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.
What Should You Watch Out
Check they are insured, as with all public companies, your safety is important and safety guidelines should be clearly displayed in the office.
If you decide to have a treatment or take any form of product or oral supplement, ask for the information sheet and be wary of any side effects they may have.
The consultation should be paid and not free. Most institutions will require that we charge for consultations, at first glance this may seem strange or completely financially focussed however it promotes honesty and transparency.
When free consultations are used, you can expect to pay dearly for any subsequent visits or be tied into a long lasting contract for multiple treatments. By paying upfront and for individual sessions, the patient is always in control and aware of the cost.
A good trichologist will do their best to give you a clear diagnosis and timeline of your condition, explaining the cause, prognosis and treatment if available.
If this is not possible, they will recommend you to other professionals who can help, but will not continue treating you just for the sake of it without any clear benefits.
It is common practise to work with doctors and dermatologists as mentioned above. But also some will have an array of surgeons and wig makers on a paid referral basis. Full disclosure should be given and there is no obligation on the patients end to use any of these services.
What Are The Symptoms Of Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata mostly affects hair, but in sometimes it can cause changes to the nails. People with the disease are usually healthy and have no other symptoms.
Hair Changes
Alopecia areata typically begins with sudden loss of round or oval patches of hair on the scalp, but any part of the body may be affected, such as the beard area in men, or the eyebrows or eyelashes.
After a bare patch develops, several possible things may happen:
- The hair grows back within a few months. It may look white or gray at first but may regain its natural color over time.
- More bare patches develop. Sometimes hair grows back in the first patch while new bare patches form.
- Small patches join to form larger ones.
- In rare cases, all body hair is lost.
In most cases, the hair regrows, but more hair loss may follow.
Nail Changes
Nail changes such as ridges and pits occur in some people, especially those who have hair loss over more parts of their body.
Read Also: How To Tell If Hair Is Thinning
Hair Shedding Often Stops On Its Own
Its normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. When the body sheds significantly more hairs every day, a person has excessive hair shedding. The medical term for this condition is telogen effluvium.
Excessive hair shedding is common in people who have experienced one the following stressors:
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Lost 20 pounds or more
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Given birth
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Experiencing lots of stress
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Had high fever
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Recovering from an illness, especially if it included high fever
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Stopped taking birth-control pills
Most people notice the excessive hair shedding a few months after the stressful event. For example, a new mom can see excessive hair shedding about two months after giving birth. The shedding usually peaks about four months after giving birth. This shedding is normal and temporary.
As your body readjusts, the excessive shedding stops. Within six to nine months, the hair tends to regains its normal fullness.
If the stressor stays with you, however, hair shedding can be long lived. People who are constantly under a lot of stress can have long-term excessive hair shedding.
Treatment For Hair Loss
Most hair loss does not need treatment and is either:
- temporary and it’ll 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. But most treatments are not available on the NHS, so you’ll have to pay for them.
No treatment is 100% effective.
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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.
Reasons To See A Trichologist
Trichologists treat a wide range of hair and scalp conditions:
Male and Female Hair Loss
Pattern baldness is a common form of hair loss, or alopecia, in men and women. For men, hair is lost in a well-defined pattern, starting above both temples, eventually receding to form a characteristic âMâ shape. Women are more likely to experience overall hair thinning without a receding hairline.
In addition to the emotional aspects of hair loss, pattern baldness in men has been associated with several serious medical conditions, including coronary heart disease, enlargement of the prostate, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Hair loss in women is associated with an elevated risk of polycystic ovary syndrome , a hormonal imbalance that can cause irregular menstruation, acne, and weight gain.
Hair Shedding
Hair shedding, or telogen effluvium, occurs when large sections of hair fall detach from the scalp. This can be caused by several conditions, including stress, surgery, high fevers, blood loss, hormonal change, and childbirth. Hair shedding is a common side effect of some chemotherapy drugs.
If youâre experiencing hair shedding, a trichologist might be a good place to start. They should be able to direct you to a physician who can help you with underlying conditions.
Scarring Alopecia
Scarring alopecia is caused by inflammatory disorders, chemicals like hair relaxers, and several fungal conditions.
Excessive Hair Growth in Women
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Can Hair Loss In Women Be Treated
The popular medication minoxidil 5% is the only topical medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for female-pattern hair loss. It can work for women as well as men, though it can sometimes cause the growth of facial hair. Although minoxidil is available without a prescription, seeking the advice of a dermatologist is still generally advised before starting.
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When Should Someone Seek Medical Care For Hair Loss
- If you have hair loss, you may want to see a doctor to evaluate if there are any medical reasons for the hair loss and to evaluate if any therapies are available for you.
- See your doctor if you are losing large amounts of hair every day and if you are not feeling well at the same time you are losing hair.
- Most often hair loss occurs without other signs of illness.
- If the following symptoms occur at the same time as hair loss, you may have a serious medical condition and you should see a doctor right away.
- Confusion
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Tests For Hair Loss In Women
- Hormone levels
- Serum iron, serum ferritin, and total iron binding capacity
- Thyroid levels
- VDRL
- Complete blood count
- Scalp biopsy — A small section of scalp, usually 4 mm in diameter, is removed and examined under a microscope to help determine the cause of hair loss.
- Hair pull — A doctor lightly pulls a small amount of hair to determine if there is excessive loss. If more that 3 hairs come out, then the patient is likely suffering from excess hair loss. Normal range is one to three hairs per pull.
- Densitometry — The densitometer is a handheld magnification device used to check for miniaturization of the hair shaft.
A Study Of Ethnicity And Hair Loss: The Inuit People
The Inuit face usually has a very flat, broad and steep forehead, like those shown in the photos above. These are all skull shape characteristics* typical of someone whomaintains a strong hairline at the front
*Read my receding hairline article to learn about these skull shape characteristics.
Furthermore, a very broadforehead will often oppose bone growth and hair loss throughout the vertex too.
The Inuit people live in small populations and isolatedcommunities. This will restrict genetic diversity in offspring. Therefore, it follows that similar physical characteristics will be common.And the typical Inuit skull shape is one such genetic trait which willbe passed on from one generation to the next.
It should also be noted that the facial features of both the Inuitpeople and Native American Indians share similarities with the Chinese. And hair loss incidence in most Asian populations is similarly lower than in Caucasians .
So there’s no doubt in my mind that these ethnic groupssupport my belief that the genetic characteristic of skull shape isintrinsic to the development of this type of hair loss.
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Questions To Ask Your Dermatologist About Your Hair Loss
Hair loss is a frustrating and distressing thing to experience for men and women alike. Fortunately, your dermatologist can help you find out what is causing your hair loss and how to manage it. During your appointment, prepare a list of questions to ask your dermatologist, so you dont forget anything during your visit. These questions can help you get information that will help you make informed decisions about your hair loss treatment.
What do you think is causing my hair loss?
This question is the one you probably are the most anxious to get an answer to. There are a number of different things that can cause hair to fall out, from stress to hormonal imbalances. To decide what is behind your hair loss, your dermatologist will ask you a series of questions. Your answers will give him or her clues about what is happening to your hair. Some of the questions your dermatologist may ask include:
- When did you start losing your hair?
- Do you find hair on your pillow or in the shower drain?
- Do you think the condition of your hair has changed since you started losing it?
- Do you feel like your hair loss is worse at some times than it is at others?
- What medications are you on?
Will my hair grow back?
How will you treat my hair loss?
Hair loss doesnt have to hold you back. Make an appointment at Arlington Dermatology to find out how our dermatologists can help you find a solution. To see a dermatologist in Arlington Heights, please dial .
How Common Is Hair Loss In Women
Many people think that hair loss only affects men. However, it is estimated that more than 50% of women will experience noticeable hair loss. The most significant cause of hair loss in women is female-pattern hair loss , which affects about one-third of susceptible women, which equals out to some 30 million women in the United States.
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How Is Hair Loss Treated
Talking about hair loss, there are some lifestyle changes that you can make in order to improve your hair loss. As for your dermatologist, he/she can prescribe drugs or recommend some over-the-counter drugs to help treat your case of hair loss. Scalp injections might be required as well. Scalp injections are one of the most commonly used treatments that dermatologists prescribe for hair loss. You and your doctor can also discuss the possibility of hair transplant if there is a severe hair loss going on.
Remember It all comes back to the reason that has been causing you to lose hair rapidly. If it is stress that has been causing your hair loss, managing your stress levels will do some good. If it is a thyroid issue, treating it usually results with an improvement in your hair loss. As soon as that reason is discovered, you can proceed to exercise, improve your diet, and use all of the tips and treatments that your dermatologist has recommended.
How Seeing A Hair Loss Doctor Can Help You
The sooner the topic of your hair loss is discussed with a doctor and a treatment is started, the better chance you have at maintaining a thicker head of hair long term. Time wasted ignoring your hair issues, or trying out questionable over the counter or gimmicky hair loss treatments likely wonât get you far. A hair loss doctor can perform tests and observe your hair to help you figure out if your hair loss is genetic , nutritional, stress or illness related, or due to a scalp or skin condition. And, ultimately, prescription hair loss treatments can only be obtained through a prescription from a doctor.
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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.