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Who Should I Talk To About Hair Loss

You Have A Visible Receding Hairline

WHY I CUT MY HAIR SHORT…Let’s Talk About Hair Loss

Male pattern baldness often begins at your hairline, with the hair around your temples starting to thin and your hairline beginning to recede.

Experts assess the severity of hair loss using the Norwood scale a seven-type scale that goes from a full hairline to severe, horseshoe pattern hair loss. In the first few stages, the hair on your scalp might still be thick, but your hairline may show visible signs of recession.

If youve started to notice your hairline becoming thinner, higher and more M-shaped, its best to make an appointment with a doctor that specializes in hair loss.

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.

How Is Hair Loss In Women Treated What Medicines Or Supplements May Help

Treatment depends on the cause of your hair loss.

  • In cases where the loss is due to stress or hormone changes like pregnancy, there might be no treatment needed. The hair loss will stop after a period of time.
  • In cases of hair loss being due to hair styling practices, like tight braids or ponytails or certain chemicals, treatment means not doing the things that caused the damage.
  • In cases due to nutritional deficiencies, you might be told to take supplements. For instance, you might be told to take a multivitamin and three to five milligrams of biotin daily.
  • Minoxidil is approved for treating FPHL. The 2% or 5% solution can be purchased in stores. However, you have to follow directions exactly and use the product indefinitely. Dont use this product if youre pregnant, if you plan to get pregnant, or if youre breastfeeding.
  • The HairMax Lasercomb® low light laser is approved by the US FDA to treat FPHL. Another FDA-approved laser product is the Theradome LH80 PRO® helmet and low light laser helmets and caps.

Other medications that have been studied, but not approved, for hair loss in women include:

  • Spironolactone and other anti-androgens.
  • Other light treatments.

It is important to note that premenopausal women should not take medications for hair loss treatment without using contraception. Many drugs, including minoxidil and finasteride, are not safe for pregnant women or women who want to get pregnant.

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Other Hair Loss Treatments

  • Steroid injection – injections given into bald patches
  • Steroid creams – cream applied to bald patches
  • Immunotherapy – chemical applied to bald patches
  • Light treatment – shining ultraviolet light on bald patches
  • Tattooing – tattoo used to look like short hair and eyebrows
  • Hair transplant – hair cells are moved to thinning patches
  • Scalp reduction surgery – sections of scalp with hair are stretched and stitched together
  • Artificial hair transplant – surgery to implant artificial hairs

What Is Female Pattern Baldness

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Female pattern baldness also called androgenetic alopecia, is hair loss that specifically affects women. Its similar to male pattern baldness, except that women can lose their hair in a different pattern than men.

If youre experiencing female pattern baldness, youre not alone. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology , this condition affects roughly 33 percent of all women who are at higher risk for the condition.

Hair loss in women is a normal process, especially as you age, with most women experiencing hair loss after menopause. More than half of women ages 65 and older will experience some degree of hair loss.

In female pattern baldness, the hairs growth phase slows down. It also takes longer for new hair to begin growing. Hair follicles shrink, leading the hair that does grow to be thinner and finer. This can result in hair that easily breaks.

Female pattern baldness is hereditary. Its also more common after menopause, so hormones are likely responsible. If you notice that youre losing hair, its important to talk with your doctor or a dermatologist. They will be able to determine if youre experiencing female pattern baldness or a different type of hair loss caused by other factors.

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Why Am I Losing My Hair

There are several factors that may cause you to lose your hair. Women, most commonly, begin losing hair as a part of the normal aging process, but for others, it can be caused by hormone changes, medications taken for other purposes or severe, extreme stress.

If youre experiencing hair loss, talk to your primary care provider. Be sure to talk to your doctor about any extreme stress youre experiencing, such as death of a loved one, and medications youre taking.

The Benefits Of Seeing A Hair Loss Doctor

With hair loss drugs like minoxidil available over the counter, seeing a doctor for your hair loss might seem like an unnecessary step. However, there are still plenty of reasons to meet with a hair loss doctor if youre starting to experience the early signs of male pattern baldness.

One of the first reasons to see a hair loss doctor is that they can help you to identify the specific type of hair loss you have.

As we covered above, hair loss can occur for several different reasons. If you work long hours in a stressful environment, it could be telogen effluvium hair loss that occurs as a result of chronic, severe stress.

If youve recently dealt with a serious injury or illness that causes fever, its possible that it could also be telogen effluvium.

There are also other reasons for hair loss. For example, a diet that contains little or no essential 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.

Hair loss can also be hereditary. For example, male pattern baldness often occurs in people with a family history of hair loss.

Since hair loss doctors specialize in identifying the primary causes of hair loss, they can quickly and easily inform you about why your hair loss is occurring, as well as what you can do to treat it effectively.

If your hair loss isnt genetic, a hair loss doctor can help you find out the root cause using one of several different tests:

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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 You Should Be Worried About Your Hair Loss According To Trichologists

Rogaine for Hair Loss? A Dermatologist’s Thoughts | Dr. Jenny Liu

Maybe youre noticing more hairs in your brush or more strands shedding while you shower. Clogged drains aside, this can be cause for concern for many. Hair shedding losing roughly 100 strands a day is completely normal and occurs as part of the natural hair growth cycle, according to Dominic Burg, a hair and scalp specialist called a trichologist whos the chief scientist at Evolis Professional.

If youre having trouble deciding whats normal and what may be a concern, keep reading.

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Reducing The Stress Of Hiding It

Thinning or balding may feel like a source of shame or embarrassment to women and frequently there is a fear that this shame or embarrassment will increase by talking about it and bringing the hair loss into the open. On the contrary, many women often find that their friends and family have noticed the change in their hair far less than the individual herself has and that the daily stress of trying to hide thinning or bald areas is greatly relieved by sharing with trusted companions.

The Hair Loss Forum Facebook Group

Our Hair Loss Forum Facebook group has thousands of members who all contribute to questions and answers about natural ways to regrow hair.

If youre interested in forum style help, discussion, community and support, but dont want to go through the hassle of signing up and getting approved by old-school forum then simply join our Facebook group called The Hair Loss Forum Facebook Group

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Dont Force People Experiencing Hair Loss To Act Bright And Sunny

When someone is suffering from hair loss for the first time, dont expect them to act cheerful.

Going through hair loss is hard, and while a can-do attitude is helpful, you cant expect someone to have that attitude right away.

Thats why saying things like It will grow back soon can make people feel like youre disregarding their feelings and emotions.

It took a lot of courage for your friend to come and talk to you about losing her hair and shes coming to you for support, not to tell her how to feel.

There will be plenty of time to talk about wigs, offer positive affirmations, or look into medical solutions later. The first and most important thing is that you help your friend emotionally grapple with her hair loss however she chooses.

Physical Trauma: A Shock To Hair Follicles

Glass speaks to Dr Greg Williams  hair loss and hair transplant ...

When your body is under serious physical stress, the natural cycle of hair growth and resting can be disrupted, resulting in hair loss, often in the form of thinning hair strands may come out in clumps. Any shock to the system, such as being in a severe accident, undergoing surgery, experiencing burns, or becoming very ill, can also shock the hair follicles, resulting in up to 75 percent of your hair falling out, sometimes months after the fact.

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Hair Loss In Black Women: Tips From An Expert

Almost half of black women experience some form of hair loss. However, few doctors are familiar with black hairstyling practices, leaving many women to sort through unhelpful or even harmful advice on their own.

Dermatologist Crystal Aguh, one of just a small group of dermatologists across the country specializing in hair loss, offers these tips to help women protect their hair and recognize common warning signs of hair loss.

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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.

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How Do I Know If I Have Hair Loss

Signs of hair loss can greatly vary from person to person, but you may notice more hair collecting in your hairbrush or in the shower drain, or thinning hair on your scalp. A dermatologist can help you understand if you have hair loss, excessive hair shedding, or both, along with identifying the underlying causes.

A Note From Paloma Health

Women Talk About Losing Their Hair

A common symptom of hypothyroidism is hair loss on both the head and eyebrows. If your client is worried about hair loss, consider encouraging them to take an at-home thyroid blood test to understand their thyroid function.

Many labs only look at thyroid-stimulating hormone . Still, it’s critical also to measure free triiodothyronine , free thyroxine , and TPO antibodies. These four markers help to understand the big picture and where specifically to make improvements.

Should the results indicate an underactive thyroid, thyroid hormone medication is usually the first step in minimizing symptoms like hair loss.

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Are There Other Treatment Options For Fphl

Women want innovative treatments for FPHL. To meet this need, researchers continue to look for new ways to stimulate hair growth and stop hair breakage. Other treatments that you may find for FPHL include the following.

Lasers for at-home use: The FDA has approved laser combs, helmets, and other devices, which are available without a prescription, to treat hair loss at home. These devices emit a low level of laser light that may help stimulate new hair growth. A few studies show that this can be effective for treating FPHL.

As with minoxidil and prescription medicines, you must continue using an at-home laser device to see results. We still do not know whether these devices are safe for long-term use or if they can continue to produce new hair growth.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy:

It is believed the platelets help stimulate your cells to grow hair.

Researchers are just beginning to study this therapy as a treatment for hair loss. The early findings show promise, but more studies are needed to know whether this is a safe and effective treatment for FPHL.

Stem cells: Using stem cells to treat FPHL is still in the experimental stages. Like platelet-rich plasma therapy, more studies are needed to know whether stem cells are a safe and effective treatment for FPHL.

Hair loss shampoos: These shampoos tend to do one of the following.

  • Help your hair hold moisture, which makes hair look fuller and thicker

  • Lessen breakage, which can reduce thinning

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 .

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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.

Hair Loss Due To Medications

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Hair loss is a side effect of a number of medications taken for common health problems. Blood-thinning medications, oral contraceptives, drugs for depression, NSAIDs, and beta and calcium channel blockers can all lead to thinning hair or baldness. Too much vitamin A and vitamin A-based drugs called retinoids can cause hair loss as well. Some chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer are known to cause total hair loss as they work to destroy cancer cells. Just as hair usually grows back after chemo, it should also grow back once you stop taking any medication that causes hair loss.

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