Hair loss happens all the time naturally. Every healthy person loses 50 to 100 hair every day. It is not prominent because new hair grows at the same time. Hair fall is declared when the number of falling hair increase without having new growth of hair.
Different health conditions, diseases. Illness, deficiencies can lead to hair fall. Your doctor will explore and the type of shedding, diagnose the reason behind it, and then recommend an appropriate treatment.
Different diseases bring about different types of hair loss.
Hormones are key participants of hair growth. Hormonal imbalance and changes are the biggest cause of hair loss in men and women.
During and after certain conditions that stimulate hormonal changes, hair loss is predictable.
Once these phases pass away body will re-adjust. You will regain the fullness in few months.
Hereditary genetic deficiencies
Hereditary hair loss is the most common reason for hair loss in both men and women. it is not exactly a disease but a genetic disorder that is inherited. this type of hair loss is known as male or female pattern baldness, Androgenic Alopecia.
Dihydrotestosterone( DHT ) disorder can result in hair shedding and thinning. DHT is an androgenic male hormone, a higher level of it shrinks hair follicles and shortens its natural growth cycle. Hair starts looking brittle and becomes finner. Gradually they become weak and fall. Until the follicles die down forever. It affects the growth of new hair as well. Even if you get new hair they are thin and weak.
Symptoms:
In men, a receding hairline is the first sign of hereditary or genetic hair loss. Or loss of hair on top of the head. Male- pattern baldness
In women wide parting and overall hair thinning are visible. Female-pattern baldness.
Is it curable:
Unfortunately, it is not curable but medical treatment in the early stages can counteract and slow down the process to prevent further loss. Without proper treatment, it will never stop.
AutoImmune System Disorder:
The autoimmune disorder causes hair loss called Alopecia Areata. In this case, white blood cells attack the healthy red blood cells in hair follicles. Hair bulbs shrink and stop reproducing new cells. The loss can be a gradual thinning and then a fall. Or a sudden loss. People having a family history of Alopecia Areata tends to affect most. Autoimmune disorders such as Atopy can cause serious hair fall.
Alopecia Areata can occur in both genders and at any age.
Symptoms:
Hair starts to fall in small patches. For some, it is restricted to few patches. Many have to face an extreme fall in patches all over the body.
Is it curable?
It is not curable. however, some medicines are used to suppress the immune system to slow down the process eg. corticosteroids. Minoxidil. They can re-grow hair but can not stop new patches to appear.
Underlying Skin diseases:
Skin diseases lead to excessive shedding. Such as ringworm, dandruff, Psoriasis, fungal infections, Lichen Planus, discoid Lupus, makes the scalp shed.
Symptoms:
Scaly, itchy, over the dry or greasy scalp with shedding.
Is it curable?
Yes, anti. infflamtory drugs, salicylic acid can revive the lost assets.
Thyroid disorders:
Hypothyroidism ( underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) bring up hair loss. Both conditions make hair brittle, thin, weak, and dry. Not only the scalp whole body is affected by the disease.
Hair starts to grow from the root. When the thyroid is disturbed it affects hair roots. Roots stop to develop hair. Resulting in diffused thinning and hair fall. Some forms of thyroid hair loss diagnosed in the early stages and some may appear several months after the disorder happens.
Certain drugs used to treat thyroid disorders can also stimulate hair loss. In rare cases antithyroid drugs, Propylthiouracilor carbimazole are the cause of hair loss.
Symptom:
The symptoms are not very noticeable due to the long growth cycle of hair. Hair starts looking dull and brittle. Thinning is visible on the entire scalp.
Is it curable?
Yes, such scalp conditions are temporary. As soon as the disorder is normalized. Hair will start to re-grow but it will need patience due to the lengthy growth cycle.
PCOS is a common female endocrine hormone disorder. Extra production of Androgen stimulates hair thinning and loss referred to as female-pattern hair loss.
Is it curable?
Hair lost due to PCOS never grows back. medicines can stimulate new hair to grow.
Inflammation
Chronic Inflammation can destroy hair follicles. They cannot grow back. Cicatricial alopecia is the medical term for hair loss due to inflammation in the body.
Symptoms:
Patchy loss, hair thinning,
Is it curable?
Prevention is possible if caught in the early stage. if follicles are destroyed reversal is impossible.
Nutritional Deficiencies:
Nutritional deficiencies badly impact hair growth and hair structure. Iron, zinc, proteins, fatty acids; omega 3, omega6. Selenium, vitamin A, vitamin D, folic acid, Biotin, and antioxidant deficiencies cause hair loss. Nutritional deficiencies can arise due to, genetic, dietary habits, or certain medical conditions. Crash or fad diets can also lead to hair loss.
Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder) is a condition in which an uncontrollable urge to pull hair arises. Hair from the scalp, eyebrows, or other body parts is pulled to deal with, stress, tension, frustrations.
Symptoms:
A hair falls more than routine or hair breakage, dullness.
Is it curable?
Yes, good dietary habits or the use of supplementary medicines can replenish the loss.
Stressors:
Disturbed Mental health and stress adds up to hair loss. Prolonged anxiety, depressions, bring up severe hair loss. Medicines to relieve stress also triggers hair loss.
Symptoms:
Hair thinning, patchy loss, or hair breakage.
Is it curable?
Yes,
Sexually transmitted diseases (STD)
Sexually transmitted diseases and infections can lead to hair loss. Syphilis is one of those. It can cause diffuse hair thinning all over the scalp or patches of baldness.
Symptoms:
Hair thinning or patches can appear.
Is it curable?
Yes, with the use of oral medicines within a few months hair loss can be reversed.
High Fevers:
A common cause is "telogen effluvium". It is triggered in some severe illnesses like high-fevers; typhoid, pneumonia. The stress of fevers keeps hair follicles in the resting phase so the hair growth stops temporarily. The hair cycle is a long process that is why this hair loss is not apparent for several months.
Symptoms:
Routine hair fall numbers increase noticeably.
Is it curable:
Yes. Because hair follicles are in the resting phase not destroyed. New hair keeps on growing therefore it is transient.
Anemia
Red blood cells or iron deficiency may cause hair loss. Hair cells are sensitive to the lower level of iron. but the loss is temporary. Iron supplements and dietary changes can reverse the situation.
Treatment of the diseases
Not just disease, their medication can also be a reason behind serious hair issues. For example
Take Away:
Whenever you notice an unusual shedding, brittleness, breakage of hair consult your doctor immediately. A healthy lifestyle, balanced diet can prevent or slow down hair loss.
Different health conditions, diseases. Illness, deficiencies can lead to hair fall. Your doctor will explore and the type of shedding, diagnose the reason behind it, and then recommend an appropriate treatment.
Different diseases bring about different types of hair loss.
- gradually or sudden shedding
- full body or just on the scalp.
- Thinning all over the scalp or on top of the head
- Loss in patches
- Receding hairlines.
Hormones are key participants of hair growth. Hormonal imbalance and changes are the biggest cause of hair loss in men and women.
During and after certain conditions that stimulate hormonal changes, hair loss is predictable.
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
- Child's birth
- Discontinuing birth control pills
Once these phases pass away body will re-adjust. You will regain the fullness in few months.
Hereditary genetic deficiencies
Hereditary hair loss is the most common reason for hair loss in both men and women. it is not exactly a disease but a genetic disorder that is inherited. this type of hair loss is known as male or female pattern baldness, Androgenic Alopecia.
Dihydrotestosterone( DHT ) disorder can result in hair shedding and thinning. DHT is an androgenic male hormone, a higher level of it shrinks hair follicles and shortens its natural growth cycle. Hair starts looking brittle and becomes finner. Gradually they become weak and fall. Until the follicles die down forever. It affects the growth of new hair as well. Even if you get new hair they are thin and weak.
Symptoms:
In men, a receding hairline is the first sign of hereditary or genetic hair loss. Or loss of hair on top of the head. Male- pattern baldness
In women wide parting and overall hair thinning are visible. Female-pattern baldness.
Is it curable:
Unfortunately, it is not curable but medical treatment in the early stages can counteract and slow down the process to prevent further loss. Without proper treatment, it will never stop.
AutoImmune System Disorder:
The autoimmune disorder causes hair loss called Alopecia Areata. In this case, white blood cells attack the healthy red blood cells in hair follicles. Hair bulbs shrink and stop reproducing new cells. The loss can be a gradual thinning and then a fall. Or a sudden loss. People having a family history of Alopecia Areata tends to affect most. Autoimmune disorders such as Atopy can cause serious hair fall.
Alopecia Areata can occur in both genders and at any age.
Symptoms:
Hair starts to fall in small patches. For some, it is restricted to few patches. Many have to face an extreme fall in patches all over the body.
Is it curable?
It is not curable. however, some medicines are used to suppress the immune system to slow down the process eg. corticosteroids. Minoxidil. They can re-grow hair but can not stop new patches to appear.
Underlying Skin diseases:
Skin diseases lead to excessive shedding. Such as ringworm, dandruff, Psoriasis, fungal infections, Lichen Planus, discoid Lupus, makes the scalp shed.
Symptoms:
Scaly, itchy, over the dry or greasy scalp with shedding.
Is it curable?
Yes, anti. infflamtory drugs, salicylic acid can revive the lost assets.
Thyroid disorders:
Hypothyroidism ( underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) bring up hair loss. Both conditions make hair brittle, thin, weak, and dry. Not only the scalp whole body is affected by the disease.
Hair starts to grow from the root. When the thyroid is disturbed it affects hair roots. Roots stop to develop hair. Resulting in diffused thinning and hair fall. Some forms of thyroid hair loss diagnosed in the early stages and some may appear several months after the disorder happens.
Certain drugs used to treat thyroid disorders can also stimulate hair loss. In rare cases antithyroid drugs, Propylthiouracilor carbimazole are the cause of hair loss.
Symptom:
The symptoms are not very noticeable due to the long growth cycle of hair. Hair starts looking dull and brittle. Thinning is visible on the entire scalp.
Is it curable?
Yes, such scalp conditions are temporary. As soon as the disorder is normalized. Hair will start to re-grow but it will need patience due to the lengthy growth cycle.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).PCOS is a common female endocrine hormone disorder. Extra production of Androgen stimulates hair thinning and loss referred to as female-pattern hair loss.
Is it curable?
Hair lost due to PCOS never grows back. medicines can stimulate new hair to grow.
Inflammation
Chronic Inflammation can destroy hair follicles. They cannot grow back. Cicatricial alopecia is the medical term for hair loss due to inflammation in the body.
Symptoms:
Patchy loss, hair thinning,
Is it curable?
Prevention is possible if caught in the early stage. if follicles are destroyed reversal is impossible.
Nutritional Deficiencies:
Nutritional deficiencies badly impact hair growth and hair structure. Iron, zinc, proteins, fatty acids; omega 3, omega6. Selenium, vitamin A, vitamin D, folic acid, Biotin, and antioxidant deficiencies cause hair loss. Nutritional deficiencies can arise due to, genetic, dietary habits, or certain medical conditions. Crash or fad diets can also lead to hair loss.
Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder) is a condition in which an uncontrollable urge to pull hair arises. Hair from the scalp, eyebrows, or other body parts is pulled to deal with, stress, tension, frustrations.
Symptoms:
A hair falls more than routine or hair breakage, dullness.
Is it curable?
Yes, good dietary habits or the use of supplementary medicines can replenish the loss.
Stressors:
Disturbed Mental health and stress adds up to hair loss. Prolonged anxiety, depressions, bring up severe hair loss. Medicines to relieve stress also triggers hair loss.
Symptoms:
Hair thinning, patchy loss, or hair breakage.
Is it curable?
Yes,
Sexually transmitted diseases (STD)
Sexually transmitted diseases and infections can lead to hair loss. Syphilis is one of those. It can cause diffuse hair thinning all over the scalp or patches of baldness.
Symptoms:
Hair thinning or patches can appear.
Is it curable?
Yes, with the use of oral medicines within a few months hair loss can be reversed.
High Fevers:
A common cause is "telogen effluvium". It is triggered in some severe illnesses like high-fevers; typhoid, pneumonia. The stress of fevers keeps hair follicles in the resting phase so the hair growth stops temporarily. The hair cycle is a long process that is why this hair loss is not apparent for several months.
Symptoms:
Routine hair fall numbers increase noticeably.
Is it curable:
Yes. Because hair follicles are in the resting phase not destroyed. New hair keeps on growing therefore it is transient.
Anemia
Red blood cells or iron deficiency may cause hair loss. Hair cells are sensitive to the lower level of iron. but the loss is temporary. Iron supplements and dietary changes can reverse the situation.
Treatment of the diseases
Not just disease, their medication can also be a reason behind serious hair issues. For example
- Chemotherapy
- depression
- heart problems
- arthritis
- gout
- high blood pressure
Take Away:
Whenever you notice an unusual shedding, brittleness, breakage of hair consult your doctor immediately. A healthy lifestyle, balanced diet can prevent or slow down hair loss.