What Are The Treatment Options For Male Pattern Baldness
Coming to terms with losing one’s hair is difficult for many men. Unfortunately there are plenty of private clinics out there who promise incredible results, but often don’t warn you about what can go wrong. Hair replacement treatments are not always that effective and can rapidly become very expensive. Before you commit to anything, get a few opinions from different places. Preferably try to get the opinion of an impartial doctor in a state-funded health system, like the NHS.
Hair Loss Trigger: Cancer Treatment
Chemo and radiation therapy, two of the most widely used therapies, can take a toll on your hair. In their quest to kill cancer cells, both can harm hair follicles and trigger dramatic hair loss. But the damage is almost always short-lived. Once your treatment is finished, hair usually grows back.
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.
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Hormonal Changes: The Most Common Reason For Thinning Hair In Older Women
As women age, the levels of estrogen they produce begin to decline. Estrogen does several things that promote thick hair. Therefore, the loss contributes to thinner hair in several ways as well. First, estrogen lengthens the growth stage of hair. This means more follicles of hair are growing at a given time when estrogen production is at an ideal level. It also stimulates the growth of new hair, after the old hair has shed.
Estrogen plays an important role in the overall appearance of hair. It is easy to see why an imbalance could cause hair to begin to look thinner over time. There is very little that can be done to increase the natural production of estrogen once menopause has started. However, phytoestrogens, bioidentical, or synthetic estrogens can be utilized to support estrogenic activity in the body.
It’s Not Just Hair There We Said It Our ‘dos Are Deeply Entangled With Our Identities Our Self
When her thinning hair got to the point where she was using an eyebrow pencil to colour in her scalp to disguise the bald spots, Laura Brown* knew it was a problem. She stopped wearing ponytails at work because pulling her hair back seemed to accentuate her retreating hairline. I avoided touching my hair in public because it would just fall out in my hands, says the 34-year-old. I was so self-conscious.
Hairs the Thing
We all lose hair every day. Shedding is part of the natural hair cycle of growth, rest, loss and replacement. In fact, its perfectly normal to shed as many as 100 strands a day. But when these hairs arent replaced right away or more hairs shed at one time than they should, we may notice thinning and even bald patches. This interruption in the natural cycle is more common as we age and can be attributed to physical or emotional shocks to the body, underlying diseases, hormonal imbalances and even nutritional deficiencies. Many women experience increased hair loss as they age. About 40 percent of women experience some kind of hair loss before the age of 50, says Caroline Ruggiero, a certified trichologist with Truly You Hair & Scalp Clinic in Mississauga, Ont., and that number goes up after menopause. Sometimes drastic hair loss is temporary, but other times its permanent. Either way, women feel that loss.
The Real Reason Why Your Ponytail Is Shrinking
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In the Thick of It
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*Names changed to protect privacy
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What Causes Thinning Hair
There are several reasons why hair loss occurs. A good portion of hair loss can come from genetics or age. However, age is not always a factor in all cases of hair loss. The saying age aint nothing but a number totally applies here. Unfortunately, thinning hair can hit at just about any age.
- Medical conditions such as anemia or alopecia areata
Stress factors can be difficult to pinpoint and even more difficult to dial down. Here are a few tips to help alleviate added stress:
- Set aside time away from social media and your phone
- Find a relaxing show to watch, book to read, or a hobby to work on in your spare time
- Discover healthy recipes and delve into meal prep or simply improving upon your cooking skills. Healthy meals can definitely improve both your health and overall mood, creating a less stressful environment
- If you still find you are struggling with relaxation and stress, try looking into CBD oil or CBD capsules to help with added anxiety
Using Too Many Or Very Harsh Chemicals
I know that us afro textured ladies know all about this Reason Number 7.
Perms, Hair Dyes and Hairsprays are all filled with very harsh and dangerous chemicals. These chemicals not only affect the overall look, feel and health of your hair, but they are very damaging on your scalp and body in general.
I use to perm my hair every 4 to 6 weeks. My hair stylist use to leave those chemicals on my scalp, until my scalp would start to burn. Once it was burning, she would leave it on my scalp for another 5 to 10 minutes . After I got the chemicals washed and my hair was styled, my scalp would hurt and sometimes my scalp would be so damaged there would be puss oozing out of my hair follicles.
I did this for about 5 years of my life. After 5 years I decided enough was enough. I did not want to have good looking hair, but feel like someone was stabbing me in the scalp with a knife.
The chemicals were so harsh that my hair dresser had to wear gloves to apply the perm, but her hands were more tough than my scalp was. That is just a little comparison to how harsh those chemicals must have been.
Overtime, using irritating chemicals can cause damage to your scalp or you can even cause permanent damage to your hair follicles called scarring alopecia or central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia , which is another major reason why many black women afro-textured hair suffer hair loss.
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Your Hair Is Just One All
You know how wearing all one color is considered slimming? Same goes for your hair. If you’ve only got one hue going on, your locks could appear extra thin. The solution: add varied tones. “Highlighting definitely adds depth to your strands,” explains Nick Penna, owner and lead stylist of SalonCapri. “Instead of single-toned hair, it creates dimension, giving the illusion of fuller-locks.” Scared of winding up with chunky ’90s highlights? Don’t worry, there are lots of ways to make highlights and lowlights look totally natural, including balayage and beyond.
What Is The Relationship Between Hair Loss In Women And Menopause
During menopause, you might see one of two things happen with your hair. You might start growing hair where you didnt before. Or, you might see the hair you have start to thin. One cause may be changing levels of hormones during menopause. Estrogen and progesterone levels fall, meaning that the effects of the androgens, male hormones, are increased.
During and after menopause, hair might become finer because hair follicles shrink. Hair grows more slowly and falls out more easily in these cases.
Your healthcare provider will do a thorough examination and take a detailed history to help you deal with changes in hair growth. You may be directed to have your iron levels or thyroid hormone levels tested. Your medications might be changed if what you take is found to affect hair loss or growth.
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How Do I Tell If My Hair Is Shedding Or Thinning
Its the question I ask myself most mornings: How exactly do you figure out if your hair is actually thinning or if youre just shedding a little more than usual? You lose about 50 to 100 hairs every day, which is about 0.001 percent of your hair, says Burg. Now, when you notice that amount doubling or tripling, thats an indication that your hair cycle is too short. Reminder: If your hair cycle speeds up, it goes through its resting and falling stages too quickly, which can lead to less hair on your pretty little head.
Other than monitoring the amount of hair you lose in the shower or on your hair brush, youll want to check your ponytail , your part , and your scalp . If you are noticing any of the above, dont freak, heres what you can do next:
Childbirth May Be A Trigger
Moms-to-be are often very happy that their hair seems much fuller during pregnancy, but they are then disappointed when they experience hair loss after giving birth. Losing hair after pregnancy is not true hair loss and is normal. That’s because hormones and hair loss in women are linked. Hair falls out after women give birth due to decreasing estrogen levels. Some women notice that they lose a lot of hair in a short period of time after giving birth. The good news is that after this shedding period, hair fullness often returns to normal within 1 to 2 years. Many people wonder what’s the best treatment for hair loss in women? For postpartum moms waiting for their full head of hair to return, using over-the-counter volumizing shampoo and conditioner formulated for fine hair can make hair appear fuller.
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The Thyroid Disease Connection
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that rests in the front base of the neck. It secretes thyroid hormones that are used by every cell in the body. There’s a connection between hair loss in women and thyroid disease. Imbalances in thyroid hormone levels are a common reason for hair loss in women. Too much thyroid hormone and too little thyroid hormone may both trigger hair loss. Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism include weight loss, rapid heart rate, inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, and anxiety. In addition to hair loss, hypothyroidism may be associated with weight gain, fatigue, feeling cold, slow heart rate, and constipation. Luckily, thyroid hormone imbalances are easily detectable with blood tests. Treatment helps alleviate symptoms, including hair loss. If you suffer from low thyroid hormone levels and hair loss, thyroid medication may help.
Style Tips For Thinning Hair
Ask your stylist. They might suggest a short cut, a different part, maybe a gentle body wave. Try a styling product for thin hair to hide bare spots. Apply it to the root area then gently blow dry to build volume. Let your hair air dry for a while before you use the dryer. Special cosmetics can disguise parts of your scalp that show. Think about keratin fiber hair cosmetics. Sprinkle them over the thinning patch. Their static charge makes hair look thicker.
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Treatment For Hair Loss Is Out There
Most cases of increased shedding will gradually resolve on their own without treatment, Dr. Schlosser says. But if your hair doesn’t return to its normal fullness within nine months, see a doctor for an evaluation to find out whether something else is going on. And if you have other worrying symptoms, like itching, pain, burning, flaking, or redness, you should seek help sooner.
See your primary care provider or go directly to a dermatologist who specializes in treating hair loss. They can determine what type it is and what the right treatment approach is for you based on which therapies are currently available for your specific issue.
In addition to changes in products and hairstyling habits, your doctor may prescribe topical treatments to treat hair loss, like minoxidil, or direct you to an over-the-counter version, like Rogaine . They might also recommend treatments like platelet-rich plasma injections , which can be helpful for some patients, SELF explained previously. If youre curious about your options, check in with your doctor or dermatologist.
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Treating Hair Loss: Lasers
Devices that emit low-energy laser light may help new hair grow. They come as hats, helmets, caps, combs, and headbands andt use low level laser technology to stimulate the scalp, hair follicles, promoting hair growth and blood flow. They’re available in some clinics and for home use. Several are approved for both men and women, and studies show they do work. But it might take 2-4 months before you see results. Keep in mind: The FDA doesnât require the same rigorous testing for devices as for medicines. The long-term safety and effects arenât known.
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First Lets Review The Normal Cycles Of Hair Growth:
Every hair follicle is independent and goes through the hair growth cycle at different times.
Anagen: This is your hairs growth period. Hair grows actively from the roots for an average of 2-7 years before the hair follicles become dormant.
Catagen: This is the transitional hair growth cycle. This phase on last for 2-3 weeks on average and during this time, hair stops growing and detaches itself from the blood supply. It is then named a club hair.
Telogen: This is the resting phase. Club hairs rest in the root while new hairs begin to grow beneath it. This phase lasts about 3 months. After this time, the resting club hairs begin to fall out in order to let the new hairs grow through the hair follicle.
Now onto the causes of hair loss.
You’re Using The Wrong Brushes
Getting great hair is all about the care you put into it, right down to which tools you use brushes included. “Flat brushes and metal brushes won’t give you as much tension when working with the hair as a boar bristle or mixed bristle round brush,” says Eva Scrivo, celebrity stylist and founder of Eva Scrivo Salon. “This tension allows you to get a better grip to get lift and volume in the right places.”
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Pcos Can Be A Trigger
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in women in which the body manufactures more androgens, or male hormones, than it normally should. It is a potential cause of hormonal hair loss in women. Women who suffer from this condition may grow facial hair and extra body hair. One of the other symptoms of this condition is thinning of hair on the head. Women affected with PCOS may also experience weight gain, acne, menstrual irregularities, ovulation problems, depression, and infertility. Hair thinning may be the only outward sign that a woman is suffering from this condition.
What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
- What is the cause of my hair loss?
- How many strands of hair am I losing per day?
- What type of hair loss do I have?
- Will my hair loss be permanent?
- Whats the best treatment for me?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Hair loss may cause you distress whether it happens because of genetics, a disease, or even stress. Know that there are some treatments you can try, and expert dermatologists are there to help you. Your hair loss may be able to be reversed. See your healthcare provider as soon as you notice something wrong because the sooner you start treatment, the better.
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Hidden Causes Of Thinning Hair In Women
If youre a person who has experienced or is experiencing unexplained hair loss, you know how devastating it can feel. And the truth is that up to 40% of women experience hair thinning by the age of 40, but as a society, we dont talk about it a lot.
Although its normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day, when you feel clumps of hair running down your back after shampooing, see it on your pillow in the morning, and glean shocking glimpses of your scalp when your hair is wet or unstyled, you know something is not right.
The good news is that thinning hair, at any age, doesnt have to be something you just live with or try and cover up. There is a reason for it, and oftentimes you can get your beautiful locks back.
Having experienced thinning hair myself , and helped many patients get to the bottom of their hair loss problems Ive learned thinning hair in women is often rooted in one of the following health issues.
Can Hair Grow Back After Thinning
That totally depends on what’s causing your thinning in the first place . And, like, not to sound like a broken record here, but this is just another reason why you should always, always see a professional to diagnose your hair loss before you make any decisions. At the end of the day, early prevention is key with any form of hair loss, so book an appointment if you’ve noticed thinning and want to get ahead of it.
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