Facts  about Hair Loss

What is the normal hair growth and loss cycle?

The duration of hair growth normal cycle is 2 to 3 years.  During this phase the hair grows about 1 cm per month. Approximately 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. The rest of the hair on your scalp (10%) is in a resting phase at any one time. The resting hair falls out after about 3 to 4 months and a new strand of hair starts to grow in its place.

It is normal for some hair to fall out every day as part of the cycle. Some people, however, may experience excessive hair loss. This type of hair loss can affect everyone including men, women and children.

What are the primary causes of excessive hair loss?

Few things can cause excessive hair loss.  For example, you may lose a large amount of hair all of a sudden 3 to 4 months after a major illness or surgery. Stress would be the cause of this hair loss and is usually temporary.

Hormonal problems can cause hair loss as well. Your hair may fall out if your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive. Such condition of hair loss usually can be treated by any treatment for thyroid disease. Hormonal imbalance of male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, can cause hair loss. Correcting the imbalance may stop your hair loss.

Many women experience hair loss about 3 months after they have had a baby. This is also hormones-related hair loss. High levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When those hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.

Medications also can cause hair loss. When you stop taking the medicine this type of hair loss improves. Some medications that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (anticoagulants), high blood pressure or heart problems medicines, vitamin A, gout medicines, birth control pills and antidepressants.

Infections also can cause hair loss. Children sometimes get fungal infections of the scalp that can cause hair loss.  Antifungal medications can easily treat the infection.

Last but not least, hair loss may occur as a sign of a serious condition such as lupus or diabetes.  It is important to find the cause so that it can be treated since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease.

Can some treatments or hairstyles cause hair loss?

Yes. Cornrows, pigtails and use of tight hair rollers can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia because of the pull on your hair. Your hair will grow back normally if the pulling is stopped before scarring of the scalp develops. Scarring can cause permanent hair loss. It also can be caused by inflammation of the hair follicle from hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used in perms.

What does “common baldness” mean?

“Common baldness” usually means male-pattern baldness, or permanent-pattern baldness. It is also called androgenetic  alopecia.  It is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who experience this kind of hair loss usually have a hereditary trait.  Men who start losing the hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness.  In this type of baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head.

Women also may develop female-pattern baldness.  In this form of hair loss there is thinning of the hair over the entire scalp.

Can I see a doctor to stop or prevent hair loss?

Maybe.  The doctor will probably make some assessment based on the answers to questions about your diet, medicines you are taking, recent illness and how you take care of your hair. The doctor may ask questions about your menstrual cycle, pregnancies and menopause if you are a woman. The doctor also may want to do blood tests or a biopsy of your scalp and further physical exam to look for other causes of hair loss.

Is there any effective treatment for hair loss?

Treatments are available depending on the type of hair loss. If it is caused by medication, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Hormone imbalance correction may prevent further hair loss.

Common baldness may be prevented by medicines. One medicine called Rogaine is available over-the counter without a prescription.  It is applied to the scalp. Both men and women can use it. Finasteride is another medicine that is available with a prescription. It is only to be used by men and comes in pills. It may take as long as 6 months before you can tell if one of these medicines is working.

If your hair loss absolutely can not be treated, you may consider trying different hairstyles, using wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves or artificial hair replacement.

Source for information: American Hair Loss Association