What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?
The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 6 years. Each
hair grows approximately 1 centimeter (less than half an inch)
per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on
your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the
hair on your scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase.
After 2 to 3 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair
starts to grow in its place.
It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle.
However, some people may experience excessive (more than
normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men,
women and children.
What causes excessive hair loss?
A
number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example,
about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you
may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is
related to the stress of the illness and is temporary.
Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland
is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. This
hair loss usually can be helped by treatment thyroid disease.
Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as
androgens and estrogens, are out of balance. Correcting the
hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.
Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they've had a
baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy,
high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair
that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to
pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle
of growth and loss starts again.
Some medicines can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss
improves when you stop taking the medicine. Medicines that can
cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called
anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, medicines used in
chemotherapy to treat cancer, vitamin A (if too much is
taken), birth control pills and antidepressants.
Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of
the scalp can cause hair loss in children. The infection is
easily treated with antifungal medicines.
Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease,
such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early
sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that
it can be treated.
Can improper care of my hair
cause hair loss?
Yes. If you wear pigtails or cornrows or use
tight hair rollers, the pull on your hair can cause a type of
hair loss called traction alopecia (say: al-oh-pee-sha). If
the pulling is stopped before scarring of the scalp develops,
your hair will grow back normally. However, scarring can cause
permanent hair loss. Hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used
in permanents (also called "perms") may cause inflammation
(swelling) of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring
and hair loss.
What is common baldness?
The term "common baldness" usually means male-pattern
baldness, or permanent-pattern baldness. Male-pattern baldness
is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who have
this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Men
who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop
more extensive baldness. In male-pattern baldness, hair loss
typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the
top of the head.
Women may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of
hair loss, the hair can become thin over the entire scalp.
Can my doctor do something to
stop hair loss?
Perhaps. Your doctor will probably ask you some questions
about your diet, any medicines you're taking, whether you've
had a recent illness and how you take care of your hair. If
you're a woman, your doctor may ask questions about your
menstrual cycle, pregnancies and menopause. Your doctor may
want to do a physical exam to look for other causes of hair
loss. Finally, blood tests or a biopsy (taking a small sample
of cells to examine under a microscope) of your scalp may be
needed.
Is there any treatment for hair
loss?
Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available.
If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be
able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and
treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting
a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.
Medicines may also help slow or prevent the development of
common baldness. One medicine, minoxidil (brand name:
Rogaine), is available without a prescription. It is applied
to the scalp. Both men and women can use it. Another medicine,
finasteride (brand name: Propecia) is available with a
prescription. It comes in pills and is only for men. It may
take up to 6 months before you can tell if one of these
medicines is working.
If adequate treatment is not available for your type of hair
loss, you may consider trying different hairstyles or wigs,
hairpieces, hair weaves or artificial hair replacement.
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