Hair Loss

Hair Loss & Balding

Hair loss, or alopecia, affects both men and women can be a temporary or permanent condition. While a body imbalance is an overall cause, there are lifestyle and genetic factors that are related to hair loss.

Everyone normally sheds 50 to 100 hairs a day. Although the number seems alarming, hair thinning is not seen since new hair is growing at the same time. Balding occurs when the hair growth and shedding cycle is disrupted or when the hair follicle is destroyed and replaced with scar tissue.

Causes

Aging, hormones changes, and genetics is the main cause of hair loss. The earlier it begins, the more severe the baldness will become. Determining the causes of your hair disorder will help slow down the rate of hair that you are losing. Whether genetic or lifestyle-related, the causes of hair loss differ between women and men.

• Family history (heredity): male pattern or female pattern
• Hormonal changes: pregnancy, metabolic conditions causing temporary hair loss
• Medical conditions
  • Autoimmune: causing non-scarring hair loss (alopecia areata)
  • Scalp infections: once treated, your hair generally grows back
  • Lupus, lichen planus, and others cause scarring hair loss
  • Hair-pulling disorder
• Medications: used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, high blood pressure, and birth control
• Trigger event that alters the growing or shedding phases of your hair causes temporary general thinning several months after a physical or emotional shock. Examples of trigger events are sudden or excessive weight loss, surgery, or a death in the family.
• Injury to hair follicles from chemotherapy, extensions or weaves attached too tightly. Hot oil hair treatments and perms can cause inflammation of hair follicles that leads to hair loss and scarring.

Hair Loss Treatment

A combination of therapies is usually recommended to restore your hair and a wide variety of treatments exist

• Custom blended topical medications and shampoos
• Oral medications: to treat underlying causes and promote hair growth
• Biotin supplements: vitamin to help grow hair and strengthen nails
• Injections
• Light therapy

For more information about Hair Loss, view some of our articles.