London, Europe Brief News- Do you suffer from hair loss? Here is the latest science on causes, treatment, and prevention.
It is perfectly normal for people to shed between 50 and 100 hairs from their heads every day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association.
However, excessive hair loss that causes progressive thinning of the hair, bald patches, or even total hair loss can be very distressing.
There are several possible causes of hair loss. These include:
– Major stressors, such as a prolonged illness, or a bereavement — this kind of hair loss is known as telogen effluvium
some medications, including antidepressants, beta-blockers, levodopa, and chemotherapy drugs.
– Illnesses such as thyroid disorders, a sex hormone imbalance, or a dietary deficiency of protein, iron, zinc, or biotin, for example
autoimmunity, which can cause hair to fall out in one or more small patches on the scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes — this is known as alopecia areataTrusted Source.
– Tight hairstyles that strain the hair follicles, known as traumatic or traction alopecia
– A combination of genetics, male hormones, and increasing age, known as pattern hair loss or androgenetic alopecia. This can affect both males and females.
How to minimize the problem
Hair loss is an inevitable part of the aging process in both men and women. However, there are ways to protect hair follicles and slow down the disease.
“As soon as you notice you are losing hair, make an appointment with a health care practitioner, like a dermatologist,” advised Dr. Reid Maclellan, the founder and CEO of Cortina Health, and adjunct professor of plastic surgery at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA.
“The sooner you consult an expert, you may be able to start treating it quickly and minimize further hair loss.”
If hair starts to thin, he advised against the use of hot tools, blow dryers, aggressive towel drying, and tight hairstyles such as buns.
Dr. Ron Chao, a cosmetic, plastic, and hair transplant surgeon at Barber Surgeons Guild in New York, cautioned:
“There are literally hundreds of products, shampoos, vitamins, supplements etc. on the market that claim to help with it, but as a professional, I only officially recommend those that are currently clinically FDA approved which are oral finasteride, topical minoxidil and low-level class 3 lasers.”
Low-level laser therapy irradiates the scalp to promote blood circulation and encourage hair growth.
Safe Treatments
In 2020, a review of research concluded that the treatments are safe and effective for both men and women.
“If you’re concerned about androgenetic hair loss, it is critical to work closely with a physician to ensure that there are no other underlying causes of the hair loss,” advised Dr. Geeta Yadav, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology.
“A physician might recommend blood work or even imaging,” she added.
For example, blood tests to check for dietary deficiencies might include ferritin and vitamin D levels.
“Healthy habits that patients can do themselves include following a nutritious diet and trying to keep stress levels low.”
