Hair Loss and Its Causes

What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?

The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 3 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the hair on your scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase. After 3 to 4 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place.

It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children.

What causes excessive hair loss?


A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary.

Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. This hair loss usually can be helped by treatment thyroid disease. Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.

Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they've had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.

Some medicines can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking the medicine. Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, high blood pressure or heart problems, vitamin A (if too much is taken), birth control pills and antidepressants.

Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. The infection is easily treated with antifungal medicines.

Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that it can be treated.


Can certain hairstyles or treatments cause hair loss?

Yes. If you wear pigtails or cornrows or use tight hair rollers, the pull on your hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia (say: al-oh-pee-sha). If the pulling is stopped before scarring of the scalp develops, your hair will grow back normally. However, scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used in permanents (also called "perms") may cause inflammation (swelling) of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss.

What is common baldness?

"Common baldness" usually means male-pattern baldness, or permanent-pattern baldness. It is also called androgenetic alopecia. Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness. In male-pattern baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head.

Women may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, the hair can become thin over the entire scalp.


Can my doctor do something to stop hair loss?

Perhaps. Your doctor will probably ask you some questions about your diet, any medicines you're taking, whether you've had a recent illness and how you take care of your hair. If you're a woman, your doctor may ask questions about your menstrual cycle, pregnancies and menopause. Your doctor may want to do a physical exam to look for other causes of hair loss. Finally, blood tests or a biopsy (taking a small sample of cells to examine under a microscope) of your scalp may be needed.


Is there any treatment for hair loss?

Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.

Medicines may also help slow or prevent the development of common baldness. One medicine, minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine), is available without a prescription. It is applied to the scalp. Both men and women can use it. Another medicine, finasteride, is available with a prescription. It comes in pills and is only for men. It may take up to 6 months before you can tell if one of these medicines is working.

If adequate treatment is not available for your type of hair loss, you may consider trying different hairstyles or wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves or artificial hair replacement.

Tuesday, 1 June 2010

Femail Pattern Hair Loss Strategies And Tips.

Female pattern hair loss is when the hair on top and in front thins. This is the most widespread type of hair thinning and loss in women these days.      

 Women's hair thinning can be a clear sign of unbalanced hormones and often can begin as early as the teenage years. The problem can also start after a woman stops taking birth control pills or after pregnancy. The most common time however for this type of hair thinning to begin is during menopause.

Also, women's hair loss or thinning can also be begun by sudden psychological or physical stress. In the case of surgery or severe illness, it is likely that your hair loss is a result of the stress your body has undergone and is only a temporary issue. Another fact is that female pattern hair loss is usually genetic.
Healthy and strong hair growth is an end product of proper nutrition and overall health. If you are not eating properly and taking in the necessary vitamins then your hair will suffer, as seen in many girls with anorexia or bulimia.

Another cause of hair loss in females is the presence of thyroid problems. Your health care provider can test your thyroid quickly to determine if this is the cause of your hair loss problem.
Another notable fact is that the myth that washing your hair too frequently can spur hair loss. Fortunately, this is false. Although, your hair style can be a contributing factor, because wearing your hair pulled back tightly can cause hair damage and breakage.  

Unfortunately, the common techniques of treating female pattern baldness aren't always successful. Another way to make your hair seem thicker, while not actually changing the real thickness of your locks is to use perms and dyes.

The appearance of hair that is thinning noticeably can be improved, while there isn't a ton of remedies and cures for hair thinning.
Massage can help the circulation in the scalp and can help hair growth. You can purchase a head massager or do the massage the old fashioned way For best results, attempt to massage your head two times a day.
Female balding differs from the condition seen in men. Men often loose all their hair and this is unlikely to happen to women. This is comforting fact because the remaining hair can always be disguised and the bald spots can be hidden by using head bands or clips.

If you wish to use hair regrowth medication, make sure that it is okay for women. Always check with your healthcare provider to rule out any other health problems and check to see if the medication is the correct one for you.
There are also surgical options available but again, these are not always 100% successful. Implantation of your own hair can reduces the chances of you rejecting the implanted hair follicles.
Hair loss in women can be enormously hard and often has a demanding effect on self respect and self-confidence. Remember that there are many different ways to camouflage hair loss.
Click here to learn more about Hair Loss Products.
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Vanessa Vera wanted to know everything there was to know about how to stop her own hair from thinning in order to make it stop. These articles and Stop-Hair-Thinning.com were the result of her extensive research and quest to get her own hair back.

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