It is normal to lose a few strands of hair during the day when brushing. But if you see hair all over your house, does that surprise you? We know exactly how you feel when you deal with hair loss. Hair loss can be very devastating, but if you believe your hair is getting thinner, you know that you are not alone. Hair loss is one of the most common problems seen by dermatologists, and treatment can be done in most cases. The first step is to understand why this is happening, and the key is to start early.

Don’t panic; this can only encourage further hair loss. There are many reasons for losing hair, and some of them can even be prevented. Cyber Hairsure Clinic provided this article helps you understand what causes hair loss. Before that, let us see!

Alopecia – What is it?

Regardless of the cause, the medical term for hair loss is alopecia. Many people believe this only occurs in men, but it is estimated that more than half of women will experience noticeable hair loss during their lifetime.

Signs you may have alopecia include:

• Thinning hair (what you can see with a thinner ponytail)
• Bald spots that grow over time
• Receding hairline and loss of noticeable edges
• Widening some hair

Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. Any more than that could mean spilling something unnecessary. Several causes of hair loss can lead to specific hair patterns and symptoms.

Age:

Almost everyone will experience hair loss and baldness with age. Our cells continue to grow and die at any age, but as we age, our cells die faster than they can regenerate. Hence we get weaker bones and thinner skin. And it’s a similar process for our hair.

As we age, we also produce less oil on the scalp, which makes our hair weak and brittle. It can also lead to general hair loss and thinning. 

Genetics:

The most common type of hair loss, androgenetic alopecia, is hereditary and age-related. This is commonly known as male or female pattern baldness and affects more than 50 million men and 30 million women in India. This is a more extreme form of hair loss that usually starts at a young age and gradually progresses with age.

In men, this type of hair loss often starts at the temples and extends to the top of the scalp. There may also be a slight thinning of the top of the head.

Women usually notice where you divide your hair the first time, but there is gradually thinning everywhere. The hairline usually remains the same, but parts of the hair can be widened.

You may have heard that this type of hair loss is inherited from your mother’s family, but researchers have found that several genes influence the likelihood of hair loss. One of these genes affects the response of your hair follicles to hormones known as androgens.

Hormone Changes:

People with conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) have higher levels of androgens, which can cause hair loss in women. If you are a woman experiencing more pronounced hair loss and any of the following symptoms, your doctor may ask for your test hormone levels:

• Acne
• Excessive hair growth on the face or body
• Irregular periods

Other things that can cause drastic changes in your hormone levels – such as pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and hypothyroidism – can also affect hair growth. Even changing medication procedures can thin your hair if your medication affects your hormone levels. Women who stop taking birth control pills may experience hair loss. Fortunately, in most cases, with the right treatment, you can slow or reverse hair loss.

Stressful events in life:

Stressful life events such as losing a loved one, having surgery, or being diagnosed with a severe illness can increase your risk of hair loss. However, hair loss itself can also be stressful, which can create a vicious cycle. Remember: telogen outbreaks are temporary – you won’t go bald and your hair will come back. In most cases, no treatment is required.

You may feel bald during a telogen effluvium outbreak. Rest assured – you won’t. Telogen effluvium is a stress response. Excessive hair loss starts 2 to 3 months after a stressful physical or emotional event and peaks about 4 to 5 months later. Over time, your body will readjust, and your hair will gradually stop falling out. Normalcy returns in 6 to 9 months.

If you are under high stress and shed over 150 hair excessively each day, be sure to consult your doctor.

Malnutrition:

Chronic forms of telogen effluvium can occur. This type of hair loss starts later and lasts longer (more than six months). The possible cause is often related to nutritional deficiencies. It has been shown that low levels of iron, vitamin D, and zinc are associated with hair loss.

Vitamin deficiencies can usually be easily corrected with nutritional supplements. It is essential to always speak with your provider before trying a new supplement.

Autoimmune disease

Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss that is autoimmune. The immune system attacks healthy hair follicles and causes them to fall out.

When styling your hair, your barber may find round areas of hair loss on your scalp. Or you may see a smudge on your eyebrow or a bunch of missing lashes. If you are a man, you may notice bare freckles on your chin. This scenario is common in alopecia areata. Researchers often attribute it to periods of high stress.

Most commonly, alopecia areata is represented as one or more coin-sized hairless patches. It can affect any hair on the body. In rare cases, it can be more serious. In total alopecia, hair loss occurs all over the scalp, but in universal alopecia, it affects the entire scalp, face and body.

The good news is that the hair follicle is still alive. In most cases, the hair will grow out on its own over time. However, there is no known treatment and alopecia areata usually recurs.

An injection of cortisone into the scalp by your dermatologist can speed up recovery. Light therapy and medications are available for people with severe hair loss.

Infection

The infection can affect the scalp and cause hair loss. This occurs when bacteria, yeast, or fungus grow and attack the hair follicles. You can see purulent bumps, redness, and peeling. The scalp can feel itchy or even painful. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your dermatologist immediately.

Fungal infections of the scalp are highly contagious, and a significant cause of hair loss in children. To prevent this from happening, children should avoid sharing hats and scarves.

Most scalp infections are treated with an appropriate antibiotic or antifungal medication. Without treatment, this infection can cause permanent scarring.

Certain Medications:

Hair loss is a side effect for some medications. It doesn’t happen to anyone using this medication, but hair loss can occur with several popular medications, including:

• Some cholesterol-lowering drugs 
• Some medicines for blood pressure 
• Antacid 
• The gout drug 
• The acne 
• Testosterone and progesterone steroids

Read more about these and other drugs that can cause hair loss here. Call your doctor if you experience hair loss when you start taking a new medication. They can tell you if other drugs are better for you and give you instructions on how to stop taking them if necessary, safely.

Traumatic styling and hair inflammation

So far, we have discussed the types of hair loss scars where the hair follicles are still alive, and the hair can regenerate. This differs from scars of hair loss, where the hair follicles are damaged, and the hair cannot be restored.

Inflammation is the leading cause of scar hair loss. The scalp may look red and common symptoms are itching, burning, and pain. Infections and some inflammatory diseases of the skin can damage the hair follicles. Traumatic styling practices such as heat styling, chemical hair treatments, and tight hairstyles can also cause scarring of hair.

In the case of inflammation-related hair loss, you need to stop the inflammation at the right time to avoid irreparable damage. Most often, dermatologists do this with certain medications, depending on the cause and degree of hair loss. Unfortunately, many people delay treatment and have permanent scars. Cortisone injections, along with topical minoxidil, can stimulate hair growth. If the scar is large, a hair transplant may be an option.

Chemotherapy and radiation

Hair loss can be a real fear for many patients diagnosed with cancer who are going to undergo chemotherapy or radiation. Cancer occurs because cells grow too fast. Chemotherapy drugs are often used to kill these cells from becoming tumours or spreading. However, because the cells in the hair follicles also grow rapidly, chemotherapy can also affect your hair.

Radiation therapy, which is also used to treat cancer, can also cause hair loss. Although chemotherapy can cause hair loss on the body, radiation therapy usually only affects the area to be treated.

With both treatments, hair loss is usually temporary, and you can expect your hair to grow back in a few months.

Conclusion:

If you experience hair loss, don’t panic. Your first action is to see a certified dermatologist as soon as possible. Your remedies at home can do more harm than good. When you visit a Cyber Hairsure Clinic, the first thing they need to do is determine the cause of the hair loss. This may include a physical examination of the hair and scalp; Blood tests to detect problems such as thyroid problems or vitamin deficiencies; or a scalp biopsy, which involves taking a small piece of scalp under local anaesthetic and sending it to a laboratory for examination.

Once the doctor understands the cause, they will provide you with treatment options. The sooner you start the right treatment, the better your chances of getting your hair back. Hair loss may not always be curable, but in most cases, medications can help if you use them early enough. For more information, contact Cyber Hairsure Clinic, at 040 49540202 / 8331020202.