HAIR LOSS EXPLAINED

Hair loss affects people in different ways and to varying degrees. For the majority of the human race, hair loss affects just the scalp. For some people, however, hair loss affects the whole body. Hair loss can be permanent or temporary. It can occur as a normal part of aging, and it can be the result of medical conditions, hormonal changes, or genetics.

Whether it involves loss of the hairline or bald patches on the crown of the head, hair loss in any shape or form dramatically affects the way we see ourselves and often leads to a major loss of confidence.

There are a few people that allow hair loss to run its course without hiding it and without treating it, but most people cover hair loss with scarves, hats, makeup or new hairstyles. At one point, most people will also seek out and choose one of the many treatments available to tackle hair loss, whether to prevent further loss or to restore growth.

Unfortunately, hair loss is more common than you think, affecting up to 50 per cent of men and women in their lifetimes.

Types of hair loss

Involutional alopecia: As we age, our hair gradually thins, and more hair follicles enter into the resting phase, while the remaining hairs become fewer in number and shorter.

Androgenic alopecia: Androgenic alopecia is a genetic condition that shows up as a receding hairline and slow disappearance of hair from the frontal scalp and crown for men (called male pattern baldness) and a general thinning over the entire scalp, with the most far-reaching hair loss at the crown for women (called female pattern baldness). For men, androgenic alopecia can appear as early as the late teens or early 20s, while women who have this hereditary condition may not experience noticeable thinning until their 40s.

Alopecia universalis: In this case, all body hair falls out, including pubic hair, eyelashes, and the eyebrows.

Alopecia areata: This kind of alopecia often starts without warning, most typically in young adults and children, and manifests itself in patchy hair loss. Most people who suffer from this condition, however, experience a regrowth of the hair within a couple of years. Alopecia areata may also become alopecia totalis, which is another term for complete baldness.

Telogen effluvium: This condition causes a person to experience temporary hair thinning over the scalp resulting from changes in the growth cycle of hair. As more hair strands concurrently enter the resting phase, this causes hair shedding and subsequent thinning.

Scarring (Cicatricial) alopecia: This is where inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, folliculitis, and cellulitis, and other skin conditions such as ‘lichen planus’ and ‘lupus’ result in scars that destroy the hair’s ability to regrow. A particular kind of scarring alopecia called central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia often occurs in women of African descent. Beginning at the centre of the scalp, this kind of alopecia radiates outwards and the affected area becomes shiny and smooth.

Trichotillomania: This is a psychological disorder that compels an individual to pull out their own hair, which may eventually lead to baldness.

What causes hair loss?

All human beings lose between 50 to 100 hairs a day. As we also grow new hair every day, the hair we lose is not so obvious. Hair loss or alopecia is said to occur when there is no new hair growing to replace the strands that have fallen out.

Hair loss is usually as a result of any of the following factors:

Heredity: Your family history is a strong determinant in tendencies to experience hair loss at one time or the other. This is why some women suffer from female-pattern baldness while others do not, and why some men suffer from male-pattern baldness and some do not. Hair loss that occurs as a result of heredity is called androgenic alopecia, and usually occurs in predictable patterns and does so gradually.

Stress: Certain people report a general thinning of hair after experiencing emotional or physical shock. In some cases, this thinning hair does not show up until months later. This type of alopecia is often temporary.

Hairstyles and hair treatments: If you usually have on hairstyles that pull your hair tight such as cornrows and pigtails, or you style your hair excessively, you may suffer from a type of hair loss called traction alopecia. Also, cosmetic procedures such as dyeing, bleaching, perms, and excessive shampooing may lead to overall hair thinning, as does using hot curlers and rollers too often.

Diet: Persons who are on a severely calorie-restricted diet or who are on a low-protein diet may suffer from temporary hair loss.

Hormonal changes: When some people experience hormonal changes brought on by thyroid problems, menopause, childbirth, or pregnancy, they may experience some form of hair loss. Beyond hormonal changes, experiencing a rise in androgens, a male hormone normally produced by both men and women, may cause some people to lose their hair.

Menopause: Hair loss happens a lot during menopause, but this is often temporary, and the hair regenerates with time, although the hair may not be as full as before.

Some medical conditions: There are certain medical conditions that affect the immune system and cause hair to fall out. One of these, and perhaps the most commonly-known is alopecia areata, a disease that causes patchy hair loss. In alopecia areata, the immune system attacks hair follicles. Medical conditions such as iron deficiency anaemia, lupus, diabetes, and thyroid disease can also cause hair loss.

Weight loss: You may experience hair loss if you lose weight drastically, and this kind of hair loss usually becomes apparent three to six months after losing the weight.

Supplements and medications: Sometimes, alopecia can be the result of using certain medications or supplements, such as medications used to treat high blood pressure, gout, heart problems, depression, arthritis, and cancer.

Too much Vitamin A: If you are taking in too much vitamin A in the form of medicines or supplements, your hair may start to fall out.

Radiation therapy: People who have undergone or who are undergoing radiation therapy around their head area may find that hair does not grow back at all or as quickly.

Iron deficit: If you don’t have high levels of iron, you may suffer from hair loss.

Preventing hair loss

There is really nothing anyone can do to prevent male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness. To prevent hair loss arising from other causes however, do well to follow these tips:

Treat your hair gently. Don’t tug at tangles. Use a detangler or a wide-toothed comb instead when you are combing or brushing, especially when the hair is wet. Also make sure you avoid harsh treatments such as permanents, hot-oil treatments, curling irons and hot rollers. And make sure you avoid having very hairstyles that tug at your hair follicle.

Protect your hair from sources of ultraviolet light, most especially sunlight.

Inquire about a cooling cap if you're undergoing chemotherapy, as this reduces the risk of losing hair during chemotherapy.

Treatments for hair loss

Medical treatments: There are topical treatments you can rub unto your scalp to encourage hair growth. Some of these topical treatments are however usually effective only for people with limited alopecia areata. There is also topical immunotherapy in which a chemical such as diphencyprone is rubbed on the skin to instigate an allergic rash. This rash, which resembles poison oak, may induce new hair growth within six months, but the treatment has to be continued if the growth is to be maintained. There are also steroid injections and oral treatments such as cortisone tablets.

Light therapy: Also called phototherapy or photochemotherapy, this is a kind of radiation treatment that uses a combination of UV light and an oral medication called Psoralen.

Natural treatment: There are many natural treatments that can be used to boost hair regrowth and some of these are probiotics, microneedling, acupuncture, essential oils like tea tree, rosemary, peppermint, and lavender, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), and aromatherapy. Other forms of natural treatments are scalp massage, herbal supplements such as; saw palmetto, chinese hibiscus, green tea and ginseng, and vitamins such as zinc and biotin. It is however important to understand that many natural (alternative) therapies have not been tested in clinic trials, so there is not sufficient data to back them up.

Surgical treatment: For persons suffering from permanent hair loss, surgical treatment is a good option. This may include hair procedures, such as scalp reduction, punch grafting, and slit grafting.

In conclusion

It is important to know that not all hair loss is permanent. In most cases, your hair will grow back, especially if the hair loss is little. The hair that grows back may be of a different texture and colour.

It is also important to note that there is a lower likelihood of regrowth if you lose a lot of hair. And if the hair does grow back, you may experience repeated occurrences of hair loss.

If you choose to treat your hair loss, it is important to understand that the effectiveness of each treatment outlined before now will vary from person to person.

In conclusion, it is crucial to remember that while losing your hair can be difficult, it is not a death sentence. Whether you go for hair restoration treatments or not, you need to remember that you are beautiful and perfectly made, with or without hair. Who you are on the inside matters much more than who you are on the outside, so let your inner beauty shine through.