Different emotions come into play when one starts to notice a loss of hair, especially in his/her youth. It could be thinning edges, bald patches, or hair falling off of hair after some medication or even after childbirth. You start to wonder if you are going bald, whether you are sick, how attractive you will look, or if the hair will grow back. But before you panic, let's take a look at what hair loss is, its causes, and treatments.
Hair loss, also known as alopecia, is a gradual moderate or excessive loss of hair. In many cases, the process starts out in small patches, and could sometimes goes unnoticed. On the other hand, it could be very extreme and lead to complete loss of hair.
The function of the hair depends on the part where it grows. So, it could be adding beauty, or protecting the skin. Whatever its use, hair loss is no joke. It will interest you to know that hair loss is not peculiar to a certain age bracket or gender and it affects about 6.8 million people in the United States. Hair loss may be as a result of hormonal changes, heredity, as a result of medical conditions and treatments, or a normal part of aging.
Causes of hairloss
One very common misconception is that hair loss is caused by stress, this could be a trigger, but very little evidence is available to support this notion. Hair loss happens when the immune system or white blood cells attack hair follicles (where hair is produced) causing them to shrink thereby making hair fall off as in the case of alopecia areata. The reason for this attack is still unknown although factors such as genetics, diet, hair care practices, and vitamin deficiencies could result in hair loss also.
Medical treatments like chemotherapy could also lead to loss of hair on the scalp and the body. Many women report postpartum loss of hair as well.
Types of alopecia
In order to accurately treat alopecia, you should know what type of alopecia it is and its cause. There are basically five types of alopecia. The various types are discussed below:
Androgenic Alopecia- This type is common in both men and women and can also be called male- or female-pattern hair loss. As the name implies, this type of hair loss is a result of increased levels of androgen in the hair follicles that lead to a shorter cycle of hair growth and slower regeneration of lost hair. The major symptom of this type of hair loss is a receding hairline usually in form of an "M" or "V" pattern. Treatments include the use of minoxidil(Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia)
Alopecia areata or patchy baldness is characterized by bald patches anywhere on the scalp, mostly in a round or oval shape. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease where the white blood cells cause shrinkage of hair follicles thereby making it weak and causing hair to fall off. When this kind of alopecia is suspected, the help of a dermatologist would be required or comes highly recommended for further diagnosis, prescription, and treatment.
Alopecia totalis: This type of alopecia affects all the hair on the scalp. You should seek the advice of a dermatologist if you suspect this condition.
Traction alopecia: Too much pulling and stretching of your hair can cause stress in the hair, leading to hair loss. Traction alopecia is more common in people who wear tight ponytails, weaves, dreadlocks, buns, hair extensions, or braids.
Cicatricial alopecia: This kind of alopecia causes inflammation of the hair follicles and leaves scars behind after destroying the follicles. It results from disorders that destroy hair follicles and replace them with scar tissues.
Treatment of Alopecia
There is no cure for hair loss, though treatments such as topical creams or steroids can help regrow lost hair. In addition to treatments, you should make a habit of protecting and caring for your hair by covering it from the sun and wearing less damaging hairstyles.
Accepting the condition and learning to live with it is a way of managing this disease. Sometimes hair may regrow without treatment when the bald patches are few and it may fall off again after a while. Some people have reported the success of some home remedies like castor oil, lavender oil, rosemary, thyme, or ginger oil applied to affected areas that helped in hair regeneration. However, they are yet to be proven scientifically and even if they help in regeneration, the results may take time before they are noticed and as such, they require consistent long term use.
As many medical fields are advancing, so also is the cosmetic procedure for hair transplants. This means that hair transplants now look natural unlike the artificial look people have avoided before, this is a long-term surgical solution that replaces bald areas with grafted hair, and although it may be expensive it is worth the investment if you want a long-term permanent solution to baldness.
Any Recommended Prevention?
There is no known scientifically proven method to prevent alopecia, but hair Care and vitamin supplements can help to keep healthy hair.