Hair Loss Due To Medications
Hair loss is a side effect of a number of medications taken for common health problems. Blood-thinning medications, oral contraceptives, drugs for depression, NSAIDs, and beta and calcium channel blockers can all lead to thinning hair or baldness. Too much vitamin A and vitamin A-based drugs called retinoids can cause hair loss as well. Some chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer are known to cause total hair loss as they work to destroy cancer cells. Just as hair usually grows back after chemo, it should also grow back once you stop taking any medication that causes hair loss.
Use Apple Cider Vinegar
Dry, unruly hair is difficult to manage and more prone to falling out or breaking. A lot of people use diluted apple cider vinegar to wash their frizzy hair to make it softer, shinier, and easier to detangle.
Moreover, a healthy scalp is a prerequisite for healthy hair, and ACV might help in that regard too. Dryness of hair and scalp is a sign of increased alkalinity, and this mild acid can help balance it out. Thus, ACV may help relieve itching and flaking of the scalp while stimulating the hair follicles for improved hair growth.
Bear in mind, however, that all these hair benefits attributed to ACV are purely anecdotal with little to no scientific support
Directions:
Note: Do not apply ACV for longer than the recommended period or in undiluted form as it can damage your hair and scalp.
Hair Oil Scalp Massage
Massaging your hair with coconut oil, argan oil, peppermint oil, and castor oil can help reduce hair fall and stimulate hair growth . You can also heat the oil for hot oil treatment. It enters the deepest layers of your scalp, revives the hair follicles, and strengthens the hair from the roots.
Gently massage your scalp in a circular motion for 20 minutes. Do this at least twice a week.
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Other Causes Of Hair Shedding
There are other hair loss types that can cause the appearance of shedding as well, and they can be more serious.
Traction alopecia is caused by trauma to the follicle itself, in the form of burning, pulling or irritation by chemical means.
It can be caused by stress disorders that literally make you pull your own hair out, or it can be caused by hairstyles like ponytails, which involve pulling tightly on your hair.
But the worst case scenario isnt a receding hairline due to high ponies its that you might have a more serious disease pulling the strings.
Alopecia areata isnt technically a type of hair loss, but rather a symptom of certain autoimmune diseases.
With alopecia areata, your hair will fall out as your immune system attacks the follicles, and can stay dormant as long as the condition goes untreated sometimes permanently.
Unfortunately, in both of these cases, the damage is often permanent after a certain point, which is why you should always address the problem at the first instance you notice its happening.
Change Your Hair Products
There is some evidence that many gels and other styling products may contribute to hair loss, as the chemicals within these products stay on the scalp and become trapped in the follicles, preventing the hair from coming to the surface. Avoid excessive use of hair gels and try more natural styling products, which contain fewer chemicals.
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When Is Hair Fall Excessive
We do lose 100 strands each day. But, if you notice an increase in hair loss, a receding hairline or hair breaking easily, you know its time to take action.
Hair loss, receding hairline, bald patches, hair thinning are concerns shared by many men and women. It is caused by a range of factors that are out of your immediate control genetics, diseases, etc., and others that you can beat with home remedies, medicines, and more.
Lets have a look at a few reasons why youre losing your hair:
When To See A Doctor
If youre concerned that your hair loss goes beyond normal shedding or temporary telogen effluvium, you should speak to your doctor. Hair thats coming out in clumps and leaving bald spots, and hair thats growing in patches, could be symptoms of an underlying health issue. Speak to your dermatologist or primary care physician and describe your symptoms if you need more guidance.
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Avoid Too Much Styling
Avoid over-processing and styling. Repeated heat styling and using harsh chemicals to straighten, perm, color, and bleach your hair can make it dry and brittle and weaken the follicles.
If you want to curl your hair, use rollers or follow DIY methods on YouTube. You can also use herbal colors to cover grays. Henna and beetroot are also good for coloring hair naturally.
Cancer Treatment Is A Trigger
Radiation and chemotherapy used to treat cancer are some of the common causes of hair loss in women. Both therapies harm hair follicles in addition to killing cancer cells. People undergoing cancer treatment often experience dramatic hair loss as a result of these therapies. They may wake up with clumps of hair on their pillow or they may lose large amounts of hair in the shower. Rapid hair loss in women often starts within 2 weeks of beginning treatment. It may be worst between 1 to 2 months into therapy. The scalp may be extra sensitive during this time. It may be irritating to wash, brush, and comb hair. The good news is that once cancer treatment is over, hair tends to grow back.
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Hair Loss After Surgery: Why Does It Happen And What Can You Do
Most invasive surgeries, as necessary as they may be, arent easy on the body. The trauma of surgery is why we need sedation and anesthesia during procedures and why it takes days or weeks to recover. After surgery, the disruption to the bodys normal functioning can linger and manifest itself in many ways, including temporary hair loss.
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How Is Female Hair Loss Treated
Minoxidil 5% is the only topical medication approved by the FDA for female-pattern hair loss. The once daily use foam treatment regrows hair in 81% of the women who try it.
Liquid options of 2% and 5% solutions are available over the counter. Minoxidil works by prolonging the growth phase of hair — providing more time for hair to grow out to its full density.
You have to be patient, as noticeable results usually take three to four months and the product must be used once a day. It tends to work better if started early.
I put some on my forearm and got a big thick patch of hair. When I stopped, it went away.
Doctors may also test for levels of ferritin . New research suggests levels may be low in women with hair loss. Iron supplements may help.
Also new is the HairMax Laser Comb. It’s a red light therapy hairbrush-like device that increases circulation and the biological march that makes hair. It’s only approved in men and in my experience, is not as good as minoxidil. But in one study, 45% of users reported improvement after eight weeks, and 90% saw improvement after 16 weeks.
In some cases, a hormonal abnormality, such as excess male hormones known as androgens, may be responsible for hair loss in women. One clue that hormones are involved is if the hair loss pattern resembles that of a manâs hair loss. This can be treated with prescription medications such as spironolactone or oral contraceptives.
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Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
The apple cider vinegar contains acids that help maintain the pH balance of your scalp, cleaning the dirt & grime, retaining the texture of your hair, and paving the way for better hair growth.
ACV has a high content of acid, so it must be diluted before useUse 1 part ACV for 3 parts of waterShampoo and condition your hairPour the ACV into your hair slowly, getting to all partsYou can choose to rinse it off or let it stay & dry out
Are There Complications/side Effects Of Treatment
Minoxidil may irritate your scalp and cause dryness, scaling, itching and/or redness. See your dermatologist if this happens.
With Minoxidil you might also see hair growing in other places other than your scalp . Wash your face after you apply Minoxidil and make sure you avoid other areas when you apply it.
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Beware Of A Hair Tourniquet
New mothers also should watch out for hair tourniquets. A hair tourniquet forms when a strand of hair falls out and wraps around a babys toe, finger, or other body part. A single strand can wrap so tightly that it cuts off circulation or causes an infection.
Dont panic. The likelihood of your baby getting a hair tourniquet is very rare. Knowing what to do, however, can be helpful.
If you see a shed hair wrapped around your baby finger, toe, or other body part, you must remove it. Here what you should do:
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Look for a loose end and gently unwind the hair.
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Sometimes you will not see a loose end, so youll need something to gently cut the hair, such as a small knife or scissors.
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If you cannot remove the hair because it is wound too tightly or enmeshed in your babys skin, you need to get medical help. Call your babys doctor or take your baby to the emergency room. Sometimes a doctor has to remove a hair tourniquet.
What Is Androgenetic Alopecia
Almost every woman eventually develops some degree of female pattern hair loss. It can start any time after the onset of puberty, but women tend to first notice it around menopause, when hair loss typically increases. The risk rises with age, and it’s higher for women with a history of hair loss on either side of the family.
As the name suggests, androgenetic alopecia involves the action of the hormones called androgens, which are essential for normal male sexual development and have other important functions in both sexes, including sex drive and regulation of hair growth. The condition may be inherited and involve several different genes. It can also result from an underlying endocrine condition, such as overproduction of androgen or an androgen-secreting tumor on the ovary, pituitary, or adrenal gland. In either case, the alopecia is likely related to increased androgen activity. But unlike androgenetic alopecia in men, in women the precise role of androgens is harder to determine. On the chance that an androgen-secreting tumor is involved, it’s important to measure androgen levels in women with clear female pattern hair loss.
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The Difference Between Hair Loss And Hair Shedding
Hair loss and hair shedding are two different conditions. They might look the same but the underlying reasons behind these two hair conditions are completely different.
Hair shedding is a natural and normal process. However, when there is excessive hair shedding, it is categorized as hair loss, which is an abnormal condition. Hair loss occurs when an internal or external factor such as heredity, harsh hair care products, medication, etc., hinders its growth. It is also known as anagen effluvium. Major reasons causing hair loss are heredity, medication, hormonal changes, medical conditions, etc.
Hair shedding usually occurs as a result of some stressful event such as losing weight, pregnancy, recovering from an illness, etc. Unlike hair loss, excessive hair shedding usually stops when its trigger factor disappears.
The terms hair shedding and hair loss are often used interchangeably, but diagnostically, they mean different things. In many cases, excessive hair shedding is a temporary condition. At times, treatments are required.
The easiest way to determine whether you are experiencing hair shedding or hair loss is to give it time. If you notice that hair has stopped growing at certain places for 2-3 months or more, then it is likely a case of hair loss. Hair loss requires medical treatment and it is best to visit your dermatologist for a comprehensive consultation.
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Key Points About Temporary Or Abnormal Hair Loss
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How Effective Is Finasteride In Stopping Hair Loss
Finasteride helps prevent hair loss and increase hair growth. It is particularly effective among those who show mild to moderate hair loss.
While the effectiveness of finasteride often depends on the length of time it is taken, the available evidence suggests that two thirds of men who use it see some hair regrowth.
What Are The Side Effects Of Taking Finasteride
In rare cases finasteride may cause a skin rash, erectile dysfunction, less desire for sex or tenderness in the nipple area. If you do experience these side effects, they may well disappear quickly as your body gets used to finasteride. If you are at all concerned about the side effects you should stop taking the treatment and consult a doctor.
For more information on solutions for hair loss, visit our blog article on hair growth treatment.
References
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Diet Deficiencies: Your Hair Is What You Eat
The essential vitamins and nutrients, like protein, that you get from a healthy, varied, and well-balanced diet ensure good health all throughout your body, making sure all your organs and internal systems are working just as they should. Poor nutrition or following a severely restrictive crash or fad diet can lead to all kinds of nutrient deficiencies, which in turn can result in hair loss, from thinning hair to patches of baldness.