What Causes Sudden Hair Loss

What Is Traction Alopecia

This is a small or localized hair loss area caused by repetitive or persistent pulling or traction on hair roots.

• Tight braids and ponytails can pull hard enough on hairs to make them fall out. If this happens, it’s best to choose hairstyles that put less tension on the hair.
• Doing this sooner helps to avoid permanent damage.

How Is Baldness Treated

Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment for you based on:

• How old you are

• How well you can handle specific medicines, procedures, and therapies

• How long the condition is expected to last

• Your opinion or preference

Most forms of baldness have no cure. Some types of baldness will go away without treatment. Treatment may include:

• Certain medicines to promote hair growth

• Corticosteroid injections

• Treating any underlying condition or disease

• Hair transplants

• Skin lifts and grafts

How To Recognize Sudden Hair Loss

The average person loses between 40 and 80 hairs per day. If you lose over 100 hairs per day, you have alopecia, the scientific name for hair loss. If this hair loss has happened suddenly and rapidly, it is sudden hair loss. Your hair falls out at an alarming rate. You find it everywhere: in the shower, on your pillowcase, while styling your hair, on your brush and you have the impression that it is falling out in clumps. This is caused by an imbalance in your life or a disruptive change.

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Points To Remember About Alopecia Areata

• Alopecia areata causes hair loss, usually on the head and face.
• The disease is different for each personsome peoples hair grows back fully, while it does not in others.
• There is no cure for alopecia areata, but there are treatments that help hair grow back more quickly.
• You can do many things to cope with hair loss, such as wearing hats or hair pieces and seeking support from others if you feel anxiety or depression.

Dandruff Or Scalp Psoriasis

When the skin on the scalp is inflamed and itchy, its obviously tempting to scratch it. But that may cause your hair to shed more than usual.

Dandruff is the most easily treated cause of hair loss, Dr. Fusco says, because you can treat it with over-the-counter products, like a shampoo containing zinc pyrithione or exfoliating ingredients such as the classic Head & Shoulders Classic or Oribe Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo . “Consistency is the trick,” Dr. Fusco says, so it’s important to find a shampoo and conditioner you like enough to use regularly.

But other conditions can also cause itchiness and scalp flaking, including seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis . Treating these issues may take more time and effort than dandruff, so its important to check in with a dermatologist if you think you may be dealing with one of these conditions.

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What Are The Complications Of Baldness And Hair Transplantation Procedures

Baldness may lower cause self-esteem. There are complications associated with hair transplantation procedures that include:

• Patchy hair growth. Sometimes, the growth of newly placed hair has a patchy look, especially if it is placed next to a thinning area. This can often be fixed with more surgery.

• Bleeding and/or wide scars. Tension on the scalp from some of the scalp reduction techniques can cause wide scars and/or bleeding.

• Grafts not taking. Occasionally, there is a chance that the graft may not “take.” If this is the case, surgery must be repeated.

• Infection. As with any surgical procedure, there is the risk of infection.

How Can You Prevent Or Treat It

There are a few things you can do to prevent or treat it. First, make sure you are eating enough food and getting enough nutrients. If you are not eating enough, your body will start to break down muscle tissue for energy, which can lead to this problem. You can also try to eat more high-quality protein foods, which will help keep your muscles strong. If you are experiencing it, it is important to see a doctor right away.

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What Are The Cycles Of Hair Growth

Hair goes through three cycles:

• The anagen phase can last from two years to eight years. This phase generally refers to about 85% to 90% of the hair on your head.
• The catagen phase is the time that hair follicles shrink and takes about two to three weeks.
• The telogen phase takes about two to four months. At the end of this phase, the hair falls out.

Your shorter hairs like eyelashes, arm and leg hair and eyebrows have a short anagen phase about one month. Your scalp hair can last up to six years or even longer.

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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How Much Weight Loss Is C Concerning

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the amount of weight loss that is considered concerning will vary from person to person. However, any significant weight loss especially if it is sudden or unexplained should be brought to the attention of a doctor. When someone loses a lot of weight in a short period, it can be concerning.

There are several possible causes for sudden weight loss, some of which are more serious than others. If you are experiencing unexplained weight loss, its important to see a doctor determine the cause. Some potential causes of sudden weight loss include eating disorders, infections, cancer, medications, and problems with the thyroid or liver.

Key Points About Baldness

• Baldness, also known as alopecia, is hair loss, or absence of hair.

• Baldness is usually most noticeable on the scalp, but can happen anywhere on the body where hair grows.

• Treatment for baldness depends on the type of baldness and its underlying cause.

• Most forms of baldness have no cure. Some types of baldness will disappear on their own.

• It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about your baldness and how it can be treated.

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What Is Hair Loss

The American Academy of Dermatology notes that 80 million men and women in America have hereditary hair loss .

It can affect just the hair on your scalp or your entire body. Although alopecia is more prevalent in older adults, excessive hair loss can occur in children as well.

Its normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day. With about 100,000 hairs on your head, that small loss isnt noticeable.

New hair normally replaces the lost hair, but this doesnt always happen. Hair loss can develop gradually over years or happen abruptly. Hair loss can be permanent or temporary.

Its impossible to count the amount of hair lost on a given day. You may be losing more hair than is normal if you notice a large amount of hair in the drain after washing your hair or clumps of hair in your brush. You might also notice thinning patches of hair or baldness.

If you notice that youre losing more hair than usual, you should discuss the problem with your doctor. They can determine the underlying cause of your hair loss and suggest appropriate treatment plans.

What Are Causes And Risk Factors For Hair Loss

Because there are many types of hair loss, finding the cause can be challenging. This review will cover the most common causes of hair loss occurring on normal unscarred scalp skin. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia.

• Most hair loss is not associated with systemic or internal disease, nor is poor diet a frequent factor. Hair may simply thin as a result of predetermined genetic factors and the overall aging process.
• Many men and women may notice mild physiologic thinning of hair starting in their 30s and 40s.
• Life vicissitudes may cause hair loss, including
• illness,
• hormonal changes like those in pregnancy, puberty, and menopause.

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Whats Hair Loss In Women

Hair loss in women is just that when a woman experiences unexpected, heavy loss of hair. Generally, humans shed between 50 and 100 single hairs per day. Hair shedding is part of a natural balance some hairs fall out while others grow in. When the balance is interrupted when hair falls out and less hair grows in hair loss happens. Hair loss is different than hair shedding. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia.

Hair grows on almost all of your skin surfaces not the palms of your hands, soles of your feet, lips or eyelids. Light, fine, short hair is called vellus hair. Terminal/androgenic hair is thicker, darker and longer.

What Does Sudden Hair Loss Mean

Generally, most people lose an average of about 50 to 100 hairs per day. However, if you notice more hair loss than the average on your comb, pillow or in the shower drain, then it could be considered sudden hair loss.

Everyone’s hair goes through a stage of growth that lasts about five to seven years. It then lays dormant for a while and, eventually, falls out. However, not every hair on your head runs on the same cycle .

Losing up to 100 hairs a day might sound like a lot, but if you compare that to the number of hair follicles you have on your head , you gain perspective. And with normal hair shedding, the loss isn’t permanent. Instead, each lost hair is replaced by a new hair shaft.

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If you’re concerned about excessive shedding or you’ve noticed unusual types of hair loss, always seek advice from a doctor who can diagnose your condition.

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What Is Tinea Capitis

Tinea is the medical word for fungal infection, and capitis means head. Tinea capitis is a fungal infection of the scalp that for the most part affects school-age children.

• Tinea capitis is more common in black African or African-American scalps.
• This condition is rare in healthy adults.
• Bald spots usually show broken-off hairs accompanied by dermatitis.
• Oral antifungals can penetrate the hair roots and cure the infection, after which hair grows back.
• Sharing hats or combs and brushes may transmit tinea capitis.

Living With Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata may affect your sense of well-being. There are many things you can do to cope with the effects of this disease, including:

Get support.

• Learn as much as you can about the disease, and talk with others who are dealing with it.
• Visit a mental health professional if you experience higher levels of stress, depression, or anxiety.

Protect bare skin and stay comfortable.

• Use sunscreens for any bare areas.
• Wear wigs, hairpieces, hats, or scarves to protect your scalp from the sun and to keep your head warm.
• Wear eyeglasses or sunglasses to protect your eyes from sun and dust if you have lost hair from your eyebrows or eyelashes.

Consider cosmetic solutions.

• Wear a wig, hairpiece, or bandana to cover up hair loss. Some people choose to shave their heads to mask patchy hair loss.
• Use fake eyelashes or apply stick-on eyebrows if you lose hair from your eyelashes or eyebrows.

Take care of your health.

• Visit your primary care doctor regularly. People with alopecia areata have a higher risk of certain other diseases, and early diagnosis is important.

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What Specific Treatments Are There For Hair Loss In Women

Female hair loss treatments include

• minoxidil ,
• hair extensions, and
• weaves.
• Minoxidil is available over the counter and available in 2%, 4%, and 5% concentrations. It may be something of a nuisance to apply twice daily, but it has been shown to help conserve hair and may even grow some.
• Minoxidil tends to grow very fine small hairs wherever it is applied. It is important to avoid running the liquid onto the face or neck where it can also grow hair.
• It is marketed for women at the 2% concentration but may be used in higher strengths as directed by a doctor.

Intense Emotional Or Physical Stress

When you’re experiencing something stressful or traumaticnot your average day-to-day stress, but something big and life-altering like a divorce, a death in the family, a significant job change, or a big moveyou may experience a temporary halt in hair growth as your body puts its resources toward getting you through said big event.

“Hairs dont all grow at the same rate,” Dr. Schlosser explains. “Some are growing, some are resting, and some are actively being shed. When you have these conditions, your body halts hair growth, and then things get restarted and all these hairs that have been halted start to get pushed out at the same time.” The same thing can happen with physical stress and trauma, like having a big operation, being hospitalized, or even losing a significant amount of weight very quickly.

Usually this type of hair shedding is temporary. But if it bothers you, check in with a dermatologist to learn more about styling changes and products you can use to make your hair look and feel fuller.

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