hair loss
Causes and Symptoms
general opinion
Hair loss (alopecia) may affect just your scalp or your whole body, and it may be temporary or permanent. It can be genetic, due to hormonal changes, medical conditions, or a normal part of ageing. Anyone can suffer from hair loss, but it is more common in men.
Baldness usually refers to profuse hair loss from the scalp. Hereditary hair loss is the most common cause of baldness. Some prefer to leave hair loss untreated and uncovered. Others cover up baldness with haircuts or cosmetics, or by wearing hats or headgear. But some people choose one of the other available treatments to prevent further hair loss or restore regrowth.
Talk to your doctor about the cause of hair loss and appropriate treatment options before starting treatment.
the reasons
People lose around 50 to 100 hairs a day. This is usually not noticed as a new hair grows simultaneously. Hair loss occurs when new hair does not replace lost hair.
Hair loss is related to one or more of the following factors:
- Family history (genetics). The most common cause of hair loss is a genetic disease that occurs with age. This condition is called androgenetic alopecia, male pattern baldness, and female pattern baldness. This usually happens gradually and in predictable patterns, as the hairline recedes and bald spots appear in men and the hair thins along the crown of the scalp in women.
- Hormonal changes and medical conditions. Many conditions can cause permanent or temporary hair loss, including hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and thyroid problems. Medical conditions include alopecia areata, linked to the immune system and causes patchy hair loss, scalp infections such as ringworm, and a hair-pulling disorder called trichotillomania.
- Medicines and dietary supplements. Hair loss can be caused by the side effects of certain medications, such as those used to treat cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, gout, and high blood pressure.
- Radiation therapy head. Hair may not grow back as before.
- A very stressful event. Many people experience widespread hair loss several months after physical or emotional trauma. This type of hair loss is temporary.
- Hairstyles and treatments. Excessive hairstyles or haircuts that pull your hair tight can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia, such as extreme braiding. Hair treatments that use hot oil and straightening treatments can cause hair loss. If scarring occurs, the hair loss may be permanent.
Factors that increase the severity of hair loss
Several factors can increase the risk of hair loss, including:
- Family history of baldness from your mother or father
- age
- Significant weight loss
- Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and lupus
- Stress
- Malnutrition
protection
Most cases of baldness are caused by genetic characteristics (male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness). This type of hair loss cannot be avoided.
These tips can help you avoid preventable types of hair loss:
- Be gentle with your hair. Use a detangler and avoid pulling the hair when using a hairbrush and brushing your hair, especially when it's wet. A wide-toothed comb can help prevent hair pulling. Avoid harsh treatments such as hot rollers, curling irons, hot oil treatments, and long-lasting chemical treatments that straighten or curl the hair. Reduce hair pulling from hairstyles that use rubber bands, clips, and braids.
- Ask your doctor about any medications and supplements you take that may be causing hair loss.
- Protect your hair from the sun and other sources of UV rays.
- Stop smoking. Some studies show a relationship between smoking and male pattern baldness.
- If you are being treated with chemotherapy, ask your doctor for a cooling cap. This cap can reduce the risk of hair loss during chemotherapy.
Diagnostic
Before making a diagnosis, your doctor will likely examine you and ask you about your diet, hair care routine, and medical and family history. You can also run some tests, such as the following:
- Blood tests. These tests can help detect medical conditions that may be causing hair loss.
- tensile test. Where your doctor gently pulls dozens of hairs to see how many hairs fall out. This will help him determine the stage of precipitation.
- Scalp biopsy. Your doctor takes samples of skin or a few hairs taken from the root of the scalp to examine the hair roots under a microscope. It helps to know if the cause of hair loss is an infection.
- Optical microscope. Your doctor uses a special instrument to examine the hairs cut from the roots. The microscope helps to see disturbances in the hair shaft.
treatment
Effective treatments are available for certain types of hair loss. These treatments can eliminate hair loss or at least slow it down. In some cases, hair can grow back without treatment - as in alopecia areata (alopecia areata) - within a year. Possible treatments for hair loss include medication and surgery.
Medication
If the cause of hair loss is an underlying disease. Then it is necessary to treat the disease. If a particular drug is causing hair loss, your doctor may advise you to stop using it for several months.
Medicines are available to treat (hereditary) baldness. The most common options include:
- Finasteride (Propecia). It is a prescription drug for men. This medication is available in pill form and taken daily. Many men who take finasteride find that their rate of hair loss has become slower, and some may regrow their hair again. It may take a few more months to see if the treatment is right for you. You will need to continue using the drug to retain all the benefits. Finasteride may not work for men over 60.
- Rare finasteride side effects include decreased libido and sexual function and an increased risk of prostate cancer. Women who are pregnant (or may become pregnant) should avoid touching broken or broken tablets of this medicine.
- other medications. Other oral medication options include spironolactone (Casper, Aldactone) and oral dutasteride (Avodart).
hair transplant surgery
Hair transplant to treat hereditary hair loss
Hair Transplant opens a popup dialogue
In the most common type of permanent hair loss, only the top of the head is affected. Hair transplantation or reconstructive surgery can benefit from the remaining hair.
During a hair transplant, a dermatologist or plastic surgeon removes hair from the part of the head that has hair and transplants it into the bald area. Each hair patch contains one to several hairs (microfibers and micrografts). Sometimes larger patches of skin containing multiple groups of hairs are removed. This intervention does not require hospitalization but is painful; Thus, you will be given painkillers to relieve any discomfort. Possible risks include bleeding, bruising, swelling, and infection. You might need more than one surgery to get the effect you're looking for. However, hereditary hair loss will eventually develop despite surgery.
Surgical procedures to treat baldness are usually not covered by insurance.
laser treatment
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a low-level laser device to treat hereditary hair loss in men and women. A few small studies have shown that it improves hair density. However, more studies are needed to know its long-term effect.
Lifestyle and home remedies
You may want to experiment with different hair care methods to find one that makes you feel better about how you look. For example, use styling products that add volume, colour your hair and choose a hairstyle that makes the flared part less noticeable. Use wigs, and hair extensions or shave your head. Talk to your stylist for ideas. These methods can be used to treat permanent or temporary hair loss.
If the hair loss is caused by a medical condition, insurance may cover the cost of the wig.
What can you do?
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
- Make a list of all the medications, vitamins, and supplements you take.
- Write down any questions you would like to ask your doctor.
Your time with your doctor may be limited; So preparing a list of questions will help you get the most out of your time together. Rank your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For hair loss, here are some basic questions to ask your doctor:
- What is causing my hair loss?
- Are there other possible causes?
- What kinds of tests may I need?
- Is my hair loss permanent or will it grow back? How long will it take? Will he feel different after pushing back?
- What is the best course of action?
- Do I need to make any changes to my diet or hair care routine?
- Do I have any restrictions?
- Should I consult a professional? How much does it cost and will my insurance cover a specialist consultation?
- Is there another medicine of the same type as the medicine you are prescribing for me?
- Do you have brochures or other publications that I can take home?
- What sites do you recommend?
What a doctor can do
Your doctor is likely to ask you several questions. Being ready to answer them can buy time to discuss the points you would like to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask you the following questions:
- When did you start complaining about hair loss?
- Is the hair loss continuous or occasional?
- Have you noticed poor hair growth? Or hair loss? Or hair loss?
- Is hair loss in certain places or in general?
- Have you had a similar problem in the past?
- Have any of your immediate family members experienced hair loss?
- What medications or supplements do you take regularly?
- What, if anything, could improve hair loss?
- What makes hair loss worse, if any?
