What is hair loss?
Hair loss may possibly begin as a few strands of hair in the sink and later on might progress to withdrawing hair line and bare scalp. Most people shed 50-100 hairs a day. But with 100,000 hairs in the scalp, that amount of hair loss won't be noticeable. Gradual thinning is part of aging, then again hair loss may lead to baldness when the rate of shedding exceeds the rate of re-growth, when new hair is thinner than the hair shed or when hair comes out in patches.
Baldness or hair loss can be ancestral, caused by a number of medications or an underlying medical problems. Any person-men, women, children - can develop hair loss. Other causes of alopecia include poor nutrition, hormonal changes, hair treatments, scalp infection, or trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder).
The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. According to medical studies, the most widespread type of alopecia is pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia. It affects 1/3 of men and women and is characteristically permanent just like the circatricial (scarring) alopecia. Circatrial alopecia is a rare condition that occurs when inflammation damages and scars hair follicles causing permanent hair loss. Other types of alopecia includes alopecia areata (small, round. Smooth patches), telogen effluvium (triggered by aggravation or ailment), traction alopecia (cause by regularly wear of hairstyle, pobytails, braids or tight rollers) and anagen effluvium (growing hair affected by chemotherapeutic drugs).
How to avoid hair loss?
If one observes that sudden hair loss, consultation with a doctor is a necessity. It can signal an underlying medical condition that may need immediate medical attention.
In order to come up with an accurate medical diagnosis, a thorough medical history and family history, in combination with a complete physical exam must be warranted. The pattern, rate of hair loss, the appearance of nearby hairs, and accompanying symptoms are considered. Some test may be done before treatment, such as Pull test, skin scrapings, punch biopsy and screening tests for related diseases.
Unfortunately, baldness whether permanent or temporary cannot be cured. On the other hand, hair loss treatments are available to help encourage hair growth or hide hair loss.
Medications
Like any other medications, the treatment modalities for baldness depends on the cause, extent and the patient's response. The following are different types of medication that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration:
1. Minoxidil (Rogaine) - an over-the-counter medicine approved to treat androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata. It is a liquid or foam that can be rub into your scalp two times every day to grow hair and to avoid further loss.
2. Finasteride (Propecia) - a prescription pill to be taken every day. It prevents the conversionof testosterone to dihydrotestosterone which is accountable to the shrinking of follicles. Like minoxidil, its advantages stops once discontinued. It is only endorsed for men.
3. Corticosteroids - injection of corticosteroids to scalp to treat alopecia areata. Pills may be prescribed for severe hair loss.
4. Anthralin (Dritho-scalp) - available as either cream or ointment, to encourage growth of hair for cases such as alopecia.
Operation
1. Hair transplant - techniques such as pinch grafts, minigrafts, micrografts, slit or strip grafts are available to cure androgenic alopecia. A dermatologist or aesthetic surgeons take tiny plugs of skin, each containing one to some hairs, from the back of the scalp. The plugs are then fixed into the bald sections.
2. Scalp reduction - the skin of the scalp is outstretched enough for some of it to be surgically removed. The space now is closed with hair-covered scalp.
These measures are luxurious and treacherous. If one is considering this approach of treatment, it is a must to consult with a board certified dermatologist.
Wigs and Hair Pieces
An alternate to medications and surgery is sporting wigs or hairpieces to cloak the bald area. Quality, real-looking hairpieces and wigs are available in the market.
Definitely, there are a lot of ways on how to present and manage baldness. It is critical to be wise and consult first with your medical doctor before making any health related decisions.
Hair loss may possibly begin as a few strands of hair in the sink and later on might progress to withdrawing hair line and bare scalp. Most people shed 50-100 hairs a day. But with 100,000 hairs in the scalp, that amount of hair loss won't be noticeable. Gradual thinning is part of aging, then again hair loss may lead to baldness when the rate of shedding exceeds the rate of re-growth, when new hair is thinner than the hair shed or when hair comes out in patches.
Baldness or hair loss can be ancestral, caused by a number of medications or an underlying medical problems. Any person-men, women, children - can develop hair loss. Other causes of alopecia include poor nutrition, hormonal changes, hair treatments, scalp infection, or trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder).
The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. According to medical studies, the most widespread type of alopecia is pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia. It affects 1/3 of men and women and is characteristically permanent just like the circatricial (scarring) alopecia. Circatrial alopecia is a rare condition that occurs when inflammation damages and scars hair follicles causing permanent hair loss. Other types of alopecia includes alopecia areata (small, round. Smooth patches), telogen effluvium (triggered by aggravation or ailment), traction alopecia (cause by regularly wear of hairstyle, pobytails, braids or tight rollers) and anagen effluvium (growing hair affected by chemotherapeutic drugs).
How to avoid hair loss?
If one observes that sudden hair loss, consultation with a doctor is a necessity. It can signal an underlying medical condition that may need immediate medical attention.
In order to come up with an accurate medical diagnosis, a thorough medical history and family history, in combination with a complete physical exam must be warranted. The pattern, rate of hair loss, the appearance of nearby hairs, and accompanying symptoms are considered. Some test may be done before treatment, such as Pull test, skin scrapings, punch biopsy and screening tests for related diseases.
Unfortunately, baldness whether permanent or temporary cannot be cured. On the other hand, hair loss treatments are available to help encourage hair growth or hide hair loss.
Medications
Like any other medications, the treatment modalities for baldness depends on the cause, extent and the patient's response. The following are different types of medication that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration:
1. Minoxidil (Rogaine) - an over-the-counter medicine approved to treat androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata. It is a liquid or foam that can be rub into your scalp two times every day to grow hair and to avoid further loss.
2. Finasteride (Propecia) - a prescription pill to be taken every day. It prevents the conversionof testosterone to dihydrotestosterone which is accountable to the shrinking of follicles. Like minoxidil, its advantages stops once discontinued. It is only endorsed for men.
3. Corticosteroids - injection of corticosteroids to scalp to treat alopecia areata. Pills may be prescribed for severe hair loss.
4. Anthralin (Dritho-scalp) - available as either cream or ointment, to encourage growth of hair for cases such as alopecia.
Operation
1. Hair transplant - techniques such as pinch grafts, minigrafts, micrografts, slit or strip grafts are available to cure androgenic alopecia. A dermatologist or aesthetic surgeons take tiny plugs of skin, each containing one to some hairs, from the back of the scalp. The plugs are then fixed into the bald sections.
2. Scalp reduction - the skin of the scalp is outstretched enough for some of it to be surgically removed. The space now is closed with hair-covered scalp.
These measures are luxurious and treacherous. If one is considering this approach of treatment, it is a must to consult with a board certified dermatologist.
Wigs and Hair Pieces
An alternate to medications and surgery is sporting wigs or hairpieces to cloak the bald area. Quality, real-looking hairpieces and wigs are available in the market.
Definitely, there are a lot of ways on how to present and manage baldness. It is critical to be wise and consult first with your medical doctor before making any health related decisions.
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