What Is Hair Loss?
For the human body, hair develops everywhere except on the belly button, eyelids, and areas like the palms of our hands and feet. However, many hairs are so small that they are essentially undetectable. The protein keratin, which is formed in hair follicles in the epidermis of the skin, makes up hair. While follicles produce some new hair cells, old cells are expelled through the skin’s surface at a rate of 6 inches each year.
Hair loss, or alopecia, is a very typical medical problem. Anyone can contract it, even children, though older adults are more likely to do so. However, with around 100,000 hairs on your head, that tiny loss is not visible. Usually, new hair grows in to replace the lost hair, although this isn’t always the case.
Loss of hair may occur suddenly or gradually over time. It could be either transient or permanent, depending on the underlying cause.
Type Of Hair Loss.
Androgenic Alopecia
Hereditary hair loss is referred to as androgenic alopecia, such as men’s or women’s pattern baldness. According to reliable sources, it may account for up to 50% of hair loss cases.
Androgenic alopecia-related hair loss typically occurs gradually. For example, some people may begin losing their hair around the time they reach puberty, while others might not start to exhibit signs until they age between the ages of six and eleven.
Female pattern baldness frequently causes thinning of the scalp all over. A broadening or thinning surrounding the portion could also be the appearance. Male baldness often causes an “M” shape to the head due to gradual hair loss above the temples and thinning towards the crown.
Alopecia Areata
Your immune system kills hair follicles as a result of the autoimmune condition known as alopecia areata, leaving little to large bald patches. It might result in total hair loss in some circumstances.
Some persons with alopecia areata also have hair loss from their brows, eyelashes, or other body regions, in addition to scalp hair loss.
Effluvium Anagen
In anagen effluvium, hair is lost quickly. Typically, radiation or chemotherapy treatments are to blame for this.
Following the end of the treatment, hair normally grows back.
Telogen Effluvium
Sudden hair loss due to emotional or physical trauma, such as a traumatic event, a time of great stress, or a serious disease, is known as telogen effluvium.
Capitis Tinea
Tinea capitis, often known as scalp ringworm, is a fungal infection that can harm the hair shaft and scalp. It results in tiny, scaly, irritating bald spots. These patches’ size enlarges over time.
Additional signs include:
- easily broken, brittle hair
- a sensitive scalp
- scaly skin areas that seem red or grey
- It is manageable with antifungal drugs.
Traction Alopecia
Too much strain and tension on the hair, frequently from wearing it in tight fashions like braids, ponytails, or buns, cause traction alopecia.
Other Causes
Due to the scarring caused by diseases like lichen planus and some types of lupus, permanent hair loss may occur.
How Is Baldness Identified?
It’s recommended to make an appointment with a medical practitioner if you detect any changes in your hair because so many reasons can result in hair loss.
They’ll likely combine a physical assessment with your medical history to help them narrow down the potential causes.
If doctors think you have an autoimmune or skin condition, they could take a sample of the skin on your scalp. A tiny amount of skin must be carefully removed for testing in the lab. But it’s important to remember that hair development is a challenging process.
In order to look for nutrient shortages or indications of an underlying ailment, they may also request blood testing.
Symptoms Of Hair Loss
Although excessive hair loss is the major sign of alopecia, it might be trickier to spot than you expect.
The symptoms listed below can give some indications:
- Widening part. If you part your hair, you might notice your part getting wider, which can signify thinning hair.
- Receding hairline. Similarly, if your hairline looks higher than usual, it may signify thinning hair.
- Loose hair: Check for loose hair after brushing or combing. It seems to be gathering more hair than usual. If so, this could indicate hair loss.
- Bald patches can vary in size and develop over time.
- Hair-filled drains: You might discover that the drains in your sink or shower are clogged.
- Pain or itching: If you have a skin issue causing hair loss, you may also feel pain or itching on your scalp.
What Are The Solutions For Treating Hair Loss?
There are numerous hair loss treatment options, but the optimal one for you will depend on the reason for your hair loss.
The first line of treatment will probably consist of medications. OTC drugs typically come in topical creams, gels, foams, or solutions that are applied directly to the scalp. The majority of items have a Minoxidil component. In particular, for male pattern baldness, prescription drugs like finasteride (Propecia) may be helpful. Although some people who take finasteride notice new hair growth, this medicine is taken daily to reduce hair loss.
If hair loss appears to be linked to an autoimmune illness, your doctor may recommend anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids.
Hair transplant surgery is another solution for hair loss, which is a surgical hair replacement option that moves the healthy hair follicles to balding areas. The surgical procedure usually takes about four to eight hours. The surgeon cleans the patient’s scalp and uses a numbing agent on the back of the head, where the hair follicles will be removed. Hair transplants can use either a follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or a follicular unit extraction (FUE) method.
Hair replacement systems is also a non-surgical hair loss solution widely used nowadays. Hair systems aren’t just old-fashioned wigs anymore. While hair systems of decades past may be easy to spot, modern hair replacement systems look almost undetectable and make you feel great. Visit New Times Hair website to explore hair system options:https://www.newtimeshair.com
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