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Who To See For Hair Loss

What Does Inherited Hair Loss Look Like

Dermatologists see increased hair loss in recovered COVID-19 patients

Inherited hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss. It is inherited from either or both the mother and the father.

  • In men, hair loss occurs on the scalp above the forehead and on the top of the head. Bald spots are noticeable.
  • In women, hair loss occurs as thinning of the hair all over the scalp, but mostly on the top of the head. Women tend to keep their front hairline and do not generally develop bald spots.

Think About Your Diet

This is often neglected when it comes to hair. A healthy person grows 1.8 metres of new hair across the whole head per hour so its not hard to see that if the body is starved of nutrition this process will slow and affect the quality and quantity of hair. It is important to remember that as the hair cycle begins in the hair follicle, deep under the scalp, the best source of nutrients is always a healthy well balanced diet. Women are more susceptible to hair loss due to nutrition depletion. Hair growth slows, hair sheds, it is not as thick and strong, the colour and curl can change).

The good news is that this pattern of hair thinning can be corrected with appropriate diet or appropriate additional nutritional supplements. Nutrients can provide excellent qualities to hair which become apparent in approximately 6 months of persistent use.

People who have been crash dieting often notice changes in their hair because of the low calorie intake. Low carbohydrate or low fat / high fibre diets are examples where long-term changes in hair have been observed such as lower hair density and decreases in hair diameter however we should also consider that in these diets both macro and micronutrients are changed.

What Can I Do About Traction Alopecia

To protect your hair from traction alopecia and prevent further damage:

  • Ask your stylist to create looser braids or dreadlocks.
  • If you have braids, remove them after three months.
  • If you wear a weave or hair extensions, remove them after eight weeks.
  • If you have relaxed or dyed hair, make sure these treatments are applied by a professional. If you still notice breakage or hair shedding, avoid chemical treatments completely.
  • Minimize heat styling, including hair dryers, flat irons and curling irons. These wear out the hair and can lead to major hair loss.

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Create A Targeted Hair

While your hair follicles and growth cycles get back to normal, its important to up your hair wellness game and support your scalp from the inside and out.

Be gentle with hairstyles, heat tools, chemical treatments and products. Also, consider GRO Revitalizing Shampoo & Conditioner. These cruelty-free formulas will coat every strand of your hair in our vegan keratin protein b-SILK to give it softness, shine and a little extra volume. Additionally, phyto-actives and organic wild-harvested oils will support your scalps microbiome while protecting it from environmental stressors.

Another great addition to any hair-wellness routine is our bestselling GRO Hair Serum, which has been clinically proven in some subjects to reduce hair shedding by up to 76% and increase the appearance of hair density by up to 52% in four months.

What Is The Prognosis/outlook For Women With Hair Loss

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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.

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What Are The Common Causes Of Hair Loss In Women

What causes hair loss?

  • Hair style: Your style of hair can cause hair loss when your hair is arranged in ways that pull on your roots, like tight ponytails, braids, or corn rows. This type of hair loss is called traction alopecia. If hair follicles are damaged, the loss can be permanent.
  • Vitamin deficiency.
  • Over processed scalp hair .

What causes anagen effluvium hair loss?

  • Toxic substances, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and some medications. These cause sudden hair loss that can occur anywhere on your body. It happens to hair in the growth stage. Sometimes, this type of hair loss can be permanent if your hair follicles are damaged.

What causes telogen effluvium hair loss?

  • Extreme physical stress or shock to your body: This causes temporary hair loss. This category includes events like losing a lot of weight, surgery, anemia, illness and having a baby.
  • Extreme emotional stress: mental illness, the death of a loved one, etc.
  • An abnormal thyroid.
  • Medications and supplements: blood pressure medicines, gout medicines and high doses of Vitamin A.
  • Hormone changes caused by pregnancy, menopause or birth control pills.

What causes FPHL ?

  • Genes: Your familys genes can cause thinning of hair along the top of your head.
  • Aging: Hormone changes as you age can cause balding.
  • Menopause: This type of hair loss often gets worse when estrogen is lost during menopause.

There are also some conditions that affect hair loss:

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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.

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How Do Dermatologists Treat Hair Loss

Just as there are many causes, there are many treatments for hair loss. Dermatologists recommend treating hair loss early, before you lose a lot of hair. Hair loss is harder to treat when a person has already lost an extreme amount of hair.

One or more of the following treatments may be part of your treatment plan.

Does Graves Disease Cause Hair Loss

Which doctor should I see if Im losing my hair?

Graves disease is one of several autoimmune diseases that can impact hair follicles and growth cycles. It can develop in anyone at any age, though most often it occurs between ages 30 to 50 and is significantly more likely to affect women than men.

If you are managing Graves disease or other thyroid disorders, you might start to notice you’re losing hair and wonder if the condition is to blame. Read on to understand the Graves disease and hair loss connection and what you can do to combat thinning hair ASAP.

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When To See A Dermatologist For Hair Loss

Hair loss is a common reason for a visit to the dermatology office. Losing hair is a normal part of our biology. It is absolutely normal to lose anywhere between 50-150 hairs every single day. However, if your hair is falling out in clumps, if you notice circular areas of hair thinning or you are simply concerned about your hair shedding it is time to make an appointment with us.

We lose hair for many reasons. One of the most common reasons someone is after a major stressor or life event. This type of hair loss, called Telogen Effluvium, generally occurs 90 or so days after the event. A common scenario might be after having a baby, major surgery with general anesthesia, loss of a loved one or even an event such as an illness or change in jobs. This type of hair loss is characterized by overall thinning all over the scalp, without clumps of hair loss. Although this condition generally resolves on its own within a year, there are some strategies to help and your provider can walk you through all of the options.

How Is Alopecia Diagnosed

Talk to your doctor if youre worried about hair loss. Your doctor will usually be able to find the cause, but might refer you to a dermatologist, who will inspect the area. If they are unsure about whats causing the hair loss, they might take a sample of skin, hair or blood to examine more closely. Your doctor will want to rule out medical conditions that may lead to hair loss.

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Causes Of Permanent Hair Loss

Hormonal imbalances before, during and after menopause can lead to more permanent hair loss, Dr. Simpson says.

Female pattern baldness is largely genetic, affecting hair along the top of a womans head. This typically begins when estrogen levels drop.

A scalp injury that causes scarring can also cause permanent hair loss, she says.

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Causes Of Excessive Hair Loss

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Improper Hair Cosmetic Use/Improper Hair Care Many men and women use chemical treatments on their hair, including dyes, tints, bleaches, straighteners, and permanent waves. These treatments rarely damage hair if they are done correctly. However, the hair can become weak and break if any of these chemicals are used too often. Hair can also break if the solution is left on too long, if two procedures are done on the same day, or if bleach is applied to previously bleached hair. If hair becomes brittle from chemical treatments, its best to stop until the hair has grown out.

Hairstyles that pull on the hair, like ponytails and braids, should not be pulled tightly and should be alternated with looser hairstyles. The constant pull causes some hair loss, especially along the sides of the scalp.

Shampooing, combing and brushing too often, can also damage hair, causing it to break. Using a cream rinse or conditioner after shampooing will make it more manageable and easier to comb. When hair is wet, it is more fragile, so vigorous rubbing with a towel, and rough combing and brushing should be avoided. Dont follow the old rule of 100 brush strokes a day that damages hair. Instead, use wide toothed combs and brushes with smooth tips.

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How Can I Prevent Hair Loss

There are things you can do to prevent further hair loss. Dont wear tight hairstyles like braids, ponytails, or buns that put too much pressure on your hair. Over time, those styles permanently damage your hair follicles.

Try not to pull, twist, or rub your hair. Make sure youre eating a balanced diet that includes adequate amounts of iron and protein.

Certain beauty regimens can worsen or cause hair loss.

If youre currently losing hair, use a gentle baby shampoo to wash your hair. Unless you have extremely oily hair, consider washing your hair only every other day. Always pat the hair dry and avoid rubbing your hair.

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

  • blow dryers

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

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What Treatments Are Available

Once your dermatologist diagnoses your hair loss, they will determine whether treatment could be effective. Treatments can either help hair regrow more quickly or slow future hair loss. Keep in mind that age-related or genetic hair loss may not be reversible.

Patients who have a medical condition causing hair loss, like a thyroid issue or infection, will need to treat that condition before addressing the hair loss. In some cases, your dermatologist will refer you to a specialist for treatment. If you have a medical condition like alopecia areata, the dermatologist may prescribe medications or recommend an over-the-counter treatment.

In-office procedures can also be effective for some patients. These treatments can include corticosteroid injections, laser therapy, and platelet-rich plasma therapy. You may require repeated treatments before seeing improvement in hair growth.

Its also important to mention that your dermatologist may recommend lifestyle changes to prevent future hair loss. This may include changing your diet, as well as avoiding certain hairstyles and hair pieces.

Hair loss can be complicated, but the team at Pacific Dermatology Specialists can diagnose your condition and recommend treatment. Located in Long Beach, CA and a number of other convenient locations, our medical dermatology professionals are committed to helping you look and feel your best. Contact us today to get started.

How Can I Deal With Flares

Visiting a Dermatologist for Hair Loss – My Review!

Flares are the sudden and severe onset of symptoms. You might notice that certain triggers, such as stress or being out in the sun, cause your symptoms to flare. Knowing your triggers, following your treatment plan, and seeing your doctor regularly can help you to prevent flares or keep them from becoming severe. If you suspect a flare is coming, call your doctor. Dont try a cure you heard about from a friend or relative.

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Consider What Your General Health Is Like

Hair loss can sometimes be a sign of a problem with your general health. Hormone problems, anaemia, autoimmune conditions such as lupus can sometimes present as areas of hair loss or hair thinning. You may be experiencing hair loss on other parts of your body or skin rashes.

The first port of call should be the General Practitioner. Be aware that GPs receive less than a weeks training in skin problems before they qualify, and even less on hair so you may not always be speaking to a GP that would consider this a priority. If you are concerned about your hair loss, make sure that you mention this at the beginning of the consultation along with the other things that you have noticed. There have been many times at the end of a consultation when the patient is getting up to leave and then mentions by the way doctor I am losing my hair. If this had been mentioned near the beginning of the consultation there would have been more time to conduct an examination, consider whether blood tests are necessary or even a referral to a dermatologist.

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