Baldness is one of the widespread problems that is characteristic of millions of people all over the globe. It is commonly expected that one is bound to lose a specific amount of hair on a daily basis, but what counts as normal hair shedding is not always easy to grasp, and this is why a number of people become worried.
The Hair Growth Cycle
In order to get straight to laid facts about hair loss, it is important to know how hair grows or more appropriately, the hair-growing cycle. Hair follicles undergo a continuous cycle that includes three main phases:
- Anagen Phase (Growth Phase): This phase spans between 2-7 years in which the hair starts to actively grow. It will also be observed that the length of the anagen phase defines the maximum length of the hair.
- Catagen Phase (Transitional Phase): The duration of this phase is 2 to 3 weeks and it is the phase when hair growth is not active anymore. The hair follicle also becomes small and the dermal papilla [is] removed or separated.
- Telogen Phase (Resting Phase): It will take roughly three months to complete this phase. This is the period when hair does not grow but is rooted in the follicle. The hair then falls off and new hair starts to grow.
The amount of hair that one experiences while washing, combing, or drying their hair is normal; one may lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day. This number can be different from person to person depending on different aspects such as age, type of hair, and others. Of course, it is also vital to underline that in people without any hair/ scalp pathology, such values are within a physiological range. One should not shed more than 100 hair strands daily and this often points to a certain condition that needs medical attention.
Factors influencing hair loss
Hormonal changes, stress traumas, and diet are some of the many causes that can delay or affect the rate at which a person loses hair. These include:
- Genetics: Heredity is one factor that is considered when hair loss is being investigated as a possibility. There are two types of hair loss; the male or the female pattern baldness also known as androgenetic alopecia, this is a progressive disease that leads to hair loss.
- Hormonal Changes: A hormonal factor may be attributed to pregnancy, childbirth because they may distort the normal hair growth and hair loss pattern or even menopause or thyroid disorder.
- Nutritional Deficiencies: Lack of these nutrients including iron, zinc, vitamins, and proteins will compromise the health of hair and cause more loss.
- Stress: Stressful conditions like relocation, sickness, travel and even surgery places stress on hair roots leading to telogen effluvium where most hair follicles are shifted to the telogen stage.
- Medical Conditions: There are various diseases that result in irregular hair loss among them are; alopecia areata, frequent scalp inflammation and autoimmune diseases that impact the head.
- Medications: Some of the widely used chemotherapeutic agents have been reported to bring about hair loss and some of the other drugs that bring about hair loss are those that are used in the treatment of cancer, arthritis, depression, and heart diseases to mention but a few.
Identifying Abnormal Hair Loss
This means that one must ensure that any one of the signs of hair loss is brought to his/her notice and if at any one point this sign is noticed then the man/men should seek the services of a doctor. Here are some signs that may indicate an abnormal hair loss pattern:Below are some of the symptoms that should make you suspect abnormal hair loss pattern:
- Sudden Hair Loss: It becomes worrisome when there is more hair on the shower floor or in the comb or on the pillow.
- Patchy Hair Loss: It may be alopecia areata for instance some people have woken up to find they have lost hair at some places or realized that the volumes of hair are thinning.
- Overall Thinning: If balding is roughly all over the scalp and not in patches, it could be due to telogen effluvium or androgenetic alopecia.
- Visible Scalp: It can be also a sign of hair thinning when through the hair your scalp becomes more visible or if the part is getting wider.
- Hair Breakage: Alive hair could be assumed to have broken hair which appears to be frayed or split by over-styling or chemical treatments, or poor diet.
When to seek the help of a Hair Dermatologist
Thus, in case you have problems related to hair loss, it is better to turn to a hair dermatologist. These specialists perform a physical examination with the intention of ascertaining the cause of hair loss and suggest the right course of action. Some reasons to consult professional help include:
- Persistent Hair Loss: Therefore, if you observe hair loss that falls outside the recommended range of hair shedding for several weeks, then it is high time to seek a skin doctor’s intervention.
- Scalp Issues: Any symptoms like itching, redness, scaly skin, or pain when the scalp is touched, with hair fall, should be treated.
- Family History: If one has any genetic factors that affect hair loss, a dermatologist should be consulted early enough to try to contain hair loss.
- Sudden Changes: Anything that causes a sudden alteration in the size, structure, or distribution of your hair should be treated.
Preventive Measures and Treatments
There are measures and remedies that a person can take to minimize hair loss and get it treated. Here are some recommendations from hair dermatologists:
1-Balanced Diet: With equal importance is the aspect of the need to maintain a balanced diet especially in terms of foods that help grow hair especially vitamins.
2-Hair Care: The following should be avoided; Constant use of hair appliances that cause excessive heat damage to the hair follicle, chemicals which are detrimental to the hair follicle, and hair styles that cause breakage of the hair.
3-Stress Management: Reducing high levels of stress has a positive impact on reducing stress-related issues in hair through doing exercises, meditating, and carrying out enjoyable hobbies.
4-Medications and Topical Treatments: As earlier stated if the baldness is as a result of any of the medical causes then the dermatologist will put you on oral drugs some of which include minoxidil or finasteride. Some of the organizational efforts with regard to local interventions include the utilization of drugs like corticosteroids for management of inflammatory illnesses of the scalp.
5-Hair Transplantation: At one time, a person may want to go for hair transplant surgery to ease a situation of no hair at all. This simply entails that the hair follicle is removed from a certain part of the head and transplanted to the area experiencing baldness.
6-Laser Therapy: Low level laser therapy or often referred to as LLLT is a kind of treatment that is widely used today to promote the regrowing of hair and to combat baldness.
In conclusion, learning from a hair dermatologist helps clarify how much hair loss is normal. While shedding 50-100 strands a day is typical, persistent or excessive loss may indicate an underlying issue. Seeking advice from experts at Fortis can help diagnose and treat hair-related concerns effectively.