Is It Possible For Thin Hair To Grow Back Thick
Hair follicles must be able to produce new hair in any case. If this is the case, regular hair growth and thickness may be possible to restore. Again, getting thicker, fuller hair is achievable, but it is dependent on the individuals hair follicles, genetics, and overall health all of which differ from person to person.
Which Doctor Should I See For My Hair Loss
Hair loss is a condition that affects a vast majority of the population. If you are a hair loss victim, there are treatment options available you dont need to be a silent sufferer. Deciding to act is the first step in the treatment process. If you are ready to do something that will stop or reverse the hair loss process, youll need the help of a professional. But who should you turn to? Your general physician? A dermatologist? An endocrinologist?
The answer is
Yes. You should schedule appointments with all three types of doctors.
There are lots of unanswered questions about hair loss. Finding the cause of your hair loss might take a lot of work. Getting advice from multiple sources is the best way to receive the most accurate diagnosis. Any doctor who has an interest in hair loss and has the knowledge to back up his or her claim can help. Find a doctor who wont dismiss your problem as unimportant or say its no big deal. It is a big deal!
How do you know if a doctor can help with your problem?
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Ask some questions. Try calling and talking to the prospective doctor on the phone. If you cant speak to the actual doctor, chat with the receptionist. Ask if this particular doctor treats a lot of hair loss cases. Does he or she perform blood work? What type of treatment does the doctor usually prescribe?
What is the difference between an endocrinologist and a dermatologist?
Thinning Hair Dont Panic Girl Your Dermatologist Is Here
Are you or someone you know suffering from hair loss? Youre not alone. According toHarvard University, about one-third of women experience hair loss at some time in their lives and among postmenopausal women, as many as two-thirds suffer hair thinning or bald spots.
As dermatologists, twin brothers Dr. Kevin DeHart and Dr. Kelly DeHart have seen it all when it comes to hair loss. Typically, women wait longer than men to come in about their hair struggles. However, the sooner you see a dermatologist, the sooner you can begin the hair regrowth process.
Timeliness is a factor when it comes to hair loss, said Dr. Kelly DeHart. If you leave hair loss untreated for years, you may not see as much regrowth as you do when you see a dermatologist within a few months of noticing symptoms and beginning treatment.
When it comes to hair loss, treatment is indefinite. While there isnt a cure, there are some great treatment options that can make a big difference when it comes to hair regrowth.
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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.
Treatment For Other Causes Of Hair Loss
If a disease, medicine, or stress is the cause of hair loss, then treating the disease, changing medicines, or managing stress may stop the hair loss. And your hair is likely to grow back. For example, if an underactive thyroid is causing the problem, taking thyroid medicine may help. And most hair lost during chemotherapy will grow back after the treatment ends.
If alopecia areata is the cause of hair loss, medicines such as corticosteroids can be used to treat it. But because hair often grows back within a year, you may decide not to have treatment. Understanding the come-and-go nature of hair loss with this condition can help you make the best treatment decision. Children and teens may need counseling to help them adjust to the hair loss.
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What Is A Dermatologist
A dermatologist is a doctor who specializes in conditions that affect the skin, hair, and nails. These medical experts are able to identify and treat the many thousands of conditions affecting these parts of the body, but the most common conditions they treat include eczema, psoriasis, and skin cancer. Because hair emerges from follicles in the skin, hair loss and hair conditions tend to fall under the expertise of these highly trained specialists.
How Do You Get Alopecia
Both men and women suffer from alopecia. The combination of aging, genetics or changing hormones causes most hair loss. However, if you suffer from alopecia areata, you have the type of hair loss caused by an attack in your immune system. Androgenetic alopecia is more commonly diagnosed and is simply hereditary thinning or baldness. Stress and trauma are lifestyle factors that also cause alopecia on occasion. Dr. Weisman and our qualified team at Medical Dermatology Specialists have the progressive research knowledge and experience you need to determine your alopecia type and put your mind at ease with quality solutions. We believe that skin problems are more than skin deep therefore we are committed to giving you long lasting solutions by effectively treating your dermatologic concerns at their source.
For your comprehensive alopecia consultation and treatment plan, contact our Atlanta Alopecia Treatment Professionals at Medical Dermatology Specialists today.
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Minoxidil For Men And Women
Minoxidil is a non-prescription topical hair loss treatment that begins to show noticeable results in 6 to 12 months.
Minoxidil promotes hair growth because it is a vasodilator that opens blood vessels and increases circulation to the treated area. This can increase and reactivate dormant hair follicles, causing them to develop. Minoxidil is also suggested to extend the hair follicle development phase. These effects, when combined, can result in thicker, fuller hair.
This may be a way to experience the best of both worlds for people who are more interested in a minoxidil treatment due to concerns about the rare side effects of oral finasteride. You may achieve better results if you apply minoxidil to your scalp twice a day and take a 1mg finasteride pill once a day but make sure to consult your dermatologist first.
Youre Entering The Late Stages Of Hair Loss
As hair loss becomes more severe, it also becomes more noticeable, especially as your hairline and scalp take on the signs of Norwood Type 3, 4 or 5 hair loss.
The more severe your male pattern baldness gets, the more challenging it becomes to treat, as fewer hair follicles are left to protect. Because of this, its always best to take action before your hair takes on the classic horseshoe or cul-de-sac pattern.
If youre starting to enter the late stages of hair loss but still want to keep your hair, its important to talk to a hair loss doctor as soon as you can.
Not only can they help you to prevent further hair loss, but they can also inform you about which treatment options can help you to regrow and restore hair.
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What Questions Might Your Healthcare Provider Ask To Diagnose And Categorize Your Hair Loss
Your healthcare provider might ask about your habits:
- What kinds of hair products do you use?
- What kinds of hair styles do you wear?
- What types of food do you eat ?
- Do you have a habit of pulling your hair out ?
They might ask about your history:
- Has anyone in your immediate family experienced hair loss?
- Is there anything stressful going on in your life?
- What medications and supplements do you take every day?
- Has hair loss ever happened to you before?
- What foods are in your diet?
And, they might ask about your observations:
- How long have you been losing hair?
- Have you been shedding more?
- Have you noticed hair loss in places other than your scalp, like your eyebrows? Leg and arm hair?
- Does anything worsen your hair loss?
- Does anything improve your hair loss?
- Have you noticed hair loss occasionally or has it been going on continuously?
- Have you noticed if your hair growth has changed?
- Has your hair been breaking more often?
When To Contact A Medical Professional
- Losing hair in an unusual pattern
- Losing hair rapidly or at an early age
- Pain or itching with the hair loss
- The skin on your scalp under the involved area is red, scaly, or otherwise abnormal
- Acne, facial hair, or an abnormal menstrual cycle
- You are a woman and have male pattern baldness
- Bald spots on your beard or eyebrows
- Weight gain or muscle weakness, intolerance to cold temperatures, or fatigue
- Areas of infection on your scalp
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When To Call A Doctor
- Your hair loss is sudden, rather than gradual.
- You notice hair shedding in large amounts after combing or brushing, or if your hair becomes thinner or falls out.
- You are concerned that a medicine may be causing your hair loss.
- Your skin is scaly or has a rash, or you have any change on your skin or scalp with hair loss.
- Your hair is gradually thinning and balding, and you want to discuss treatment options with your doctor.
What’s The Best Doctor To See For Hair Loss
If you’ve started to notice your hairline receding or the hair on the crown of your head slipping away, you may be experiencing male pattern hair loss.
It’s a genuine medical condition that affects millions of men globally, and this type of hair loss is actually the most common cause of hair loss among men. Nearly 80% of men will experience significant hair loss in their lifetime because of it.
For most men, the process of losing their hair will start sometimes in their 30s, but it can start later or much earlier depending on genetic traits. In fact, genetics and heredity are key factors in whether you’ll be affected by male pattern baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia.
While male pattern hair loss is a progressive condition that results in continual hair loss over time, there are hair loss treatments that can delay loss and even stimulate new growth. The first step to treatment may involve seeing a medical professional.
But which is the best medical professional for hair loss?
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How Will A Healthcare Provider Diagnose Hair Loss In Women What Tests Are Done
The tests performed to diagnose hair loss in women can be simple or complicated:
- Gently pulling on your hair to see how many hairs come out.
- Blood tests. These check for vitamin and mineral levels and hormone levels .
- Scalp examination under a microscope and trichoscopy.
- Scalp biopsy to remove and examine a very small piece of scalp skin.
Biotin Vitamins And Other Supplements
Biotin, also known as Vitamin B7 or Vitamin H, can help prevent hair loss by increasing keratin production in the hair. Keratin is one of the most important proteins for the structure of your hair, nails, and skin and thus helps stimulate follicle development.
It is found naturally in foods such as eggs, almonds, onions, and oats. If you dont get enough biotin, hair loss or skin conditions could occur, but a deficit is uncommon. In most cases, the biotin you get from food is adequate to experience the health benefits.
Sometimes, dermatologists also recommend supplements containing natural active ingredients. Among them is Sensoril Ashwagandha, a hair follicle stimulant that can also help with stress reduction and has anti-inflammatory properties. Another common ingredient is Tocotrienol complex, which helps to reduce the inflammation that causes hair thinning.
Sweat, debris, and styling products accumulate on your scalp every day, clogging your hair follicles. If not addressed, these frequent contaminants can harm or even destroy the follicles. Furthermore, if you have a scalp problem like dandruff or psoriasis, both of these conditions can cause or exacerbate hair loss.
These products and their ingredients are the holy grail of the hair loss treatment market, with years of research reinforcing their efficacy. Hair loss solutions also include various other active ingredients and products, like the ones you see in the chart further down.
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Lifestyle Changes Can Help
Sometimes certain life events, habits, and circumstances could be behind your hair loss. The goal would be to pinpoint these issues and find a way to resolve them. When this happens, there should be a natural response by the hair follicles. Some of these changes include:
- Review your hairstyles. Tight styles and products can cause traction alopecia or CCCA.
- Look at the products youre using in your hair, such as relaxers. These can cause long-term damage and slow down new growth.
- Stress can cause hair loss over time. Look for ways to reduce stress or remove stressful situations.
- Hair loss can be diet-related. Some diets lack the vitamins and minerals needed for consistent hair growth. Try to add iron and zinc to your diet. Generally, a complete diet with leafy greens, vegetables, and whole grains can improve overall health and support other hair loss treatments.
Your dermatologist can provide much-needed counseling in these areas, along with medication and in-office treatments.
Hair replacement surgery is a viable option to treat hair loss. It is often the last resort for patients with scarring alopecia, where there is severe, permanent damage to the follicles. However, those with pattern baldness can also benefit from surgery.
Causes And Symptoms Of Alopecia
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes you to lose hair and often leaves little bald spots on your head. Our hair is made up of mostly protein. When our body does not have enough protein, the hairs enter the resting phase. This causes us to lose hair and hair to become brittle and fall out. Alopecia is both hereditary and hormonal. It affects both males and females and can happen at any age. There are many causes related to alopecia. Causes include severe or chronic illness, thyroid disease, low-protein diets, low iron levels and improper hair care. It is also common after childbirth. If hair loss occurs, the hairs may enter a resting phase and are lost without immediate replacement. It could last up to nine months but should resolve itself without treatment. This also may be the case if you have a chronic illness.
Alopecia occurs when hair follicles are attacked by your own body, causing clumps of hair to fall out. While rare, there is a potential to lose all the hair on your head and/or on your entire body. Males are more likely to lose all their hair while women mostly experience thinning. Sometimes the hair grows back for good and other times it grows back and then falls out again shortly after. Unfortunately, alopecia is not curable, but can and should be treated by a dermatologist. During diagnosis, a skin biopsy may be performed and examined to properly diagnose the alopecia.
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