Hair Loss: What You Need to Know?

Hair loss is quite popular in older adults. But it is not limited to adults. Anyone can experience it, even children.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it's common to lose 50 to 100 hairs a day. This loss isn't even rare in 100000 hairs.

People think new hair is replaced by lost hair. However, this fact is not valid in all cases, even if there is permanent hair loss.

Depending on the cause, we can determine whether the hair loss is permanent or temporary.

To learn more about hair loss, read this blog.

About Hair Loss

Most people lose 50 to 100 hairs a day, which replaces the new one very soon. But when one starts losing more hairs, and very few or none grow, the condition is called hair loss.

Hair loss affects not only the scalp but also the entire body. It can be temporary or permanent, depending on the underlying cause.

Hair loss doesn't stop gradually until the underlying cause for it is treated. Most older adults above 30 years suffer from hair loss.

Signs of hair loss

Some signs can allow you to know clearly whether you are experiencing hair loss or not.

Full body hair loss

Total body hair loss refers to the condition where you lose hair from the entire body. It is a temporary hair loss.

Chemotherapy treatments mainly cause it. In very few people, full-body hair loss is caused due to autoimmune diseases.

Hairline thinning

Androgenic alopecia is the most popular hair loss type. When you start observing that the hairline of the forehead is getting thin, it means you are experiencing hair loss.

Clogged drains

After taking a bath, if you regularly see the sinks of the bathrooms clogged with hair, it directly means you are experiencing hair loss.

Bald patches

In some people, hair fall happens in the form of circular spots. It looks like empty patches. These patches can grow with time.

Widening part

If you are experiencing a few parts of your scalp getting widened up, you can understand it's a sign of hair loss.

Loose hair

After combing your hair, check the comb to see if you are collecting any hairs on it. If there is more hair, it means you are experiencing hair loss.

Types of hair loss

Hair loss can be of several types. Here are some of the causes of hair loss.

Alopecia areata

It is an autoimmune condition. It allows the immune system to attack the hair follicles. Because of this, bald patches are caused in the head.

The bald patches can be a few or more, and they vary from person to person. Not only this but in some people, it causes complete hair loss, too.

The one who suffers from Alopecia Areata loses hair in other areas, such as eyelashes, eyebrows, and others.

Telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss that happens suddenly. It occurs primarily due to emotional shock, colossal stress, traumatic events, illness, and more.

Telogen effluvium is even caused due to hormonal changes such as menopause, childbirth, PCOS, and more.

Androgenic alopecia

It is a hereditary hair loss. It can lead to both male and female pattern baldness. More than 50 per cent of people suffer from this type of hair loss.

Androgenic alopecia happens suddenly. In some people, it starts at an early age, like puberty, and symptoms last till middle age.

Anagen effluvium

Anagen effluvium is a rapid hair loss caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapies. Radiation treatments may attack hair follicles, causing less production.

But in this type of hair loss, hair regrows as soon you stop the treatment.

Traction alopecia

This type of hair loss is caused because of taking enormous tension or pressure. Traction alopecia is even caused due to tight braids and ponytails.

Tinea capitis

Tinea capitis is also known as ringworm of the scalp. It is a type of fungal infection caused by the scalp that affects hair growth.

Tinea capitis causes bald patches on the head that are quite itchy. These patches can increase and grow with time if it's left untreated.

Causes of hair loss

Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is quite common. But losing more than that is not good. There can be various causes behind it, which are discussed here.

Hormonal changes

Hormonal changes can cause both permanent and temporary hair loss. Hormonal changes such as childbirth, menopause, pregnancy, thyroid, etc can be a reason for hair loss.

Radiation therapy on the head

Due to the radiation therapies such as chemotherapy, you may experience hair loss. Because of therapies, hairs couldn't regrow as they should.

Heredity

Heredity is the main reason for facing hair loss problems. If your family member has any hair loss problems, you might also suffer from the same.

Medications

Various medications such as depression, BP, gout, and heart medications have a side effect of causing hair loss. If you are taking any such medicines, it might cause hair loss.

Stress

Stress and shocks are the most prevalent cause of hair thinning. Although the loss is temporary, as soon as you reduce stress, you will observe hair regrows.

Hairstyles

Tight braids, buns, or hairstyles can be a cause of hair loss. Pulling your hair tightly towards the backside can lead to hair loss.

Prevention tips for hair loss

The baldness caused by genetics is not treatable, and you cannot prevent it. However, other hair loss can be prevented with the tips below.

• Always comb your hair gently. I prefer using a detangler to comb your hair.
• Avoid using hot rollers, irons, or hot oils on your hair.
• Try protecting your hair from ultraviolet lights and sunlight.
• Make loose ponytails and buns.
• Don't smoke or drink alcohol excessively.
• Manage all diseases that can contribute to hair loss.
• Ask your healthcare provider about cooling caps if you are undergoing chemotherapy.

Treatment for hair loss

A hair transplant is a one-stop solution for hair loss, but before that, you can try some best medicines for hair loss, which are listed here.

Finasteride

Finasteride works by blocking the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme action. This enzyme produces dihydrotestosterone, which leads to hair loss.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is a topical cream. It is found in the market under the brand name Regaine. Using Minoxidil products helps in regrowing lost hair. Please don't use it without consulting a physician.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy

PRP therapy is a regenerative medicine that helps regrowth of lost hair. Patients are asked to undergo five sessions of PRP therapy in a year.

Hair transplant

During a hair transplant, the strands of hair where the thickest hair is removed. Then, the transplantation of those strands is carried out by embedding them into the scalp.

Conclusion

Hair loss can be of several types, and there can be several reasons for it. There are no such medical risks imposed with hair loss.

Your healthcare provider can determine the temporary or permanent hair loss after determining the underlying cause for it.

However, several treatments are available for treating hair loss. Hair loss like alopecia areata not only affects adults but also children.

Hence, it's asked to reduce stress, which can be the most important cause of hair thinning.