Causes Of Excessive Hair Loss
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, its 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.
Shampooing, combing and brushing too often, can also damage hair, causing it to break. Using a cream rinse or conditioner after shampooing will make it more manageable and easier to comb. When hair is wet, it is more fragile, so vigorous rubbing with a towel, and rough combing and brushing should be avoided. Dont follow the old rule of 100 brush strokes a day that damages hair. Instead, use wide toothed combs and brushes with smooth tips.
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The Link Between An Itchy Scalp And Hair Loss
The condition of your hair can reveal a lot about your overall health. Changes in your hairs texture, appearance, and thickness may be signs of underlying health issues. A certain amount of hair loss can be hereditary and is often normal. But, if youre experiencing sudden hair loss and an itchy scalp, youre right to investigate a little closer into what may be going on.1 Call your doctor if youre concerned.
While you can have one without the other, people often experience scalp itchiness and hair loss at the same time. This suggests that there may be a link between the two. Here are several scenarios where these two issues may be linked:
- A fungal infection causes both scalp itchiness and hair loss.
- An allergic reaction damages the hair follicle, which leads to scalp itchiness and hair loss.
- Scarring on the scalp leads to hair loss and scalp itch.
- A number of potential skin conditions can cause the scalp to itch, causing so much aggressive scratching that it damages the scalp or hair follicles. This damage may lead to temporary hair loss.2
Can Head Lice Cause Hair Loss
Head lice dont usually cause any hair loss. But if theyre left untreated, severe cases can cause lots of itching, scratching and hair pulling which can lead to hair loss. It shouldnt be permanent and the inflammation should improve once the lice have been treated. Read about head lice treatment.
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Hair Transplant Or Microblading
Another option is hair transplanting or microblading. This does not enable the regrowth of hair, but it can give the eyebrows a fuller appearance.
Doctors can use a range of tests to determine why a person is experiencing eyebrow hair loss.
They will first ask about symptoms, symptom duration, and any family history of hair loss conditions. They may also ask about diet and additional factors.
A trichoscopy , during which a doctor will closely examine the eyebrow hair, helps diagnose alopecia areata and frontal fibrosing alopecia. The exact shape of the hairs can help a doctor determine whether a person has alopecia. In frontal fibrosing alopecia, there may also be white patches.
They may also use a blood test for T3 and T4 thyroid hormone levels, which will show any hormonal imbalances that could be causing eyebrow loss.
Can Chlamydia Cause Hair Loss
Chlamydia is another example of an STD that isnt known to cause hair loss however, a common treatment for chlamydia is the drug azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic that works by killing the bacteria that cause the condition by depleting both your vitamin B and haemoglobin occasionally leading to hair loss.
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Most Problems Seem Temporary Though Dr Alexis Young Cautions It Can Take 18 Months For Hair To Grow Back
Brandon Carr, Digital Content Producer
DETROIT Hair loss can start months after an illness, so some patients arent even making the connection to their COVID infection.
But the virus can cause various issues for our skin and hair, which is catching some people off guard.
The stress of fighting COVID took a significant toll on Ashly Sotos hair.
I was just getting clumps of hair coming out of my skull, said Soto. I was stressed out. I am a female. Losing hair is a big thing.
Dermatologist Dr. Alexis Young says shes seen a jump in cases of hair loss. The medical name is Telogen Effluvium. It happens when an illness or other stress forces more hairs than usual into the shedding phase of the hair growth cycle.
About 90% of the hair is supposed to be in the growth phase, and 10% in the shedding phase, and in this situation, more hair is actually in the shedding phase, said Dr. Young.
Dr. Young is also seeing COVID-related skin issues.
Flaring of acne, Rosacea, Seborrheic dermatitis, which is like dry, flaky skin.
Dry, flaky skin is whats bothering patient Nicole Ladas.
Now Im just very mindful to make sure my hands are dry and just use the hand cream as well to keep your hands as hydrated as you can, said Ladas.
It does not scar the hair follicles, so theres full capacity to regrow hair, Dr. Young said.
What Is Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss in both children and adults. It often begins with a few bald spots on the scalp. It is possible to lose hair anywhere on your body, though. Some people have noticeable hair loss on their eyebrows and/or eyelashes. Men can also lose facial hair that causes patches of bare skin in the beard area.
Alopecia areata
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Hair Loss Due To Rosacea
Rosacea is a common skin disorder that, according to the National Rosacea Society, affects more than 14 million Americans 1. Many people with rosacea go undiagnosed because of the low level of awareness a Gallup survey recently found that 78 percent of Americans have now knowledge of the condition. Learning about rosacea also means learning about related conditions and complications, which can be more serious than rosacea itself.
Hair Loss: Tips For Managing
Dermatologists often offer their patients who have hair loss the following tips.1. Practice good hair care. Many people are surprised to learn that a hairstyle or even the way they wash and dry their hair has contributed to their hair loss. 2. Do not stop taking a medicine that your doctor prescribed. Some medicines can cause hair loss. Doctors warn that you should not stop taking a medicine that your doctor prescribed if you see hair loss. Immediately stopping some medicines can cause serious side effects.If you think a medicine may be causing hair loss, talk with the doctor who prescribed the medicine. Ask if the medicine could be causing your hair loss. If the medicine seems to be the cause, ask your doctor whether you can take another medicine.3. Realize that your hair loss may be temporary. Some things in life cause temporary hair loss. These include illness, childbirth, and stress.
During a very stressful time, your body may react by causing more hairs than normal to go into resting phase. The medical term for this condition is telogen effluvium . During telogen effluvium, the body sheds a dramatic amount of hair. For most people, the hair will start to grow again without any help.4. Make an appointment to see a dermatologist. Many things can cause hair loss. If hair loss concerns you, be sure to see a dermatologist. A dermatologist can find the cause and tell you what you what to expect.
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Razor Bumps And Ingrown Hairs
Razor bumps and ingrown hairs can result from close shaving in individuals with curly hair or with hair follicles oriented at an oblique angle to the skin surface. Closely shaved hairs re-enter the skin as they grow, causing lesions. The condition is seen most commonly in the neck, and if left untreated, can cause scarring and darkening of the skin.
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- Scabs or crusts are present in the hair
- Ringworm of the scalp suspected.
- Broken hairs from tight hair style and pimples are present in scalp
- Patch of hair loss and cause not known
- Widespread hair thinning and cause not known
- Hair loss from nervous habit of twisting the hair
- Hair loss is a chronic problem
- Normal hair loss suspected, but doesnt grow back within 6 months
- You have other questions or concerns
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How Do Dermatologists Diagnose Hair Loss
Because so many things can cause hair loss, a dermatologist acts like a detective. A dermatologist may begin by asking questions. The dermatologist will want to know whether the hair loss happened suddenly or gradually. Knowing this helps to eliminate causes.
A dermatologist also will ask what medicines you take, what allergies you have, and whether you have been dieting. It is important to give the dermatologist accurate information. Like a murder mystery, the slightest clue can solve the case. Women may be asked about their periods, pregnancies, and menopause.
The dermatologist also will carefully look at your scalp and hair. During an exam, the dermatologist may pull on your hair. Sometimes a dermatologist needs to pull out a hair to get the necessary evidence. And sometimes a dermatologist needs to look at the hair on the rest of your body to see whether there is too little or too much hair in other areas.
Sometimes the evidence lies in your scalp. The dermatologist may remove a small piece of the scalp. This is called a scalp biopsy. A dermatologist can quickly and safely perform a scalp biopsy during an office visit. A scalp biopsy can be essential to solving the case. Sometimes, a blood test is necessary.
Because so many things can cause hair loss, it can take time to find the cause. You may need to make a few appointments.
Symptoms Of Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis has a direct impact on the scalp and the hair follicles ability to produce hair naturally. Because this condition causes the sebaceous glands to secrete more sebum than usual, the symptoms are each a byproduct of excessive oil on the skin and within the hair follicles.
Common symptoms include:
- Hair loss
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Can Rosacea Or Other Skin Diseases Affect Beard Growth On The Face
Generally rosacea does not cause problems with hair growth on the face, unless its the rare cystic form which could scar the hair follicle . More on rosacea here.
I think you should really see your doctor. There are other skin diseases, for example alopecia areata, that can affect beard growth as can hormones. There are some men who really do not grow a full beard until their 20s!
Hope this helps, Dr. I
The Scabies Mite Life Cycle
A scabies infestation starts when a female mite burrows into your skin.
Male mites move between different burrow sites looking to mate. After mating, the male mite dies and the female begins to lay eggs, which hatch around 3 to 4 days later.
After hatching, the young mites move to the surface of the skin, where they mature into adults after 10 to 15 days. Male mites stay on the surface of the skin, while female mites burrow back into the skin to create a new burrow. The life cycle is then repeated.
Without effective treatment, the life cycle of the scabies mite can continue indefinitely. Scabies mites are resistant to soap and hot water and cant be scrubbed out of the skin.
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How Do Dermatologists Treat Hair Loss
Just as there are many causes, there are many treatments for hair loss. Dermatologists recommend treating hair loss early. Early means before you lose a lot of hair. Hair loss is harder to treat when a person has a lot of hair loss.
One or more of the following treatments may be part of your treatment plan.
Treatment available without a prescription
- Minoxidil: This medicine is applied to the scalp. It can stop hairs from getting thinner and stimulate hair growth on the top of the scalp. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved minoxidil to treat hair loss. It is the only hair re-growth product approved for men and women. A dermatologist may combine minoxidil with another treatment.
- Laser devices: Brushes, combs, and other hand-held devices that emit laser light might stimulate hair growth. These devices might make hair look more youthful in some people. Because the FDA classifies these products as medical devices, the products do not undergo the rigorous testing that medicines undergo. The long-term effectiveness and safety for these devices are not known.
Prescription medicine Hair transplant: After getting a hair transplant, it takes time for the hair to grow. This photo was taken 7 months after this man’s last treatment.** Procedures
What Is Hair Restoration
A hair restoration procedure can increase the amount of hair in bald or thinning areas and, in some cases, restore your natural hairline. The type of procedure that your dermatologist recommends will depend on how much hair you have lost and how healthy your remaining hair is.
- Hair transplants: Areas of healthy hair growth are surgically removed and placed in bald or thinning areas of your scalp. The transplanted hair starts to grow three to six months after the last procedure and grows in fully about one year after the
- Scalp reduction: Primarily used if you have a large bald area, this procedure involves removing a few inches of the bald skin, pulling the sides that have hair together and suturing them shut. This procedure can decrease or even eliminate bald spots. For the best results, your dermatologist may recommend this procedure along with a hair transplant.
- Scalp expansion: Prior to a scalp reduction, you may undergo this procedure, which stretches the skin under the scalp for several weeks to make it easier to bring together for a scalp
These procedures may be performed in a board-certified dermatologistâs office, an ambulatory surgery center or another outpatient center using local anesthesia . You can expect natural-looking results.
Talk to your doctor to learn about the potential risks associated with each approach to hair restoration.
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Triggers Could Be Causing Your Rosacea Flare
Anything that causes your rosacea to flare is called a trigger. Sunlight and hairspray are common rosacea triggers. Other common triggers include heat, stress, alcohol, and spicy foods.
Triggers differ from person to person.
Hair Loss: Signs And Symptoms
Hair loss may cause gradual thinning, bald patches, or complete baldness. The photos below some of the different types of hair loss.
Traction alopecia: Hairstyles that constantly pull on the scalp cause this type of hair loss. Alopecia areata: This disease often causes the hair to fall out in round patches. Alopecia areata: Some people loss their eyelashes. Hair loss can occur anywhere on the body. Trichotillomania: This psychological condition causes people to pull on their hair until it comes out.
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There Are Differences Between A Dermatologist And A Trichologist But The Main One Is That Only A Dermatologist Is A Medical Doctor
When it comes to finding help for your hair loss, you may be wondering who to ask first and who specializes in hair loss problems and solutions. A great place to start might be your hairstylist if you have a longstanding relationship with the stylist and this individual is familiar with your hair and your lifestyle. This way the stylist can note differences over time, and he or she is in the perfect position to investigate while standing over you with a good view of your scalp and hair. Beyond that, you might want to know that there are two more experts who can help you with your hair loss: the dermatologist and the trichologist.
How a dermatologist can help you with a hair loss condition
If your hairstylist sees an obvious infection in your hair follicles or a change in scalp texture or discoloration, or you notice this yourself, the dermatologist, which is the scientific name for a skin doctor, is your next stop. According to the American Board of Dermatology, a dermatologist is a physician who is trained to evaluate and manage patients with benign and malignant disorders of the skin, hair, nails, and adjacent mucous membranes. A dermatologist has additional training and experience in:
How a trichologist can help you with a hair loss condition
- The biology, chemistry, and physiology of the hair and scalp
- Problems of the scalp
- The creation of topical treatments to correct scalp and hair texture problems
The bottom line between a dermatologist and a trichologist
Cause Of Seborrheic Dermatitis
There is no direct cause of seborrheic dermatitis, as this condition often develops in people who are otherwise healthy. Although, there are a few risk factors that may increase a persons chances of developing this chronic condition:
- Weakened immune system
- Chronic stress
- Genetics
- Pre-existing conditions, including psoriasis, HIV, acne, rosacea, Parkinson disease, depression, alcoholism, eating disorders, recovery from stroke or heart attack
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