Hair Loss Causes, Symptums, Diagonesis and Treament

Hair is the most important part of human personality. Every day, a normal man loses about 50-100 hairs.  Experiencing bald patches or hair thinning may indicate hair loss.

Causes

• Heredity: Both males and females begin losing hair thickness as they age. No disease causes this type of hair loss or baldness, but it is related to ageing or changes in the hormone testosterone. Pattern baldness affects more men than women.
• Stress (Physical or emotional) – Due to physical or emotional stress, about one-half to three-quarters of scalp hair sheds away. Telogen effluvium is the term for this type of hair loss. In this, hair comes out during shampoo, combing or while running hands through it.  Telogen effluvium occurs for a short period of time, but it could also become chronic. The causes include: high fever, childbirth, surgeries, several medications and crash diets.

Other hair loss causes

If the hair loss pattern is unusual, then there are certain causes for it, which are as follows:

• Alopecia areata
• Burns
• Infectious diseases, for example, syphilis
• Hormonal changes
• Anemia
• Autoimmune conditions like lupus
• Thyroid problem
• Ovary or adrenal gland tumour
• Radiation therapy
• Continuous hair pulling or scalp rubbing

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of hair loss and conditions vary between men, women, and children.

Signs in men

• Hair thinning on the scalp
• Hair thinning at the crown of the head
• Receding hairline
• Horseshoe-shaped pattern, leaving the crown of the head exposed

Signs in women

• General thinning of hair at the crown of the head

Signs in children and young adults

• Sudden loss of hair patches
• Complete baldness or hair loss on the body
• Broken hair patches and incomplete hair loss on the scalp or eyebrows
• No complete baldness, but excessive shedding of hair

Diagnosis

Continuous hair loss is an indication of underlying medical conditions. A visiting dermatologist will determine the exact cause of the hair loss. To prevent hair loss, lifestyle changes and prescription medications may help. If an autoimmune or skin condition is the cause, the doctor may take a scalp biopsy. Hair growth is quite a complex process, so it may take time to know the exact cause of hair loss.

Treatment

Medications are the first course of treatment for hair loss. There are over-the-counter medicines, including topical creams and gels that can be applied directly to the scalp.

• Minoxidil — a highly effective lotion for hair loss. It is easily available over the counter at any pharmacy without a prescription. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the medication yields the best results when combined with other hair loss treatments. The lotion must be rubbed twice daily to prevent further hair loss.
• Finasteride– Finasteride is a prescription medication taken in pill form. The medication is commonly prescribed for treating male pattern baldness and has to be taken daily to slow down some hair loss. Read the prescription label carefully and follow instructions for using both medications as directed.

Medical options

If medicines do not meet your expectations, then there are some surgical procedures for treating baldness.

• Hair transplant surgery — the procedure involves moving hair follicles from areas of hair growth to areas with baldness or thinning. The technique tends to give a natural look on the forehead, whereas a naturally dense look starts to develop on the head top.
• Scalp reduction– In scalp reduction surgery, part of the scalp which lacks hair is removed. Then the healthier scalp areas with hair are stretched and repositioned. This is done to reduce the overall area of bald skin.

Home remedies

Sometimes, surgical procedures may be too expensive for a normal person. In that case, the best solution is to use hair loss products that promote hair growth and are inexpensive.

• Hot oil: Try massaging some hot natural oils — olive, coconut, and canola — into the scalp. Olive oil is great for hair health. Olive oil can also be used in hair products. You could buy any good-quality hair products, such as shampoo or conditioner, which are readily available in the market.

• Natural juices: Try rubbing the scalp with any of the natural juices, such as garlic, onion, or ginger. Leave it on the scalp overnight and then wash it the next morning to see the results.
• Head massage — According to experts, a head massage helps stimulate circulation, which, in turn, keeps hair follicles more active. Massage keeps us calm and relaxed and also promotes hair growth.
• Meditation– It’s been said that the root cause of hair loss could be stress and tension. In that case, one should practice daily meditation, which not only helps reduce hair loss but also helps restore hormonal balance.
• Vitamins– The Right intake of vitamins is another effective way to control and prevent hair fall. Medicines with vitamins or only vitamins for hair loss can be great for hair health. Which medicine to choose depends on the specific problem and may vary from person to person, it is highly recommended that one should consult doctor first before its intake.