Hair loss occurs due to heredity, medical conditions, hormonal changes, or medications. It can happen to anyone, but it is usually more common among men. Baldness is usually the term for excessive hair loss from the scalp, and hereditary hair loss with age is generally the most natural cause. Before pursuing treatment for hair loss, it is recommended to liaise with your primary physician to determine the cause of hair loss and the treatment options.
Symptoms
- Female-pattern baldness
- Male-pattern baldness
- Alopecia areata (patchy hair loss)
- Traction alopecia
Hair loss can happen in various different ways, contingent on the cause of the problem. It can happen gradually or suddenly and can influence just the scalp or the entire body. Some kinds of hair loss are short-lived, while others are enduring.
Symptoms And Signs Of Hair Loss May Include:
This is the most regular type of hair loss, influencing both women and men when they age. In men, the hair frequently starts receding from the forehead. Women usually retain the hairline on their forehead but have an expansion of the part in their hair.
Some individuals may experience coin-sized bald spots. This kind of hair loss generally affects only the scalp, but it can sometimes occur in eyebrows or beards. In some instances, the skin may become painful or itchy before the hair starts falling out. Some people opt for hair transplants to hide the bald spots.
An emotional or physical shock can result in hair to loosen. Handfuls of hair can fall out when washing or combing the hair or sometimes even with a gentle tug. This kind of hair loss leads to overall hair thinning and no bare spots.
Some medical treatments and conditions like chemotherapy for cancer can cause the loss of hair over the entire body, but the hair usually grows back.
- Scaling Or Patches That Start Spreading Over The Scalp
This is generally a sign of ringworm. It may be experienced in conjunction with redness, broken hair, swelling, and in some cases, oozing.
When Must You See A Doctor?
If you or your child are distressed due to hair loss and want to pursue treatment, it's time to consult with a doctor. Sudden hair loss can be due to an underlying medical condition that must be treated. Therefore, if you suddenly notice patchy hair loss when washing or combing your child's hair, you must see a doctor. People usually lose about a hundred hairs per day. This doesn't cause visible thinning of the hair since new hair is growing simultaneously. Hair loss starts happening when the cycle of hair growth and shedding is interrupted or when a hair follicle is destroyed and substituted with scar tissue.
Hair Loss Typically Occurs Due To Any Of The Following Factors:
- Family history (heredity)
- Medications and supplements
- Medical conditions and hormonal fluctuations
- Chemotherapy or radiation therapy on the head
- Stressful events
- Particular treatments and hairstyles (cornrows, pigtails, hot oil hair treatments or permanent treatments)
Risk factors
- Age
- Severe weight loss
- Family history of balding
- Certain medical conditions like lupus or diabetes
- Stress
