HAIR LOSS  

Introduction

Hair loss can affect just your scalp or your entire body, and it can be temporary or permanent. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions, or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it’s more common in men.

Baldness is generally known as an excess amount of hair loss from the scalp. The two major reasons are age and genetics. Some individuals choose not to do anything, while others try to cope with it through hairstyles or head coverings such as caps and scarves.

Signs and symptoms of hair loss:

Gradual thinning on top of the head. This is the most common type, affecting people as they age. In men, hair often begins to recede at the hairline on the forehead. Women typically have a broadening of the part in their hair. An increasingly common pattern in older women is a receding hairline.

Sudden loosening of hair. A physical or emotional shock can cause hair to loosen. Handfuls of hair may come out when combing or washing your hair or even after gentle tugging. This type usually causes overall hair thinning but is temporary.

Full-body hair loss. Some conditions and medical treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can result in the loss of hair all over your body. The hair usually grows back.

Causes of hair loss

People typically lose 50 to 100 hairs a day. This usually isn’t noticeable because new hair is growing in at the same time. Hair loss occurs when new hair doesn’t replace the hair that has fallen out.

Hair loss is typically related to one or more of the following factors:

Family history (heredity). The most common cause is a hereditary condition that happens with aging. This condition is called androgenic alopecia, or male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness. It usually occurs gradually and in predictable patterns: a receding hairline and bald spots in men and thinning hair along the crown of the scalp in women.

Hormonal changes and medical conditions. A variety of conditions can cause permanent or temporary hair loss, including hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and thyroid problems. Medical conditions include alopecia areata, which is immune system related and causes patchy hair loss; scalp infections such as ringworm; and a hair-pulling disorder called trichotillomania.

Drug addiction. Can be a side effect of certain drugs, such as those used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, gout, and high blood pressure.

Hair loss prevention

• Be gentle with your hair. Use a detangler and avoid tugging when brushing and combing, especially when your hair is wet. A wide-toothed comb might help prevent pulling out hair. Avoid harsh treatments such as hot rollers, curling irons, hot-oil treatments, and permanents. Limit the tension on hair from styles that use rubber bands, barrettes, and braids.

• Protect your hair from sunlight and other sources of ultraviolet light.

• Stop smoking. Some studies show an association between smoking and baldness in men.

Medication

If your hair loss is caused by an underlying disease, treatment for that disease will be necessary. If a certain medication is causing the hair loss, your doctor may advise you to stop using it for a few months. Medications are available to treat pattern (hereditary) baldness. The most common options include:

Minoxidil: Over-the-counter (nonprescription) minoxidil comes in liquid, foam, and shampoo forms. To be most effective, apply the product to the scalp skin once daily for women and twice daily for men. Many people prefer the foam applied when the hair is wet.

Finasteride: This is a prescription drug for men. You take it daily as a pill. Many men taking finasteride experience a slowing of hair loss, and some may show new hair growth. It may take a few months to tell whether it’s working for you. You’ll need to keep taking it to retain any benefits. Finasteride may not work as well for men over 60.