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.
What Is Male Pattern Baldness
Androgenetic alopecia, or male pattern hair loss, is the most common type of hair loss. It is hereditary and can begin anytime after puberty.
The prevalence of male pattern hair loss increases with age, so while its possible to begin seeing hair thinning in your 20s or 30s, the likelihood youll experience it goes up with each .
In men, androgenic alopecia follows a predictable pattern, hence the name male pattern hair loss. It generally begins as thinning around the temples, spreading backwards across the head, and thinning at the crown, spreading outwards in a circle.
Diagnosing androgenetic alopecia is generally a matter of examining the scalp for that predictable pattern, noting it has a gradual onset, and asking about your family history of hair loss.
Stress Has Taken Over Your Life
Stress is the culprit behind many physical issues, including those making their presence known in our skin, scalp and hair. If youve seen an uptake in your stress levels and suddenly, your scalp and/or skin is seriously itchy or irritated along with increased hair issues, theres likely a connection.
Stress frequently results in sleep issues, which then leads to imbalances in our levels of cortisol. This can act as a catalyst for scalp sensitivity or irritation by reducing blood flow within the skin, cutting off the number of nutrients required for healthy hair follicles. You may want to add scalp wellness products like GRO Scalp Detoxifying Serum.
Regular exfoliation of the scalp can help eliminate pore-clogging buildup that can impact the hair follicles and hair growth. Try a scalp massager to work in the serum while it simultaneously promotes improved circulation and blood flow. In some cases of severe hair shedding, you may want to head to your dermatologist for a hair pull test to determine what exactly the root causes are of your hair loss.
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Why You Need A Dermatologist For Hair Loss Not A Trichologist
11 Mar 2020
If you are looking for the right person to treat your hair loss its important to know the facts so that you get the very best treatment available. Hair loss can be caused by a whole range of conditions, such as alopecia areata, many different autoimmune diseases, anaemia, thyroid disorders, traction, and baldness. While it can potentially be caused by one of these disorders, female hair loss can also occur as a result of polycystic ovary syndrome after pregnancy and during menopause.
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.
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Causes Of Temporary Hair Loss
You can avoid hair loss and promote regrowth when hair loss is temporarily caused by:
Tight hairstyles. Tight ponytails, braids and cornrows can all cause hair loss and damage the follicles, which regulate hair growth. Changing hairstyles can help prevent thinning. But beware: When the follicles sustain too much damage, hair loss can be permanent.
Extreme physical shock/stress. Dramatic changes in the body can cause temporary hair loss. Giving birth, rapid weight loss, surgery and certain illnesses may cause more hair loss than usual, typically in the resting phase. But hair should grow back over time.
Medical therapies and toxic substances. Chemotherapy, certain other drugs and radiation treatments can prompt hair loss, mainly in the growth phase. Hair loss can strike suddenly, anywhere in the body. It is typically temporary .
Nutritional deficiencies. Not getting enough iron, protein or vitamin B12 in your diet can also cause your hair to thin. If this happens to you, talk to your doctor about supplements.
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?
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Can A Dermatologist Help With Hair Loss
Can a dermatologist help with hair loss? Its a common question we get from potential patients and followers on social media. Patients consider dermatologists for issues concerning the skin like acne, dermatitis, and skin cancers. However, your dermatologist can tackle all the problems concerning hair and nails.
When it comes to issues of the hair, none are more common and concerning as hair loss. Over 55 million Americans suffer from some degree of hair loss.
Many ignore the issue or are unaware of the excessive shedding. Others let it run its course and shave it all off or decide to cover it up with hairstyles, wigs, or hats. But for some, the issue could be distressing, emotionally devastating, and can even affect their daily lives. At this point, treating your hair loss goes beyond buying shampoo or an over-the-counter treatment. Youll need to visit your dermatologist to find out the root cause so that you can take a holistic approach to grow back those whiskers, pronto.
Tests For Cause Of Hair Loss
Firstly, I need to work out why you are losing hair and after examining your scalp will usually ask for
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The Benefits Of Seeing A Hair Loss Doctor
With hair loss drugs like finasteride and minoxidil available over the counter, there are still plenty of reasons to see a hair loss doctor if youve noticed the initial signs of male pattern baldness.
Hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons. If you work long hours in a stressful environment, it could be the result of lifestyle stress. If youve just dealt with a serious injury or stressful event, theres a risk that your hair loss could be telogen effluvium caused by shock or frustration.
There are also other reasons for hair loss. For example, a diet thats lacking in vitamins and minerals can lead to weak, thinning hair. Some men also experience hair loss as a result of skin conditions, certain medicines and lack of sleep.
It can also be hereditary.
Hair loss doctors specialize in identifying the root cause of hair loss and can quickly and easily tell you why your hair loss is occurring and what you can do about it.
They can also inform you about the effects you can expect from hair loss medications and other treatments, as well as the potential side effects.
If your hair loss isnt genetic, a hair loss doctor can help you find out the root cause using one of several different tests:
Seeing a hair loss doctor isnt essential. However, if youve noticed some or all of the common signs of hair loss and want an experts opinion backed up by real medical data, your best bet is always to talk to an expert.
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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Trust Your Dermatologist With Your Hair Loss Concerns
So can a dermatologist help with hair loss? The answer is a resounding yes. With a range of medical and in-office procedures available, your dermatologist will be able to improve your hair. The first step is to visit your dermatologist to comprehensively review your hair and any skin concerns.
At Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics, we pride ourselves in truly understanding the struggles of your hair.
Our board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Rodney, has extensive knowledge of the reasons behind hair loss. From there, her deep understanding will translate to an effective, long-term method to bringing your hair loss under control.
To start your hair-growth journey, schedule a consultation with Eternal Dermatology. Were conveniently located in Fulton, MD, and serve patients in Columbia, Silver Springs, Howard County, Baltimore, Washington DC and surrounding areas.
There are a few ways you can connect with us:
- Book an appointment directly on our website.
- You can also request a consultation by clicking the link at the bottom of our homepage.
- Call or email us via our Contact Page.
With your dermatologists help, hair loss does not need to be an inevitable part of life.
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.
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What Kind Of Doctor To See For Hair Loss And What To Expect During The Visit
Read on to learn which doctors you can speak with to figure out a plan for your hair loss goals, as well as what to expect during a visit.
If you are experiencing hair loss, thinning, or just changes in your hair, there are doctors for that.
Seeing a doctor to maintain the health of your hair, and keep it fuller for longer is just as important as seeing a doctor for any other bothersome medical condition, and should not be avoided.
Read on to learn which doctors you can speak with to figure out a plan for your hair loss goals, as well as what to expect during a visit.
What Can A Dermatologist Do About Hair Loss
When it comes to hair loss, it is quite likely that a trichologist will have seen to a wide range of conditions of hair loss. For this reason, will have more experience.
However, a dermatologist specializes primarly in skin. It is not likely for a dermatologist to have the same kind of experience as a trichologist in diagnosing and treating hair loss conditions.
A trichologist is more familiar with patients suffering from hair loss since they come across them more regularly. If a dermatologist has previous knowledge, they will be able to diagnose certain conditions, for example, androgen dependent alopecia, however, are unlikely to successfully treat the condition of hair loss.
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Thinning Hair And Hair Loss: Could It Be Female Pattern Hair Loss
For most women, FPHL begins in midlife, when a woman is in her 40s, 50s, or 60s. It can begin earlier for some women.
FPHL is a progressive condition. This means women tend to continue losing hair. But women do not lose all of their hair, as do some men. Instead, your part often gets wider. Hair near your temples may recede. Without treatment, some women eventually develop widespread thinning.
Treatment can prevent hair loss from worsening and help women regrow their hair. Treatment delivers the best results when started at the first sign of hair loss.
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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