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Understanding Hair Loss: Hair has been called our "crowning glory." Society has placed a great deal of social and cultural importance on hair and hairstyles. Unfortunately, many conditions, diseases, and improper hair care result in excessive hair loss. People who notice their hair shedding in large amounts after combing or brushing, or whose hair becomes thinner or falls out, should consult a dermatologist. With correct diagnosis, many people with hair loss can be helped. 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 hairs under the microscope. Sometimes blood
tests or a scalp biopsy may be required for an accurate diagnosis. It's important to find
the cause and whether or not the problem will respond to medical treatment. 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 is in a resting phase that
lasts two to three months. At the end of its resting stage, the hair is shed. When a hair
is shed, a 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. Natural blondes typically have more hair (140,000 hairs) than brunettes (105,000
hairs) or redheads (90,000 hairs). Most hair shedding is due to the normal hair cycle,
and losing 50-to-100 hairs per day is no cause for alarm. However, if you are concerned
about excessive hair loss or dramatic thinning, consult your dermatologist. Improper Hair Cosmetic Use/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's best to stop until the hair has grown out. Hairstyles that pull on the hair, like ponytails and braids, should not be pulled tightly and should be alternated with
looser hairstyles. The constant pull causes some hair loss, especially along the sides of
the scalp. Women with this trait develop thinning hair, but do not become completely bald. The condition is called androgenetic alopecia and it can start in the teens, twenties or thirties. 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. When confronted with thinning hair or baldness, men and some women 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) and/or removing bald skin.
Because the procedures involve surgery as well as time and money, they should not be
undertaken lightly.
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.
Childbirth - When a women is pregnant, more of her hairs will be growing. However, after
a woman delivers her baby, many hairs 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. Cancer Treatments - Some cancer treatments will cause hair cells to stop dividing. Hairs 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. 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
gynecologist 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. Fungus Infection (Ringworm) of the Scalp - Caused by a fungus infection, ringworm
(which has nothing to do with worms) begins with 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. Natural Treatmens: Except in cases of starvation, it doesn't
seem that vitamins and minerals affect hair growth in men. On the other
hand, nutrients may prove helpful for some women who have experienced
hair loss. Here's what the experts recommend. MEDICAL ALERT! |
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