How Much Hair Loss Is Normal
Its normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day and for someone who doesnt shampoo their hair often that number can be higher on hair-washing days.
Hair loss becomes abnormal when you start noticing changes to your hair that dont seem to be getting better with time.
If someone finds they have ongoing hair loss or they have hair loss thats accompanied by itching, burning or tenderness, they really need an evaluation , says Dr. Jeff Donovan, a hair loss specialist and the president of the Canadian Hair Loss Foundation.
Are There Other Treatment Options For Fphl
Women want innovative treatments for FPHL. To meet this need, researchers continue to look for new ways to stimulate hair growth and stop hair breakage. Other treatments that you may find for FPHL include the following.
Lasers for at-home use: The FDA has approved laser combs, helmets, and other devices, which are available without a prescription, to treat hair loss at home. These devices emit a low level of laser light that may help stimulate new hair growth. A few studies show that this can be effective for treating FPHL.
As with minoxidil and prescription medicines, you must continue using an at-home laser device to see results. We still do not know whether these devices are safe for long-term use or if they can continue to produce new hair growth.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy:
It is believed the platelets help stimulate your cells to grow hair.
Researchers are just beginning to study this therapy as a treatment for hair loss. The early findings show promise, but more studies are needed to know whether this is a safe and effective treatment for FPHL.
Stem cells: Using stem cells to treat FPHL is still in the experimental stages. Like platelet-rich plasma therapy, more studies are needed to know whether stem cells are a safe and effective treatment for FPHL.
Hair loss shampoos: These shampoos tend to do one of the following.
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Help your hair hold moisture, which makes hair look fuller and thicker
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Lessen breakage, which can reduce thinning
Top 10 Natural Treatments For Thinning Hair
Men and women of all ages yearn for thicker, fuller hair, especially when thinning hair becomes a visibly noticeable problem. Thankfully, there are natural treatments for thinning hair like balancing hormones, reducing stress, eating a proper diet and more.
The average adult head has about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs and loses around 50 to 100 hairs each day. That may sound like a lot, but its actually completely normal. You might think that losing so many hairs would make your hair look thinner, but thats only if the normal process of new hair growth isnt up to speed. As long as hair regrowth and hair loss are in proper balance, hair thinning isnt a problem, but for a lot of people hair loss is a daily concern. Aside from the less than ideal appearance of thinning hair, there is the greater fear that the thinning will turn into permanent hair loss and baldness.
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Medications To Treat Hair Loss
Treatment depends on the underlying cause, says Dr. Scott. Sometimes simply addressing a medical condition prompting hair loss will be enough for the hair to regrow. In other instances, a woman might consider a medication like minoxidil , which helps with certain types of hair loss, or another treatment to replace or regrow lost hair.
A newer option being used to treat hair loss is platelet-rich plasma injections. For this treatment, the doctor draws your blood, divides it into its separate components, recombines the blood fluid with a high concentration of platelets , and introduces the resulting preparation back into the scalp.
The science on this isnt totally worked out. We still dont completely understand the mechanism behind PRP, but growth factors contained in platelets can stimulate regeneration of hair follicles and other tissues as well, says Dr. Scott.
In addition, low-level LED laser lights have been found to be helpful in regrowing hair in some cases. Its likely that even more treatments will be developed in the near future.
Other Hair Loss Treatments
- Steroid injection – injections given into bald patches
- Steroid creams – cream applied to bald patches
- Immunotherapy – chemical applied to bald patches
- Light treatment – shining ultraviolet light on bald patches
- Tattooing – tattoo used to look like short hair and eyebrows
- Hair transplant – hair cells are moved to thinning patches
- Scalp reduction surgery – sections of scalp with hair are stretched and stitched together
- Artificial hair transplant – surgery to implant artificial hairs
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What Is The Difference Between Female Hair Thinning And Hair Breakage
Female hair thinning and breakage are two different things. Thin hair happens when an unusual amount of hair enters the shedding phase, or when hair follicles stop growing hair altogether.
Hair breakage, on the other hand, happens when the hair shaft becomes weak due to damage and snaps off. This can also lead to very thin hair.
For this reason, females experiencing hair thinning can also benefit from following hair care habits that prevent breakage. After all, a female with hair thinning cant afford to lose any additional hair!
Effective Hair Loss Treatments
The cause of your particular form of hair loss will point you toward the right treatment. For stress-related telogen effluvium, time is usually the best solution as hair should grow back six to nine months after the excessive shedding occurs. However, if your telogen effluvium is caused by an underlying health issue such as a thyroid problem or low iron levels, your hair should grow back after you address the underlying problem.
Topical minoxidil is the only FDA-approved treatment for hair loss in women, says Dr. Goh. Its technically approved for androgenetic alopecia, but its used for many types of hair loss, and its available over the counter. A common reason people dont try minoxidil is because they have heard you have to keep using it forever, says Dr. Goh. While it is true that minoxidil only works while you use it, it is also true of all treatments for hair loss as long as the underlying hair loss is chronic. It can become a routine like brushing your teeth.Finasteride is FDA-approved for male pattern androgenetic alopecia and is quite effective, especially when combined with minoxidil. Its often prescribed off-label for women, but can cause birth defects so its usually used in women after child-bearing age, notes Dr. Goh. Spironolactone is another medication often used for women with female pattern hair loss that can cause birth defects so women are advised to use proper contraception while taking it.
Also Check: What Could Cause Hair Loss In A Woman
How Can Hair Loss In Women Be Prevented
Preventing hair loss is not possible when it is due to disease, aging, heredity or physical stressors like injuries. You can prevent hair loss caused by caustic chemicals or tight hairstyles by avoiding them. You might be able to prevent some hair loss by eating a healthy diet that provides necessary nutrients in terms of vitamins, minerals and protein. You can stop smoking.
What Happens At Your Appointment
Your GP should be able to tell you what’s causing your hair loss by looking at your hair.
Tell your GP if your hair loss is affecting your wellbeing and ask what treatments are available.
Most hair loss doesn’t need treatment and is either:
- temporary and it will grow back
- a normal part of getting older
Hair loss caused by a medical condition usually stops or grows back once you’ve recovered.
There are things you can try if your hair loss is causing you distress.
No treatment is 100% effective.
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Is Hair Loss Normal
We all lose hair. Some hair loss is perfectly normal, as hair falls out after it completes the 2 to 6 year growth phase. You may notice loose hairs that have fallen out on your clothes or in your comb or hairbrush. The average person loses about 50 to 100 hairs per day. This is normal. What is not normal? Excessive hair loss in women may be apparent by the following: If your hair starts to fall out in clumps, especially when you brush or comb it or are in the shower, you should see your doctor. If you notice that you can see larger areas of your scalp or that your hair is thinning, see your dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment of your hair loss condition.
Hair Loss Prevention Tips For Black Women
Hair loss doesn’t have to be permanent. In most cases of hair loss in women, hair can regrow by treating the underlying cause and making changes to day-to-day habits. Moreover, there are many ways you can slow down natural hair loss.
If you have a medical condition like alopecia areata or scalp psoriasis, the best thing you can do to prevent hair loss is to get proper treatment for the underlying condition. So, if you suspect that you have a condition causing your hair to fall out, see a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Whether or not you have an underlying medical condition, making changes to your lifestyle and hair care habits can help prevent hair loss and female pattern baldness. Here are the best ways to prevent female hair loss for black women:
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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.
Conventional Treatment For Thinning Hair
Conventional treatments for thinning hair include medications and surgery.
When hair is caused by an underlying disease, conventional medicine likely includes drugs like prednisone to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. Common side effects of prednisone include confusion, headache, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, thinning skin, acne, sleep problems and weight gain.
There are also two drugs on the market today that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat pattern baldness or thinning. The first one is minoxidil, commonly known commercially as Rogaine, and it can be used by both men and women. You may experience hair regrowth or a decreased rate of hair loss, but the growth is not permanent and will stop if you stop using it. Some common side effects may include severe scalp irritation, undesirable growth of facial hair, chest pain, rapid heart rate and more.
Another conventional option in pill form is called finasteride. Again, you need to keep taking it to retain benefits. Additionally, women who are or may be pregnant need to avoid touching crushed or broken tablets. Side effects may include impotence, loss of interest in sex, trouble having an orgasm, abnormal ejaculation, swelling in your hands or feet, feeling faint,headache, runny nose, and skin rash.
Precautions Regarding Natural Treatments for Thinning Hair
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Scarring Forms Of Hair Loss
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia tends to start on the top of the head with breakage and thinning, and often with some tenderness of the scalp, says Dr. Goh. It gradually spreads outward and can cause permanent hair loss. CCCA is especially common among Black women. Some recent studies have found that about 25% of people with this form of hair loss have a genetic mutation in one of the proteins thats responsible for the formation of the hair follicle, says Dr. Lenzy. On top of that, she notes that the same haircare practices that create tension and cause traction alopecia also contribute to CCCA.
Lichen planopilaris
Lupus
Lupus of the scalp is another form of scarring alopecia thats autoimmune, says Dr. Lenzy. Its common, especially in women of color. It shows up as red, scaly, thick lesions that dont usually hurt or itch.
Hair Loss In All Ages
Although certain causes of hair loss might be more common at specific times of life, many of them can happen at all ages. For example, hormone imbalances, infections, vitamin deficiencies, and autoimmune diseases affect women of all ages and these may lead to hair loss. There are also rare inflammatory conditions that cause permanent damage to hair follicles.
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How To Stop Hair Thinning And Prevent Balding
Unless youre rocking a shaved head, you most likely want to maintain a full head of hair. But unfortunately, hair thinning and balding has become a common problem these days.
Some factors that can contribute to or lead to thinning hair or baldness are genes, untreated medical conditions, poor nutrition, vitamin deficiency, exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays and living in a highly polluted area.
Severe physical or emotional trauma, post-pregnancy hormonal changes and chemotherapy also can cause hair thinning and balding.
Even styling your hair can lead to thinning hair and bald patches over time. Continual use of hot styling tools, frequent shampooing, vigorous or frequent brushing, and using a lot of hair products can all lead to breakage and thinning hair.
Although you cant reverse balding that is related to genetics, you can protect your hair from damage that may eventually lead to thinning. If youre already dealing with thinning hair or bald spots, these home remedies also promote hair growth.
Here are the top 10 ways to stop hair thinning and prevent balding.
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What Age Does Female Pattern Baldness Begin
While many women will begin noticing changes to their hair in their 30s and 40s, it’s possible for women in their teens and 20s to report thinning hair.
According to Donovan, about six to 10 per cent of women will experience hair thinning in late high school or early university.
I always tell the doctors I teach that if a patient comes in to see you at 17 or 18, dont have in your mind that female balding doesnt occur at this age because youre going to miss these important diagnoses, Donovan adds. It certainly can occur in many ages.
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