HAIR LOSS

Many conditions, diseases, and improper hair care result in excessive hair loss. People who notice their hair shedding in large amounts after combing orbrushing, or whose hair becomes thinner or fall out, should consult adermatologist. With a correct diagnosis, many people with hair loss can be helped.

What is normal hair growth?


About 90 percent of the hair on a person”s scalp is growing at any one time. The growth phase lasts between two and six years. Ten percent of the hair in a resting are phase that lasts two to three months. At the end of its resting stage, the hair is shed. When hair is shed, new hair from the same follicle replaces it and the growing cycle starts again. Scalp hair grows about one-half inch a month. As people age, their rate of hair growth slows. Most hair shedding is due to the normal hair cycle, and losing 50 to 100 hairs per day is no cause for alarm. If you are concerned about excessive hair loss or dramatic thinning, consult your dermatologist.

What are the causes of hair loss?

1. Improper hair cosmetic use or improper hair care - Many men and women use chemical treatments on their hair, including dyes, tints, bleaches, straighteners and permanent waves. These treatments rarely damage hair if they are done correctly. However, the hair can become weak and break if any of these
   chemicals are used too often. Hair can also break if the solution is left on too long, if two procedures are done on the same day, or if bleach is applied to previously bleached hair. If hair becomes brittle from chemical treatments, it is best to stop until the hair has grown out.
   
2. Hairstyles that pull on the hair, like ponytails and braids, should not be pulled tightly and should be alternated with looser hairstyles. Constant pull causes some hair loss, especially along the sides of the scalp.
3. Shampooing, combing and brushing too often can also damage hair, causing it to break. Using a cream rinse or conditioner after shampooing will make it easier to comb and more manageable. When hair is wet, it is more fragile, so vigorous rubbing with a towel, and rough combing and brushing should be avoided.
   Do not follow the old rule of 100 brush strokes a day that damages hair. Instead, use wide toothed combs and brushes with smooth tips.

4. Hereditary thinning or balding - Hereditary balding or thinning is the most common cause of hair loss. The tendency can be inherited from either the mother”s or father”s side of the family. Women with this trait develop thin hair, but do not become completely bald. The condition is called androgenetic alopecia and it can start in the teens, twenties or thirties.

5. Alopecia areata - In this type of hair loss, hair usually falls out,
   resulting in totally smooth, round patches about the size of a coin or larger. It can, rarely, result in complete loss of scalp and body hair. This disease may affect children or adults of any age. The cause of alopecia areata is unknown. Apart from the hair loss, affected persons are generally in excellent health. In most cases, the hair regrows by itself. Dermatologists can treat many people with this condition. Treatments include topical medications, a special kind of light treatment, or in some cases pills.

6. Childbirth - When a woman is pregnant, more of her hair will be growing. However, after a woman delivers her baby, many hair enter the resting phase of the hair cycle. Within two to three months, some women will notice large amounts of hair coming out in their brushes and combs. This can last one to six months, but resolves completely in most cases.

7. High fever and severe infection - Illnesses may cause hairs to enter the resting phase. Four weeks to three months after a high fever, severe illness or infection, a person may be shocked to see a lot of hair falling out. This shedding usually corrects itself.

8. Thyroid disease - Both an over-active thyroid and an under-active thyroid can cause hair loss. Your doctor can diagnosis thyroid disease with laboratory tests. Hair loss associated with thyroid disease can be reversed with proper
   treatment.

9. Inadequate protein in diet - Some people who go on crash diets that are low in protein, or have abnormal eating habits, may develop protein malnutrition. The body will save protein by shifting growing hair into the resting phase. Massive hair shedding can occur two to three months later. Hair can then be
   pulled out from the roots fairly easily. This condition can be reversed and prevented by eating the proper amount of protein and, when dieting, maintaining adequate protein intake.

10. Medications - Some prescription drugs may cause temporary hair shedding. Examples include some of the medicines used for the following: gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems, high blood pressure, or blood thinner. High doses of vitamin A may also cause hair shedding.

11. Cancer treatments - Some cancer treatments will cause hair cells to stop dividing. Hair become thin and break off as they exit the scalp. This occurs one to three weeks after the treatment. Patients can lose up to 90 percent of their scalp hair. The hair will regrow after treatment ends. Patients may want to get wigs before treatment.

12. Birth control pills - Women who lose hair while taking birth control pills usually have an inherited tendency for hair thinning. If hair thinning occurs, a woman can consult her gynaecologist about switching to another birth control pill. When a women stops using oral contraceptives, she may notice that her hair
    begins shedding two or three months later. This may continue for six months when it usually stops. This is similar to hair loss after the birth of a child.

13. Low serum iron - Iron deficiency occasionally produces hair loss. Some people do not have enough iron in their diets or may not fully absorb iron. Women who have heavy menstrual periods may develop iron deficiency. Low iron can
    be detected by laboratory tests and can be corrected by taking iron pills.

14. Major surgery/chronic illness - Anyone who has a major operation may notice increased hair shedding within one to three months afterwards. The condition reverses itself within a few months but people who have a severe chronic illness may shed hair indefinitely.

15. Fungus infection (Ringworm) of the scalp ' This is caused by a fungus infection. Ringworm (which has nothing to do with worms) begins as small patches of scaling that can spread and result in broken hair, redness, swelling, and even oozing. This contagious disease is most common in children and oral medication will cure it.

    Hair pulling (Trichotillomania) - Children and sometimes adults will twist or pull their hair, brows or lashes until they come out. In children especially, this is often just a bad habit that gets better when the harmful effects of that habit are explained. Sometimes hair pulling can be a coping response to unpleasant stresses and occasionally is a sign of a serious problem needing the help of a mental health professional.

How is the diagnosis confirmed?

Dermatologists, physicians who specialize in treating diseases of the hair and skin, will evaluate a patient”s hair problem by asking questions about diet, medications including vitamins and health food taken in the last six months, family history of hair loss, recent illness and hair care habits. Hormonal effects may be evaluated in women by asking about menstrual cycles, pregnancies and menopause. After examining the scalp and hair, the dermatologist may check a few hair under the microscope. Sometimes blood tests or a scalp biopsy may be required for an accurate diagnosis. It is important to find the cause and whether or not the problem will respond to medical treatment.

What is the treatment?

For hair loss caused by illness such as fever, radiation therapy, or medication use, no treatment is necessary. The hair will usually grow back when illness has ended or therapy has stopped. A wig, hat, or other covering may be desired until the hair grows back.

For hair loss due to heredity, there is no cure, although medical treatments have recently become available that may help some people. One treatment involves applying a lotion, minoxidil, to the scalp twice a day. Another treatment for men is a daily pill containing finasteride, a drug that blocks the formation of the active male hormone in the hair follicle. But drugs for hair fall should only be taken after consultation with the doctor, since they might not be suitable under certain conditions and some of them may also have serious side effects. As far as the environmental factors are concerned, diet plays a very important part. You should see to it that you take a diet rich in Vitamin B-complex and proteins. Too much of stress and pollution may also be a cause of your problem. You should see to it that your scalp is not kept dirty for long.

Men and some women may consider hair transplantation, which is a permanent form of hair replacement. Anyone who has suffered permanent hair loss may be a candidate for hair transplantation. The procedure of hair transplantation involves moving some hair from hair-bearing portions (donor sites) of the head to bald or thinning portions (recipient sites) or removing bald skin. Because the procedures involve surgery as well as time and money, they should not be undertaken lightly. Punch graft hair transfer done by a physician is a surgical approach to transferring hair from one part of the head to another. It is somewhat painful and expensive, but usually permanent.

Follow the above mentioned tips to lead a healthy and a happy life.

ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR