What is Hair Loss
Hair is made up of a protein,called Keratin that is produced in hair follicles in the outer layer of skin.
As follicles produce new hair cells ,old cells are being pushed out through the surface of the skin at the rate of about six inches a year.
Each follicle has its own life cycle that can be influenced by age,disease and a wide variety of other factors.Life cycle is devided into 3 phases-
Anagen-Active hair growth that lasts between 2 to 6 years.
Catagen-Transitional hair growth that lasts 2 to 3 weeks.
Telogen-Resting phase that lasts about 2 to 3 months at the end of the resting phase the hair is shed and a new hair replaces it and the growing cycle starts again.
- Causes of Hair Loss
- Risk Factor of Hair Loss
- Types of Hair Loss
- Diagnosis of Hair Loss
- Treatment of Hair Loss
1.Hormonal Factors-Hair loss is a hereditary condition called Male pattern baldness or Female pattern baldness.
In genetically susceptible people,certain sex hormones trigger a particular pattern of permanent hair loss.This is most common in men.
2.Medical conditions-
Thyroid problem:Thyroid gland helps regulate hormone levels in the body.If gland is not working properly,hair loss may result
Alopecia Areata : Disease occurs when the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles causing smooth,roundish patches of hair loss.
Scalp infections : Such as ringworm can invade the hair and skin of the scalp,leading to hair loss.
Other skin disorders:Diseases that can cause scarring such as lichen planus and lupus can result in permanent hair loss.
Certain drugs used to treat cancer,arthritis,depression,heart problems,hypertension can cause hair loss.
Physical or emotional shock
Hair pulling disorder
Certain hair styles
Family history
Hair treatments such as overuse of hair coloring products,hair straighteners
Poor nutrition
1.Involutional alopecia -It is a natural condition in which the hair gradually thins with age.More hair follicles go into the resting phase.
2.Androgenic alopecia-It is a genetic condition that can affect both men and women.2 types;
Male pattern baldness -Men with this condition can begin suffering hair loss as early as their teens or early 20s,characterized by a receding hair line and disappearance of hair from crown and frontal region.
Female pattern baldness -Women with this condition don’t experience noticeable thinning until their 40s or later.There is thinning over the entire scalp,mainly on the crown.
3.Alopecia areata -often starts suddenly and causes patchy hair loss in children and young adults.
4.Trichotillomania -seen mostly in children,is a psychological disorder in which a person pulls out one’s own hair.
5.Telogen effluvium -Is temporary hair thinning over the scalp that occurs because of changes in growth cycle of hair.a large number of hair enter the resting phase,causing shedding and thinning of hair.
Male pattern baldness.
A complete medical history,family history and physical examination can help in diagnosis.
Blood test can be done to determine any other medical condition that causes hair loss such as thyroid, diabetes or lupus.
Biopsies-Scraping samples are taken from the skin or from a few hairs plucked from the scalp can help verify whether an infection is causing hair loss.
Hair loss needs internal treatment.Research proven homeopathic treatment offers excellent treatment for all forms of hair loss.It amazingly controls further hair loss in six to eight weeks.
Duration of treatment depends upon duration of hair loss,areas affected,extent of spread,pevious medication and on associated disease.