Excessive Hair Loss After Showering Or Brushing
Its normal to lose hair when you shower, brush or comb.
On average, people lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, meaning that the four to five hairs you notice in your hands after shampooing your hair aren’t anything to be concerned about.
However, if you start to notice an excessive amount of hair shedding throughout the day, theres a risk that it could be the result of male pattern baldness.
Before you panic, its important to know that temporary, sudden hair loss can happen and that shedding a lot of hair for a day or two isnt necessarily a cause for alarm.
Less alarming yet common causes of hair loss range from high fevers to psychological stress to side effects of medication.
This type of hair loss is usually temporary, meaning youll notice a larger number of hairs in your hands and on your brush for anywhere from one to six months .
You might also notice loose hairs on your pillow in the morning.
If you notice a large amount of hair loss every day for a long time, you should seek medical advice.
After all, it may not take as long as youd think for a modest amount of daily hair loss from a full head of hair to turn into a receding hairline or a visible balding crown.
We also answer the question: “Does hard water cause hair loss?” in our article if you’d like to learn more.
Menopause Hair Loss Diagnosis
If you are a menopausal woman experiencing hair loss, its likely occurring as a direct response to the dramatic changes in your hormones. If hair loss is a new symptom, meaning you have not otherwise dealt with a genetic predisposition to hair loss or scarring hair loss due to a medical illness, you are likely suffering from menopausal hair loss. If you are unsure, consult with your doctor to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. In the interim, below are treatment options to help you maintain self-confidence and healthy hair during this time of change.
Relax And Reduce Stress To Help Your Hair Grow
You may not know it, but stress affects your health in a number of different ways. It can zap your energy, make you feel physically ill, and even cause your hair to fall out.
Thats right, stress can play a role in contributing to thinning hair. On its own, stress-related hair loss is usually temporary and may grow back over time.
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Female Hereditary Hair Loss
Female hereditary hair loss is known as female pattern baldness. Its cause is not clearly understood. It can affect women in any age but occurs more commonly after menopause. It usually begins about the age of 30, becomes noticeable about the age of 40, and more noticeable after menopause. By the age of 50 at least a quarter of women experience some degree of hair thinning.
It is also thought that female hereditary hair loss is influenced by genetics and the androgen hormones, although the link is not as strong as in male hereditary hair loss.
In female hereditary hair loss, finer hairs with less colour are produced, and hairs in the resting phase fall out more easily.
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Fungal Infections Cause Loss Of Hair In Patches
In some cases, a scalp infection may be causing your loss of hair. Ringworm is a fungal infection that is especially common in children. Ringworm of the scalp, called tinea capitis, can cause your scalp to become scaly and your hair to fall out, usually in patches. This fungal infection is easily treated with anti-fungal medication, which will stop the loss of hair.
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First: What Is Hair Made Of
Hair is made of a protein known as keratin. Keratin is also what forms nails and the outer layer of human skin. Hair follicles are what regulate hair growth. They are essentially sacs that surround the root of the hair. Sebaceous glands are attached at the very top of the hair follicle. Hair follicles are found in the dermal layer of the skin, and are made up of 20 cells that perform different functions. The hair bulbs at the base of the hair follicle are where hair cells grow and divide and cause hair growth. Hair cells are nourished by blood vessels and regulated by hormones that determine hair structure during various periods of a persons life for example, thick hair in ones youth and thinning hair as one ages.
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What Is Male Pattern Baldness
Put simply, male pattern baldness refers to a loss of hair on the scalp in men. It can be identified by the hair it affectsthe condition wreaks havoc upon the top of your head, Dr Friedmann explains, while the back and sides are spared.
Male pattern baldness generally progresses in one of three ways: a receding hairline, thinning of the hair on the crown, or a general thinning of the hair all over the top of the head, he says.
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Returning To A Healthy Hair Cycle
The good news about stress and hair loss? The effects can be temporary and healthy hair growth can be restored.
However, you need to know that protecting hair from the ravages of stress has very little to do with what shampoo you use or expensive hair treatments. The secret to your hair looking thick and lustrous again starts with reducing stress and returning cortisol production to its natural balance.
These steps can help
Breathe
Deep breathing is a simple technique for stress reduction that can be used anywhere. Similar to other mindfulness-based practices, controlled breathing helps to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, known as the rest and digest system, which helps to lower cortisol levels.
Eat well and often
Since hunger naturally signals your adrenal glands to release more cortisol, dont skip meals or let yourself go too long without eating. Following an adrenal fatigue diet eating certain foods at specific times of the day can help your body recover its natural cortisol rhythm. Avoid the crash and burn that follows eating sugar, white flour, and caffeine. This spikes cortisol, only making problems worse.
Supplements for cortisol balance and adrenal function
Modify your exercise routine if you feel drained by it
Dont overlook your thyroid
Taking the time to reverse stress-related hair loss comes with another big bonus: not only will your hair look better, but youll feel better too.
Seven Ways To Reverse Thinning Hair In Women
Just like what has been said earlier, thinning hair in women is a condition that you can reverse. Here are just some ways for you to reverse that problem, which usually affects the female population:
#1 Have a regular scalp massage
Note that an unhealthy scalp may be the culprit for your thinning hair. With that said, you can stimulate your scalp and make it healthier by giving it a regular massage. This type of massage is similar to massaging your body, neck, or back. However, you need to do it a lot gentler when used on your scalp. Just use your fingertips to apply pressure on your scalp gently. Doing so can encourage blood flow.
You can also further enjoy more benefits from a scalp massage with the aid of a handheld scalp massager. It contributes a lot to getting rid of dead skin cells. You can also find brushes that mainly serve as scalp massaging tools. The only thing you have to do to use the handheld massager and the brush is to let them work over your entire scalp similar to when you are applying pressure on the area gently using your fingertips.
You can also further improve the benefits of your scalp massage by using essential oils and serums. Among those that promote hair health are peppermint and lavender oils. In that case, you may also want to take advantage of a massaging serum applicator. With the aid of such an applicator, you can use a hair and scalp serum designed to fortify your hair and deal with age-related thinning.
#2 Improve your diet
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Underlying Causes For Hair Loss
Numerous problems can trigger female hair loss. Some are external, such as taking certain medications, frequently wearing hairstyles that pull the hair too tight, or even a stressful event such as surgery. In other cases, thinning hair is triggered by something going on inside the body for instance, a thyroid problem, a shift in hormones, a recent pregnancy, or an inflammatory condition.
Hair loss may also be genetic. The most common genetic condition is known as female-pattern hair loss, or androgenic alopecia. Women with this condition might notice a widening of the part at the top of the head, often beginning when a woman is in her 40s or 50s. You might experience this if you inherit certain genes from one or both parents. Hormonal shifts that occur during menopause may also spur it.
Another trigger for hair loss in women is an inflammatory condition affecting the scalp. That might be eczema, psoriasis, or a condition called frontal fibrosing alopecia, which typically causes scarring and hair loss sometimes permanent at the front of the scalp above the forehead.
Other common causes of hair loss include overuse of damaging hair products, or tools such as dryers and other devices that heat the hair. Underlying illness, autoimmune conditions such as lupus, nutritional deficiencies, or hormonal imbalances may also cause hair to shed.
How Prp Reverses Hair Loss
PRP therapy is a three-step process. First, a small sample of blood is extracted from your arm. The blood is then spun in a machine called a centrifuge. The spinning process separates your platelets and plasma to create a concentrated PRP serum. Platelets are part of your bodys arsenal of healing power designed to repair and restore damaged cells.
Step two is injecting the PRP serum into specific locations on your scalp, focusing on those where hair loss is most noticeable. The PRP formula stimulates hair growth immediately, although results arent instantly apparent.
Your scalp needs time to heal. Typically, new hair growth begins about 3-4 months post-treatment. You may be able to observe weekly changes as your hair continues growing. Many patients see a dramatic improvement in about 6-9 months.
Since PRP utilizes elements from your blood, you dont have to worry about infection or allergic reaction with treatment.
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The Hair Growth Cycle 101
Its typical for healthy hair to grow about 6 inches per year . This cycle is random rather than seasonal or cyclical . At any one time, hair will be in one of the three phases of growth and shedding.
Anagen This is the active phase of growth when the cells in the hairs roots are busy dividing, forming new strands. These new hairs eventually push the old hairs those that have stopped growing out. This phase of growth is individual, with wide variations, which is why some people are able to grow their hair long while others cant grow it beyond a certain length.
Catagen This is the transitional phase when growth stops, and the outer root sheath shrinks and attaches to the hairs root. Roughly three percent of all hairs are in this phase at any one time, which lasts about three weeks. Hair, known as club hair, forms during this phase.
Telogen This is the resting phase, where six to eight percent of hairs are in. During this time, each hair follicle is dormant, and club hair is completely formed. Roughly 25 to 100 telogen hairs are shed daily.
How To Prevent Balding
Unfortunately, there is no way to fully avoid going bald. Family history is one of the most common causes of age-related hair loss and male-pattern baldness. However, taking care of your general health and sticking to a healthy hair care routine can help you avoid making your condition worse. And it can help to use the strategies above as early as possible when you start noticing your hair thinning.
Maintaining healthy hair care and styling habits can help prevent balding, including :
- Avoid using high heat on your hair .
- Dont use hair products that contain harsh chemicals or bleach.
- Dont over-brush .
- Avoid high tension hairstyles .
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What Vitamins Are Good For Hair Loss During Menopause
You can also look at things like essential fatty acids. Fish oils or flaxseed oil can be wonderful for the hair, so worth adding into to your daily regime. Look at vitamins. Are you getting enough iron? Low iron, now, if you are approaching the menopause, and you are having a lot of heavy or prolonged or close together periods, you can end up with low iron and that can very quickly affect your health.
So look at your iron levels, look at your zinc. This is another really important one, look at your vitamin A. Are you getting enough vitamin A, too?
You could try
This one-a-day formula is packed with all of the most important micronutrients, including essential nutrients for your hair health vitamin A, iron and zinc.
It also contains magnesium and calcium two vital nutrients needed during menopause.
Obtained from non-GMO flax seeds and cold pressed to maintain purity, these flax seed oil capsules contain a high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for maintaining healthy hair.
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Are There Any Potential Side Effects To Prp Treatment
Some temporary inflammation or tenderness may occur after the injection procedure is complete, but this usually lasts less than 24 hours. Dr. Green administers all injections for PRP hair treatment, and the safety and satisfaction of her patients is her top priority.
48 year old treated with PRP for Hair Loss, after 4 treatments
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Hair Loss During Menopausal Transition
Hair loss during the menopausal transition can be just as dramatic as menopausal hair loss. The two are both related to the same changes in hormone levels. The menopausal transition is the time leading up to menopause and can last several years. During the menopausal transition, fluctuating hormones can cause some of the same symptoms typically associated with menopause.
Reverse Thinning Hair With Prp Therapy
For nearly 20 years, orthopedic doctors have used platelet-rich plasma to treat people who suffered with joint injuries and other painful conditions, such as osteoarthritis or rotator cuff tears. Now the evolving therapy is showing great promise for hair restoration. If youre struggling with hair loss, youre not alone. Nearly 80 million American adults — roughly 50 million men and 30 million women — are losing their hair.
At Parkland Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, a popular dermatology clinic in Coral Springs, Florida, our founder Dr. Alexis Stephens reverses hair loss with groundbreaking PRP treatments. Here she answers questions about the procedure and what you can expect.
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The Link Between Menopause And Thinning Hair
Throughout your life, your bodys estrogenalso known as the female hormoneplays a role in how your hair looks and feels, helping your hair grow and limiting how much it sheds. As your estrogen production decreases around menopause, your hair growth cycles shorten, so new growth cant keep up with normal hair loss like it used to.1
The dip in estrogen also changes the ratio of female hormones to male hormones in your body. Androgen activity not only shortens your hairs growth phase, but it also lengthens the time between a shedding phase and the start of a new growth phase, compounding the issue. Hair follicles also shrink as a result of androgen activity, so the hair shaft is smaller. The result is not just less hair on your scalp overall, but also thinner individual strands.2
Avoid Heat Tools And Tight Hairdos
You might want to put that blow dryer aside if you already have thin or brittle hair. Although its a speedy and tempting method to dry your hair, it often comes with notable negative effects that could be more detrimental than one might think. Air-drying is one way to avoid this, or using heat protectant with styling tools in moderation. Bailey says your beloved straightener might also be a culprit in hair loss or thinning which is important to note if youre a frequent user. Hair straighteners can burn the scalp and and lead to permanent hair loss and scalp scarring, she says. They are based on lye and include sodium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide as active ingredients. Does this mean you should throw out your straightener ASAP? Not necessarily, but using it sparingly and taking heat-protecting steps here is key. If youre someone who loves a high ponytail, classic bun or other style to get hair out of your face, just remember not to make it *too* tight. Traction alopecia is another cause of hair loss, Bailey says. Tension on hair shafts during braiding or styling gradually damages the follicle and leads to permanent hair loss. Were all guilty of putting our hair up or styling it more than we should, so remember to keep styles and hot tools in moderation to prevent further hair loss or damage.
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