss is a result of excessive stress. It can also happen in a woman during pregnancy due to a hormonal shift.
- Alopecia Areata: This is a condition where your immune system challenges the hair follicles, resulting in hair loss in different patches.
- Traction Alopecia: This is a type of hair fall, where physical pressure is used, as you do in the case of using tight braids or while forming ponytails.
- Anagen Effluvium: Medical issues like chemotherapy can cause such issues.
What Causes Hair Loss?
Causes of hair loss can be mainly of a few types:
- Genetic issue: For hereditary issues, after a certain age, DHT becomes active and stops hair growth, causing baldness.
- Immune Attack: Your immune system can also cause hair loss. You can see hair loss in patches to identify this type of hair loss.
- Hormonal disorders: Thyroid imbalance, DHT, and hormonal shift during pregnancy can cause hair loss.
- Tine Capitis: This is one form of ringworm caused infection on your scalp, which causes hair loss.
- Physical force: Forming ponytails or using tight bands can cause hair fall.
- Dietary Gap: Deficiency of iron, zinc, keratin (a type of protein), or Vitamin D and B12 can cause hair loss.
- Medication: Beta-blockers, chemotherapy, Vitamin A supplements, and Blood thinners can cause hair loss.
- Stress and Anxiety: Stress and anxiety are also responsible for causing hair loss.
What are the symptoms of hair loss
The most common symptoms of hair loss are:
Thinning of hair: You can notice hair loss and thinning of the hair layer. See in the mirror; it will look like the letter “M”. In women, such hair loss can be noticed near the parting.
Patchy spots: You can notice such issues on your scalp, beard, and even your eyebrows. This happens mainly due to immune attacks.
Handful of hair: While combing, you can find a handful of hair coming out.
Body hair loss: Hair loss due to medication is initially visible on the body and then on the scalp. You will find excessive hair loss on your body.
Patches of scaling: If you see these, it is a sign of fungal infection. It will also have sores and redness.
How is Hair Loss Diagnosed?
Hair loss can be diagnosed using the following methods:
- Dermatoscopy: Your scalp information is noted, and follicle health is examined.
- Pull test: The severity of the active shedding is examined.
- Blood tests: Identification of hormonal shift and mineral deficiency is determined by the process.
- Biopsy: Biopsy conducted for the scalp to note down the immune function.
How is hair loss treated?
Medical treatments
Topical medicines like Minoxidil or oral medications like Finasteride or both are recommended to the patients.
They manage and balance the hormonal imbalance affecting the hair follicles. At times, corticosteroids or spironolactone are also prescribed, mainly for women.
Clinical therapies
Clinical therapies are recommended when medicines cannot do the needful work. These include Hair transplantation (FUE and FUT technology are used), Laser therapy (LLLT method) for fixing the metabolism of the follicles, and Platelet-rich Plasma infusion.
Supplements and antifungals
In case of deficiency of iron, vitamins, and zinc, supplements of them are recommended. And in case of fungal infections, topical medication for the scalp is prescribed.
Cosmetic Options
These are not treatments, but they are used to manage baldness. They include wig use and micropigmentation (a tattooing technique).
How can I prevent hair loss?
Here are the best and easiest methods of preventing hair loss:
Dietary inclusion: Take food items containing iron, proteins, and Vitamin D and B12.
Styling Methods: Avoid the styling methods that put tension on the hair follicles and provide excessive heat.
Clean Scalp: Keep your scalp clean. Keep it free from dry cells and excessive oiliness.
Medicines: Treat fungal infections and thyroid imbalance as quickly as possible, so that they cannot affect your scalp.
What questions should I ask my doctor?
Ask your doctor the following questions:
Diagnostic queries:
- Know the reason for hair fall.
- Know the diagnosis process you need to undergo.
- After diagnosis, ask your doctor about the other things that your issue can address in your body.
Treatment-related queries:
- Ask him about the side effects of the medicine you are taking.
- Ask him about the drug interactions of the medication and discuss the medicines you are already taking.
- Ask him the time you must wait to see the visible results.
- Also, ask him the way to use the medicine for the best results and to avoid side effects.
Lifestyle-related queries:
- Ask your doctor about the essential dietary change you must undergo.
- Ask about so me specific practices you must follow, or you must not follow.
Conclusion
Hair loss is a common condition that can result from genetic, hormonal, or lifestyle factors. While it can be stress, many treatment options are available to manage and even reverse certain types of hair loss.
Early diagnosis and proper care are key to maintaining healthy hair and overall well-being.