Monday, February 28, 2011

Hair Loss

Dermatologists comment that scalp hair loss seems to provoke more distress than many severe skin conditions. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp and can be the result of heredity, certain medications or an underlying medical condition. Anyone men, women and children can experience hair loss. About 30% of people have hair loss by age 30 years, and about 50% have hair loss by age 50 years.

Hair loss is so common that most of the time it is considered a normal variation and not a disease. Some people prefer to let their baldness run its course untreated and unhidden. Others may cover it up with hairstyles, makeup, hats or scarves. And still others choose one of the medications and surgical procedures that are available to treat baldness.

Before pursuing any of these treatment options, talk with your doctor about the cause of and best possible treatments for your hair loss. Hair pulling (trichotillomania) is the habitual pulling out of normal hair. The habit is most common in children but may occur in adults. The hair pulling may not be noticed for a long time, making doctors and parents think that an illness such as alopecia areata or a fungal infection is causing the hair loss.

Partial or complete loss of hair is called alopecia. If you have a worrying amount of hair in the basin after shampooing, you may think you are on the way to baldness. Toxic alopecia is hair loss resulting from physical or psychologic stress.

Sudden weight loss, many severe illnesses (particularly those that involve a high fever), or surgery may cause hair loss. Some drugs including chemotherapy drugs, blood pressure drugs, lithium valproate oral contraceptives, vitamin A, and retinoids also cause the condition. Toxic alopecia may also result from an underactive thyroid gland or pituitary gland and commonly occurs after pregnancy.
The hair may fall out soon after the disease or condition that is causing the hair loss occurs or as long as 3 or 4 months later. Usually, the hair loss is temporary, and the hair grows back. Scarring alopecia is hair loss that occurs at scarred or damaged areas.

The skin may be damaged from burns and other physical injuries or from x-ray therapy. Diseases that cause scarring include lupus erythematosus, lichen planus, and persistent bacterial or fungal infections. Skin cancers also may scar the skin.

Causes of Hair Loss

The common Causes of Hair Loss :
  • Illnesses or medical conditions.
  • Medications.
  • Alopecia areata .
  • Mental stress and strain.
  • Trichotillomania .
  • Hair treatments and styling
  • Poor nutrition.
  • Disruption of the hair growth cycle.
  • Lack of personal hygiene like unclean conditions of scalp.
  • Male-pattern baldness.

Symptoms of Hair Loss

Some Symptoms of Hair Loss :
  • Hair fall on clothes after combing .
  • Gradual appearance of bald patches.
  • Receding hairline .

Treatment of Hair Loss

  • Herbal preparations that contain zinc, magnesium, iron, vitamin E and other substances in various combinations can help. 
  • Finasteride (Propecia) is the latest drug treatment. It comes in tablet form and works by slowing down hair loss; it's also reported to cause new hair growth. In the UK it's only available on private prescription from your GP.
  • Wigs and hair transplants are, obviously, the most direct form of treatment. Different hairstyles can create the appearance of a fuller head of hair.
  • During this surgery, your health professional will move small grafts (pieces of skin with hair follicles ) from areas of your scalp with full hair to areas of your scalp that are bald or thinning. The grafts may include single hairs or up to 30 hairs in one graft. This is the most common type of surgery used to treat hair loss.

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