Hair loss
Excess hair loss can have many different causes. If you suffer hair loss, talk to your dermatologist about the cause and the treatment for you.
These are some hair loss conditions:
Androgenetic alopecia or Balding
It is the most common cause of hair loss in men, and can be inherited from either the mother’s or father’s side of the family. Women with this trait develop thinning hair, but do not become completely bald. Hereditary hair loss can start in one’s teens, twenties, or thirties. While there is no cure, medical treatments are available that may help some people, including:
* Minoxodil, a lotion applied to the scalp twice a day, which can be used by men and women
* Finasteride, an oral prescription medication used by men only which blocks the formation of the active male hormone in the hair follicle
Alopecia Areata
The cause of alopecia areata is unknown, but it is thought to be an autoimmune condition (the body makes antibodies to its own hair) that may affect children or adults of any age. This type of hair loss usually causes totally smooth, round patches about the size of a coin or larger. Although rare, it can result in complete loss of scalp and body hair. In most cases the hair regrows and dermatologists treat patients with this condition in order to make hair regrow faster.
Telogen Effluvium
Illness, stress, and other factors can cause too many hairs to enter the resting (telogen) phase of the hair growth cycle, and it produces a dramatic increase in the amount of hair shed (effluvium), usually without bald patches. In many cases, telogen effluvium usually resolves in a few months on its own. Causes of telogen effluvium include:
- High Fever, Severe Infection, Severe Flu
- Major Surgery/Chronic Illness
- Thyroid Disease
- Inadequate Protein in Diet
- Low Serum Iron
- Medications
- Birth Control Pills
- Cancer Treatments
Improper Chemical Treatments
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. If hair becomes brittle from chemical treatments, it is best to stop until the hair grows out.
References:
www.aad.org
www.dermatologia.com.br
