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What Is The Main Cause Of Hair Loss

How Can I Prevent Hair Loss

What causes Hair Loss and How to Regrow it

There are a few things you can do to minimize hair loss:

  • Keep hairstyles loose. If you regularly style your hair into braids, buns, or ponytails, try to keep them loose so they dont put too much pressure on your hair.
  • Avoid touching your hair. As much as possible, try not to pull, twist, or rub your hair.
  • Pat hair dry. After washing, use a towel to gently pat your hair dry. Avoid rubbing your hair with the towel or twisting it within the towel.
  • Aim for a nutrient-rich balanced diet. Try to incorporate plenty of iron and protein into snacks and meals.

Styling products and tools are also common culprits in hair loss. Examples of products or tools that can affect hair loss include:

  • blow dryers

What Is The Prognosis/outlook For Women With Hair Loss

Your diagnosis determines the prognosis:

  • Anagen and telogen shedding may stop with time.
  • Treat any diseases associated with hair loss.
  • Disguise or cover your hair loss using a wig or hat.
  • Early treatment of alopecia may reduce the speed of thinning and may promote regrowth.

While hair loss is not itself dangerous, women with hair loss tend to be very upset by the changes to their appearance. These negative feelings can affect self-esteem and social lives. Recent studies suggest that FPHL can be associated with conditions that include metabolic syndrome, endocrine disorders and diabetes.

You Have A Thyroid Condition

Thyroid conditionslike hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidismcan cause a range of hair issues, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Those include: thinning or missing eyebrows , soft and fine hair with lots of shedding, thinning hair, and less hair on other body parts.

Of course, if you have experienced hair loss with a thyroid issue, the best bet is to speak with your doctor about treatment possibilitiesbut usually, treating the underlying cause first is essential to treating any other associated issues.

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You Have Low Iron Levels

The American Academy of Dermatology also says that not getting enough iron into your diet can lead to unwanted hair loss, too.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , iron-deficiency anemia occurs when you don’t have enough iron in your bodythe symptoms of which include fatigue, tiredness, shortness of breath, or chest pain. To help remedy this, your doctor might suggest iron supplements or other healthy lifestyle choices, like increasing your intake of both iron- and vitamin-C rich foods.

Things To Know About Hair Loss In Men And In Women

How To Stop Hair Loss Thing You Need To Follow
  • Hair loss without scarring of the scalp is a very common condition and affects most people at some time in their lives.
  • Medical professionals should distinguish hair loss from breakage of the hair shaft from hair loss due to decreased hair growth.
  • Common balding occurs in men and women and is due to the effect of testosterone metabolites in genetically susceptible hair follicles.
  • Thyroid disease, anemia, protein deficiency, secondary syphilis, chemotherapy, and low vitamin levels may cause hair loss.
  • Alopecia areata is a form of hair loss produced by the autoimmune destruction of hair follicles in localized areas of the skin.
  • Medications indicated for hair regrowth include minoxidil and finasteride .
  • Prevention of hair loss includes good hair hygiene, regular shampooing, and good nutrition.
  • Medical health screening for hair loss may include blood tests such as complete blood count , iron level, vitamin B, thyroid function tests , and a biopsy of the scalp.

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Reasons For Hair Thinning

Your genes.These play a key role in male- or female-pattern baldness, which is a common part of aging. If youâre a woman, your hair may get thinner overall, but the condition isnât likely to make your hairline recede or bring on baldness. If youâre a man, your hair may thin near the top of your head, and youâre more likely to have a retreating hairline and balding.

Stress. Certain stressful events can make your hair look thinâsometimes a couple months after the stressful situation. Itâs a condition called telogen effluvium, and your hair usually grows back on its own. Triggers for stress-induced hair loss can include:

  • Childbirth

What Is Generalized Hair Loss

This is an overall hair thinning without specific bald spots or patterns. While this type of hair loss may not be noticeable to others, often the individual will feel their hair is not as thick or full as it previously was. Common conditions in this category are

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How Is Abnormal Hair Loss Diagnosed

Your doctor will ask you questions about your hair loss, including the pattern of your hair loss and whether you have any other medical conditions. Your doctor will also examine your hair and your skin. Investigations such as blood tests or skin testing may be done to find out the cause of your hair loss.

Effective Hair Loss Treatments

How to Regrow Hair (the Two Causes of Hair Loss) â Dr. Berg

Hair loss caused by stress or hormonal changes, like pregnancy or menopause, may not require any treatment. Instead, the loss will likely stop on its own after the body adjusts.

Nutrient deficiencies also dont often require medical treatment beyond supplements, unless the deficiency is caused by an underlying health condition. And any medical conditions that lead to hair loss should be treated directly to address the full condition, not just its symptoms.

That said, there are a number of possible medications and treatments for hair loss caused by female-pattern baldness and other alopecias. You may need to use one or a combination of treatments for months or years to see the full results.

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Should I Get Tested For A Thyroid Problem

Yes! If youve been suspecting that small, subtle symptoms you have might be connected to something bigger, do get appropriate testing.

For the estimated 28 million women with known energy and metabolism problems due to hypothyroidism, the trouble usually creeps up. Its not a flash flood that takes out your whole house its a dripping faucet that might erode the foundation over time.

Comprehensive testing provides the information needed for a definitive diagnosis before starting any medication or other treatment plan for healing your thyroid. Unnecessary treatment and over-treatment in the integrative and functional medicine practitioners may be as common as missed diagnoses and under-treatment are by conventional doctors.

What Causes Hair Loss In Men 14 Common Causes

When it comes to men losing their hair, its a darn common experience.

Nearly 40% of guys in their 30s will experience some amount of hereditary hair loss, with over 50% experiencing it by the time they turn 50. Hair loss can start as early as puberty, and an estimated 50 million American men experience male pattern baldness, known scientifically as androgenic alopecia.

While genes play the largest role, hormones, diet, medications, and a few other causes can also be to blame for hair loss in men.

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What Causes Hair Loss In Women

According to experts, the average human scalp has about 100,000 hair follicles. At any given time, each of your hair follicles is in a different phase of this cycle: Anagen phase , Catagen phase, Telogen phase , and Exogen phase . Thus, seeing some hairs in your brush or in a bath is perfectly normal and doesnt mean you are experiencing a hair loss.

However, if you find more lost hairs than usual, spot thinning edges, or your scalp becomes more noticeable, it is worth analyzing the possible causes and taking action to stop and reverse hair shedding.

Diet Deficiencies: Your Hair Is What You Eat

10 Health and Medical Reasons that Cause Hair Loss

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.

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What Happens If Dht Is High

High DHT leads to high levels of androgens, which contribute to acne in men, Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and hair loss expert in South Florida tells WebMD Connect to Care. While its less common in adults, high hormone levels can increase oil production and clog pores that cause acne.

Is DHT The main cause of hair loss?

DHT is a well-known, major cause of male pattern hair loss linked to both your natural genetic predisposition to hair loss as well as natural processes in your body that cause you to lose hair as you age.

What illness causes hairloss?

There are a wide range of conditions that can bring on hair loss, with some of the most common being pregnancy, thyroid disorders, and anemia. Others include autoimmune diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome , and skin conditions such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, Rogers says.

Is Alopecia life threatening?

Alopecia areata is not life-threatening and does not cause physical pain. However, the psychosocial effects of hair loss can be devastating. In addition, patients may experience symptoms related to hair loss, such as increased eye or nasal irritation after loss of eyelash or nasal hair.

What Is Trichotillomania

This refers to the habitual pulling or twisting of one’s own hair. The scalp and eyelashes are often affected. Unlike alopecia areata patches, which are perfectly smooth, hair patches in trichotillomania show broken-off hairs.

  • Treatment is often entirely behavioral.
  • One has to notice the behavior and then consciously stop.
  • Severe or resistant cases may require stress counseling with a therapist or psychologist or medical treatment with a psychiatrist.
  • Several antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications can help with this condition.
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    What The Doctor Does

    Doctors first ask questions about the person’s symptoms and medical history and then do a physical examination. What doctors find during the history and physical examination often suggests a cause of the hair loss and the tests that may need to be done.

    Doctors ask about the hair loss:

    • Whether hair loss began gradually or suddenly

    • How long it has been present

    • Whether hair loss is increasing

    • Whether hair is being lost over the entire head or in one specific area

    They note other symptoms such as itching and scaling. They ask about hair care, including whether braids, rollers, and hair dryers are used and whether the hair is routinely pulled or twisted.

    Doctors ask whether the person has been recently exposed to drugs, toxins, or radiation or has experienced significant stress . The person is asked about other characteristics that may suggest a cause, including dramatic weight loss, dietary practices , and obsessive-compulsive behavior Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by obsessions, compulsions, or both. Obsessions are recurring, persistent, unwanted, anxiety-provoking, intrusive ideas, images, or urges. Compulsions… read more . Current and recent drug use is reviewed. The person is asked whether any family member has had hair loss.

    You Have Female Or Malepattern Baldness

    Top Medical Causes of Hair Loss (What Doctors Check For!)

    You might already know about malepattern baldness, a type of hair loss caused by a combo of genes and male sex hormones that usually makes the hair on a man’s head recede at the temples, leaving an Mshaped hairline.

    But hormone-related hairloss for femalesor femalepattern baldnessis also a thing, according to the US National Institute of Health. This type of hair loss occurs when the hair follicle shrinks so much over time that it doesn’t grow new hair. In women, the symptoms of femalepattern baldness includes a widening of the center hair part, and, sometimes, coarser hair on the face.

    The only FDAapproved treatment for female and malepattern hair is minoxidil , but if that doesn’t work, your doctor may prescribe oral medications such as finasteride that can halt hair loss or even cause some to grow surgery to transplant or graft hair is also an option.

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    What Are The Reasons For Hair Fall

    • Family history is the most common cause of hair loss.
    • Hormonal changes and medical conditions are major hair fall reasons.
    • Radiation therapy can be a hair loss cause.
    • A stressful event can also act as one of the reasons for hair fall.
    • Hairstyles and treatments areamong the most common hair fall reasons.

    What Is Alopecia Areata

    Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks its own hair follicles. Most patients, however, do not have systemic problems and need no medical tests. While people frequently blame alopecia areata on “stress,” in fact, it may be the other way around that is, having alopecia may cause stress.

    • A common skin condition, alopecia areata usually starts as a single quarter-sized circle of perfectly smooth bald skin.
    • These patches usually regrow in three to six months without treatment.
    • Sometimes, white hair temporarily regrows and then becomes dark. The most extensive form is alopecia totalis, in which the entire scalp goes bald. It’s important to emphasize that patients who have localized hair loss generally don’t go on to lose hair all over the scalp.
    • Alopecia areata can affect hair on other parts of the body, too .

    Alopecia areata treatment

    • Treatments for alopecia areata include injecting small amounts of steroids like triamcinolone into affected patches to stimulate hair growth.
    • Although localized injections may not be practical for large areas, often this is a very effective treatment in helping the hairs return sooner.
  • Other treatments, such as oral steroids, other immunosuppressives, or ultraviolet light therapy, are available for more widespread or severe cases but may be impractical for most patients because of potential side effects or risks.
  • In most mild cases, patients can easily cover up or comb over the affected areas.
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    Different Types Of Alopecia

    Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss, and there are two main types: alopecia areata and androgenic alopecia. Alopecia may cause hair loss only on the scalp or all over the body. It may result in thinning hair, patches of hair loss, some balding, or total baldness, and it may be permanent or temporary. There are numerous causes, including genetics. Talk to your doctor about possible treatments.

    Skin Conditions Of The Scalp

    Causes of Hair Loss in Women and Potential Treatments

    An unhealthy scalp can cause inflammation that makes it difficult for hair to grow. Skin conditions that lead to hair loss include seborrheic dermatitis , psoriasis, and fungal infections such as ringworm.

    The symptoms: Seborrheic dermatitis causes the scalp to shed its skin, so youll notice greasy, yellowish scales on your shoulders or in your hair. It may be the result of yeast called Malassezia, hormonal changes, or excess oil in the skin. Psoriasis, an autoimmune condition that causes excessive skin cell turnover, produces a very thick white scale on the scalp that can bleed if pulled off. With ringworm, a fungus you contract by touching an infected person or animal, youll notice red patches on your scalp, which may be diffuse, Jakubowicz says.

    The tests: A physical exam of the scalp will help determine which condition you have. A fungal culture and possibly a biopsy of the scalp may pinpoint ringworm.

    What you can do: Each condition usually requires a prescription: a medicated shampoo for seborrheic dermatitis, medications or light therapy for psoriasis, and oral antifungals for ringworm.

    Alopecia Areata

    Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks hair follicles. It affects about 4.7 million people in the United States and occurs equally in men and women. The cause is unknown, but it may be triggered by stress or illness.

    ***More from Prevention:

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    How Does Scalp Condition Affect Hair Growth

    For hair to grow healthily and with secure rooting, it must come from a scalp that is free from debris. Poor scalp condition can often result in an increase in hair loss and hair thinning. Afterall, the scalp is an extension of the facial skin and requires the same level of care and attention.

    A suitable scalp care regime that consists of cleansing, nourishment and protection can help guard against the most common factors for a disrupted scalp environment.

    Unless you have an existing medical condition, many of the lifestyle measures that keep the rest of your body healthy will also keep your scalp in good condition:

    • Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated
    • Eat a balanced diet, and make sure you consume foods containing nutrients that keep hair healthy: iron, protein and vitamins are also important for scalp health
    • Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle with weekly exercise
    • Wash your hair regularly but not too often as mentioned above
    • Avoid using harsh chemical treatments on your hair or scalp too often, particularly if your skin is sensitive
    • Treat dandruff and other conditions promptly to return your scalp back to normal as soon as possible

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