Daily hair loss is quite a natural process and parcel of the hair development cycle. Natural hair growth ensures that you will have a full head of hair. But hair loss problems arise when this growth cycle is hampered due to reasons such as sickness, stress, ageing, genetic diseases, and hormonal changes. Getting hair loss treatment from a certified hair doctor early on can prevent excessive hair fall and related damages that will be costlier and difficult to recover from.
Before we discuss in detail about hair loss problems and treatments, it would be wise to know that there is not just a single kind of hair loss. Depending on your condition and symptoms, your doctor will be better positioned to figure out the type and the solution. Here, we have just mentioned each in brief so that you have a basic idea of what your symptoms might indicate.
The autoimmune nature of this disease causes the body to harm the healthy tissues, including the hair follicles. Stopping the growth of new hair, it leads to hair loss. Besides scalp hair loss in small patches, the body loses hair from other places such as the eyebrows and eyelashes. As a result of this condition, some people develop total hair loss or alopecia totalis over time. Affecting adults and children, the onset of hair loss can be alarmingly quick and come without any warning.
More than 50 million men and 30 million women suffer from this problem. Also known as male pattern or female pattern hair loss, your genetics has a huge role to play in developing this but drugs or surgery is a potential treatment for such hair loss cases.
Males, on hitting adolescence, can start suffering from hair loss that can continue for years and even decades. Beginning from above the temples, it travels around the top and sides of the head, frequently leaving a ring of hair along the bottom of the scalp. Male pattern hair loss can often lead to baldness in males and needs proper diagnosis and treatment so that it can be reversed.
As far as females are concerned, their hair does not typically thin at the hairline; rather they gradually start to thin throughout the scalp. For many women, this is a typical part of ageing and accompanying hormonal changes. Sometimes, it can start as early as puberty. It is important to remember that female pattern hair loss does not always lead to baldness but it will be wise to get it checked by a doctor to eliminate any chances.
When medical treatments such as chemotherapy cause rapid hair loss, it is known as anagen effluvium. These strong drugs can stop the growth of hair follicles on the scalp and other body parts. But hair loss and baldness treatments work well to reverse the effects. A dermatologist can also prescribe drugs that might hasten the hair regrowth treatment.
Besides a primary physical examination, your doctor will ask you about your family and personal medical history, eating habits and hair care routine. All this helps ascertain the diagnosis. Additionally, you may have to undergo a couple of tests. Some of them are:
To understand the cause of severe hair loss, several hormones like follicular stimulating hormone, DHEA, prolactin and testosterone are checked.
A small portion of the scalp is taken off and closely inspected under a microscope for a better understanding of hair loss.
These are elements which, if found in abnormal qualities, can lead to excessive hair fall.
A physical examination is carried out by the doctor in which if a small pull causes more than three hairs to fall out, the result is a certified situation of hair loss.
Apart from this, your doctor can suggest tests like Thyroid and CBC (complete blood count) for precise results.
Many treatments, surgical and medical, can provide an effective solution for your hair loss problems. Some are:
Hair is carefully moved from thickest to bald or thin areas and thus, known as a hair transplant procedure.
Hair specialists can prescribe flashpoints or hair extensions to give your hair a more voluminous look.
Your doctor, depending on the severity, can also prescribe medicines to promote the growth of hair. Of course, there are many over-the-counter drugs available but such medicines should only be consumed after consultation with a medical practitioner.
Many people tend to downplay hair loss problems. But it can be emotionally distressing. This is why it is best to discuss the potential causes and treatment with an expert. Hair specialist like Dr. S. Gorai treats hair loss in a scientific way which will vary from patient to patient but the effort and dedication remains unchanged. So, do not battle with hair fall by yourself anymore; call today to book an appointment.