Hair loss, its causes and remedies

Hair loss, its causes and remedies

What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?
The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 3 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter per month during this phase. About 90 percent of hair on your scalp grows at a given time. About 10 percent of hair on your scalp, at any moment is in a resting phase. After 3 to 4 months, hair fall and rest new hair begins to grow in its place.

It is normal to shed hair every day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children.


What causes excessive hair loss?
A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This loss of hair is stress-related illness and is temporary.

Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall. This hair loss usually can be helped by treatment thyroid disease. Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, called androgens and estrogens, are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.

Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall. When the hormones return to pre pregnancy, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.

Some medications can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking the drug. Drugs that can cause hair loss include anticoagulants (also called anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, blood pressure problems or heart failure, vitamin A (if too much taken), birth control pills and antidepressants .

Some infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. The infection is easily treated with antifungal drugs.

Finally, loss of hair may occur in the context of underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early sign of disease, it is important to find the cause so it can be treated.


Then certain hairstyles or treatments cause hair loss?
Yes. If you wear braids or cornrows or use tight hair rollers, traction on the hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia (example: al-oh-pee-sha). If traction is stopped before scarring of the scalp develops, your hair will grow back normally. However, scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Salaries in hot oil hair or chemicals used in permanent (also called "perms") May cause inflammation (swelling) of the hair follicle, which can leave scars and hair loss.


What is common baldness?
"Common baldness" usually means male-pattern baldness, pattern baldness or permanent-pattern. It is also called androgenetic alopecia. Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the character. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness. In male pattern baldness, comprising, with the hair loss usually results in a receding hair line and baldness on top of the head.

Women may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, hair can become thin on the scalp.


Then my doctor do something to stop hair loss?
Maybe. Your doctor will likely ask you questions about your diet, medications you take, if you had a recent illness and how you take care of your hair. If you are a woman, your doctor may ask about your menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause. Your doctor may want to do a physical examination to look for other causes of hair loss. Finally, blood tests or a biopsy (a small sample of cells to examine under a microscope) of your scalp may be needed.


Is there a treatment for hair loss?
Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available. If a medication is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and treating an infection may help stop hair loss. Correcting a hormonal imbalance, may prevent further hair loss.

Drugs may also help slow or prevent the development of common baldness. One drug, minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine), is available without prescription. It is applied to the scalp. Men and women can use. Another drug, finasteride, is available on prescription. It comes in tablets and is reserved for men. It may take up to 6 months before you can say if any of these drugs is effective.

If adequate treatment is not available for your type of hair loss, you may consider trying different hairstyles or wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves or artificial hair replacement.