Hair loss or alopecia happens to anyone and is a fairly common occurrence. While it is more common in older people, women, men, and even children can experience hair loss.

On average, we lose around 60 to 150 hair strands per day. This loss is barely noticeable because each person has about a hundred thousand hair strands. New hair will naturally replace the lost hair, but this is not always the case for everyone.

Hair loss may develop gradually throughout the years or may happen abruptly. Depending on the cause, hair loss may either be temporary or permanent.

So how would you know if you’re losing hair or experiencing a normal loss and when is it time to consult a professional? This article discusses everything you need to know about hair loss, how to manage it, and what you can do to prevent it.

Symptoms of Hair Loss

When it comes to hair loss, you don’t want to wait until it is already too late. Early detection of the first warning signs will help you determine the best course of action.

• Check when you part your hair if it is getting wider as this can be a sign of thinning hair
• If your hairline appears higher than usual, this may also be a sign of thinning hair
• After brushing your hair, check if your brush or comb collects more hair than usual
• Look for bald patches which can vary in size and may grow over time
• Check your sink and shower drains, if you find them clogged with hair, this may also be a sign of hair loss
• If you experience pain or itching on your scalp, this may be because of an underlying skin condition that can cause your hair loss.

Common Causes of Hair Loss

There are many types of hair loss each with its own underlying cause. It may be a result of genetics, internal or external causes. Check out the common types of hair loss below:

Androgenic alopecia

Androgenic alopecia is sometimes called “pattern alopecia.” This underlying cause for hair loss is hereditary and occurs in both sexes. It is the most common cause of hair loss affecting about half the population.

Androgenic alopecia happens gradually. Some people may experience hair loss as early as puberty, but some may notice symptoms later until their middle ages.

Female pattern baldness, on the one hand, results in thinning all over the scalp. This usually happens after you reach the age of 65, however, there are cases where it begins earlier.

On the other hand, pattern baldness in men is characterized by progressive hair loss starting from the temples to the top of the head.

Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is also called spot baldness because it leads to bald patches ranging from small to large and may result in complete baldness. It is an autoimmune condition wherein your immune system compromises your hair follicles.

Aside from losing your hair on the scalp, if you have alopecia areata, you may also lose hair from your eyebrows and other parts of the body.

Anagen effluvium

This is characterized by rapid loss of hair and is usually a side effect of chemotherapy or radiation treatment. In most cases, the hair regrows after the treatment or therapy stops.

Telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium may be a result of a traumatic event or a serious illness. It may also be due to hormonal changes that come with childbirth, postpartum, or menopause.

Those who have PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome may also suffer from telogen effluvium. Other potential causes include vitamin deficiency or malnutrition, hormonal birth control, acute illnesses, or severe infections. Some endocrine disorders also lead to telogen effluvium.

This type of hair loss may also be caused by medications such as anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, beta-blockers, thyroid medications, and oral retinoids.

Addressing the underlying cause will resolve telogen effluvium.

Tinea capitis

This is a fungal infection affecting the scalp as well as the visible part of the hair that sticks out of the skin. It causes small bald patches, called kerion, that are itchy and scaly.

Other symptoms of tineas capitis include brittle hair, tenderness in the scalp, and grey or red patches in the skin.

Tinea capitis should be treated early. Otherwise, the patches will increase in size and fill with pus over time causing scarring.

Traction alopecia

This type of hair loss is a result of putting too much pressure and/or tension on the hair. Wearing your hair in tight styles like braids, ponytails, or buns may lead to traction alopecia.

Diagnosing hair loss

As there are many causes of hair loss, it is advisable to schedule an appointment with a medical professional as soon as you notice symptoms.

The medical professional will ask about your health history, if you had any recent illnesses, or surgeries, as well as your family medical history. To narrow down the causes of hair loss, a physical exam will be necessary.

If the medical professional believes that it is an autoimmune condition or a skin disorder, they may have to biopsy the skin on your scalp for laboratory testing.

Because hair growth is a complex process. Multiple tests may be needed to determine and understand the cause of your hair loss. Aside from a biopsy, the medical professional might also run blood tests to check for any nutrient deficiencies, and/ or look for signs of an underlying condition.

Treatments for hair loss

The underlying reason for your hair loss should determine which of the many available treatment methods is best for you.

The more common types of hair loss are typically treated with topical or oral medications Over-the-counter medications consist of topical creams, solutions, gels, or foams that are applied directly to your scalp These products will often contain an ingredient called minoxidil.

Meanwhile, prescription medications such as finasteride (Propecia), help prevent androgenetic hair loss, especially male pattern baldness. This medication is taken daily to slow hair loss with some experiencing hair regrowth after taking finasteride.

If your hair loss is related to an autoimmune condition, your doctor may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, such as corticosteroids.

Some newer treatment options include laser therapy, microneedling with PRP, as well as newer oral medications. Although many of these treatments are still in their early testing phases, more research is needed.

Hair transplant surgery

Hair transplant surgery is a process involving taking small plugs of skin, each with a few hairs, and placing them on the bald parts of your scalp. For those with inherited baldness, hair transplant surgery works. But as hair loss worsens over time, you will have to do additional procedures.

For those with scarring alopecias, this type of treatment is not recommended.

Preventing Hair Loss

Below are a few things you can do to prevent and minimize hair loss:

• Avoid tight hairstyles. If you regularly braid your hair or tie it in buns or ponytails, try to keep it loose to avoid putting too much pressure on your hair.
• Avoid touching your hair as much as possible. Minimize pulling, twisting, or rubbing your hair.
• Pat your hair dry with a towel.
• Have a nutrient-rich and balanced diet. Incorporate plenty of iron and protein into your meals and snacks to help keep your hair healthy.

Avoid styling products and tools such as heated combs, blow dryers, straighteners, perms, relaxers, coloring products, and bleaching agents.

If you want to use heated tools to style your hair, make sure that your hair is dry and that you use the lowest setting available.

If you are already losing hair, replace your shampoo with a gentle baby shampoo. Unless you have oily scalp and hair, you can opt to wash your hair every other day or thrice a week.

When to see a doctor

For any unexplained hair loss, it is best to consult a healthcare professional. They can best determine the underlying cause and best course of treatment.

When you set an appointment, remember to mention any unusual symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, fatigue, changes in bowel movements, any recent surgery or medical procedure, changes in your diet, rashes on your scalp or body, and any new medications you are taking.

You should also tell your doctor about how quickly you have noticed the hair loss occurring, as well as if your family has a history of baldness.

Some FAQs about hair loss

What are supplements that can help with hair loss?

Because hair loss is a complicated issue, debates about nutrition’s role in preventing and treating hair loss are still ongoing.

Specific nutrients are necessary for the hair growth process. But simply increasing your intake will not always help in treating hair loss. This is particularly true if your hair loss is scarring alopecia or cicatricial alopecia.

To help promote hair growth, you may incorporate the following nutrients and minerals into your dietary plan: B vitamins (riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12), iron, vitamin C, and vitamin D.

What illness causes hair loss?

The following illnesses are connected to an increased risk of hair loss:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Scalp psoriasis
• Sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis
• Thyroid disease

Hair loss may also be a side effect of chemotherapy and other medications used to treat cancers.

Is it possible to stop hair loss?

Stopping hair loss depends primarily upon what the underlying cause is. But the sooner you treat your hair loss, the higher your chances are of reversing and reducing the rate of hair loss.

However, there are types of hair loss that unfortunately can’t be reversed. For damaged hair follicles because of tight hairstyles of chemicals applied to the hair, or damage caused by certain autoimmune diseases, the hair loss may be irreversible.

Takeaway

Seeking medical attention from a dermatologist or your primary care doctor will help you identify the underlying cause of your hair loss.

Caring for your hair, improving your diet, and other medical treatments that may be applied topically or taken orally are some of the types of hair loss treatment available.

There are treatment options available to slow or reverse hair loss, even if your hair loss is because of genetics.

Consult a medical professional to know if serious health conditions may be causing your hair loss.