Everything You Need to Know About Hair Loss
Hair loss is the usual problem that everyone faces at one point. Uncontrolled hair loss can cause worry and effect in self-confidence in both men and women. Although alopecia is widely spread in older people, but excessive loss can occur in children also. Losing about 100 hairs in a day is common that happens because of various reasons – combing or taking a shower, etc. Excessive loss is ascribed to several reasons like poor diet, genetics, illness, etc. Hair loss can happen gradually over the years or instantly. It can be due to heredity, hormonal or medical condition.
Hair Fall Reasons
- Heredity is the most common cause of baldness for both men and women. You will have a higher probability of hair loss if you have a family history of baldness.
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy, childbirth, menopause can also lead to temporary hair fall.
- Medical condition like alopecia areata, thyroid disease, anemia, and scalp infection is also a prime source for hair loss.
- Due to the side effects of certain drugs and supplements can also be the reason for hair fall.
- A physical or emotional shock may also lead to loss. This type of hair loss is temporary.
- A poor diet lacking vitamin, iron, protein and other vital nutrients can also cause hair thinning.
- Excessive hairstyles damage your hair a lot and can cause traction alopecia. It can also generate inflammation of hair follicles and scarring, causing permanent hair loss.
- Medication for treating cancer, high blood pressure, depression, heart problem, etc. is the other reasons for hair loss.
Hair Fall Diagnosis
A dermatologist will examine your scalp physically and take a medical history. If any kind of skin disease or hair follicle is found the dermatologist may take a biopsy of the scalp skin.
This process involves removing a small section of skin which is sent to a pathologist to determine the autoimmune disease.
Hair loss and hair growth is a complex process, and it will take some time to know the exact reason.
Hair Fall Treatments
Medication will probably be the first option in treating hair loss. The doctor may recommend minoxidil with other hair loss treatments. This is an effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia. It also has few side effects like skin irritations, excessive hair growth on forehead, contact dermatitis.
It is also treated through prescription medications. You have to take this oral medication daily to control hair fall. Many people experience hair growth while taking finasteride. It has few side effects like weaken sexual function and diminished sex drive.
A doctor also prescribes corticosteroids which suppress inflammation of the immune system and impersonate the hormones made by adrenal glands. But corticosteroid has many side effects like infections, sore throat, glaucoma, high blood pressure, cataracts, etc.
Hair transplant surgery
Hair transplant surgery is a delicate process includes grafting of scalp from one location to another. Bald skin from the scalp is removed, so that hair-covered scalp can be stretch to fill the bald areas which are known as scalp reduction. This process works best for people having inherited baldness. But you will need multiple surgeries because this type of hair loss is progressive. The side effects of hair transplant are patchy hair growth, bleeding, infections and scars. These surgeries are very expensive and risky.
Hair loss Prevention: How to stop hair fall immediately
Things you can do to avoid further hair loss:
- It is important to know your scalp type and choose the right hair products like shampoo, conditioner, oil, etc. If you are losing hair rapidly, use gentle baby shampoo to wash your hair.
- Avoid wearing tight hairstyles like ponytails, braids or buns.
- Do not twist, pull or rub your hair more often.
- Stay away from products and tools like a blow dryer, hair strengtheners, bleaching, hair colours, etc. they damage your hair and makes them brittle.
- Protect your hair from direct sunlight by covering them with a scarf or hat while going out.
- Oiling your hair more frequently is equally important.
- You need to give your hair all the right nutrition it needs to stay healthy. A proper balance diet reduces hair loss.
- Few natural products like eggs, coconut milk, green tea, yoghurt, honey, onion juice, walnuts, etc. are good for hair growth.
Outlook
Hair gets weaker and thinner as a person gets older. It can only be reversed through aggressive treatments or home remedies. Hereditary hair losses are more difficult to treat. Using prescription medication and hair transplant remains the only options to reduce the appearance of baldness.
