Are you suffering from hair loss problem?

Hands down, you are in the right place.

In this post, I will be sharing everything you need to know about hair loss.

Let’s get started.

What is Hair Loss?

Hair loss or alopecia refers to the loss of hair from the head or any part of the body.

So Hair loss can affect just your scalp or your whole body. But in most of the cases head is involved.

Typically excessive hair loss from your scalp is known as Baldness.

It can be the result of stress, improper nutrition, heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions, etc.

Whether you a male or female, can experience hair loss, but the probability of hair loss in men is quite higher.

Hereditary hair loss and aging are the most common causes of baldness.

Some people do not focus on the hair loss problem and prefer their hair loss run its course untreated while others may try to cover it up with hairstyles, makeup, hats or scarves.

Others choose one of the remedies available to prevent hair loss and to regain hair growth.

But before starting any hair loss treatment, you should consult with the doctor to know about possible causes and treatment options available.

Symptoms of Hair Loss

Conditions of hair loss may vary between men, women, and children.

Hair loss may appear in several different ways, depending on causes.

You may feel a sudden or gradual hair loss that can affect just your scalp or your entire body.

Hair loss can be temporary or permanent.

Different signs or symptoms of hair loss may include:

Sudden Hair Loss

A physical or emotional shock may result in hair to loosen. You may notice more hair coming out in your hairbrush or in the shower drain. This kind of hair loss generally causes overall hair thinning and not bald patches.

Gradual Hair thinning

This is another type of hair loss that affects both men and women as they age. In men, hair usually begins to recede from the forehead area in a line that is more like letter M. But in case of women the hairline on the forehead typically retains but they face a broadening of the part in their hair.

Circular or patchy bald spots

Some people may experience circular bald spots. Usually, this kind of hair loss affects the scalp area, but sometimes it also affects beards or eyebrows.

Full-body hair loss

In some medical conditions like cancer and treatments such as chemotherapy, may result in the hair loss of your entire body. But the positive aspect of this type of hair loss is that the hair usually grows back.

If you feel like patches are scaling up over the scalp, this is a symptom of ringworm. In this situation, you may experience broken hair, redness, and swelling.

What Causes Hair Loss?

It is natural to lose about 100 hairs in a day. Usually, at this rate, you will not notice hair thinning of scalp hair as new hair is growing at the same rate.

Hair loss visible when the rate hair growth and shedding are disrupted or you’re your hair follicles are destroyed and replaced with scar tissue.

Typically causes of Hair loss are

Heredity or Family history

This is the most common cause of hair loss.

If someone elder from your family was suffering hair loss problem then chances are higher that you will face the same from the hereditary condition that is called male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness.

It usually visible gradually with aging and in known patterns (receding hairline and bald spots in men) and thinning hair in women.

Hormonal changes.

Hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and thyroid problems can cause permanent or temporary hair loss.

Medical conditions

Medical conditions such as alopecia which causes patchy hair loss, scalp infections such as ringworm. The side effects of certain drugs may lead to hair loss.

Radiation therapy

Excessive heat may damage your hair and may not grow back the same as it was before.

Stress

Stress is another common factor these days. Stress results in loosening of hair roots that ultimately result in hair loss.

Improper Nutrition

If you are not taking proper diet and nutrition, you may suffer from hair loss problems.

Fashion and Hairstyles

Certain hairstyles and treatments like excessive hairstyling or hairstyles like pulling your hair tight can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia.

Hot oil hair treatments can cause inflammation of hair follicles that leads to hair loss.

What are the Treatment Options for Hair Loss?

There are lots of options available simply from hair care, to prescribed drugs, to a hair transplant.

Scalp Massage

Massaging not only makes you feel wonderful, but they can help with your hair loss problem as well. Massaging the scalp stimulates the hair follicles that make the hair roots stronger and promotes hair growth.

Balanced Diet

Certain vitamins and minerals found in food are linked with healthy hair.

Try adding iron-rich, high-protein, and omega-3 fatty acids foods in your diet.

Reduce Stress

Hair loss may be a result of a stressful lifestyle so better to do regular exercise, listening to music, doing yoga, meditating, etc. to overcome stress from your life.

Getting enough sleep is also essential for a healthy body.

Quit Smoking

Did you know that smoking could cause hair loss on top of facial wrinkles and premature greying of hair?

To overcome hair loss, it’s better to quit smoking as soon as possible.

Prescribed Drugs

Minoxidil and Finasteride are the two drugs that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to treat male pattern baldness.

Minoxidil is available as a liquid or foam.

Finasteride is available in the form of pills.

Both drugs may take up to a year to see the results and furthermore you have to keep taking them to maintain the benefits.

Hair Transplant

Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and Follicular unit extraction (FUE) are the two most popular techniques for hair transplants where hair follicles are removed from the head area and transplanted to the bald parts of the scalp.