Hair Loss: Causes and treatment
Hair loss is one of the common problems that every
individual faces at least once in their lifetime. There may be various causes
for why hair loss is triggered in a person, and based on that, a specific
treatment is preferred. Sometimes, eating the right kind of food can help prevent hair loss,
but other times, the proper requirement is needed for the same.
Hair Loss Causes
It is very normal to lose anywhere between 50 to 100
strands of hair, but more than that is a lot, and that is when there might be a
serious hair problem.
The various causes for hair loss maybe
1) Hormonal changes trigger hair loss in a greater number of
individuals than can be expected. Our hormones can be affected for any reason,
and more easily than we would want them to. Some common hormonal changes that
could trigger hair loss include
a) Pregnancy
The body goes through a lot of
hormonal changes during pregnancy and the first trimester gets the body ready
for the rest of the pregnancy, leading to hair loss for few women, because of
the drastic hormonal changes in the body.
b) Childbirth
As stated above, our body goes
through a great deal of hormonal change during pregnancy, and after childbirth,
our hormones start going back to their normal. These hormonal changes once
again might result in hair loss.
c) Birth Control Pills Discontinuation
By using birth control pills, we
basically manipulate our hormones. Once we put them in a cycle and then
suddenly discontinue that cycle, it might result in hair loss.
d) Menopause
Menopause plays a very important role in a woman’s life, as menopause triggers a lot of health conditions. Hair loss might be one of the conditions that arise due to menopause.
2) Certain pre-existing medical conditions in our body could
also, trigger hair loss. We may be unaware that we have these conditions. They
include:
Any form of thyroid affects the
scalp, which plays the most important role in hair growth and hair retention.
When the scalp is affected, the chances of hair loss increase. However,
with proper treatment, this can be controlled.
b) An autoimmune disease called ‘Alopecia Areata’, that affects hair
follicles
c) Ringworm – Scalp infection
3) Various types of medications are used to treat several
diseases, and when such medications are used on us, they could lead to hair
loss. These medications include:
a) High blood pressure
High blood pressure results in
higher levels of testosterone and other hormones. It also results in more
androgen in the scalp, which is not good for hair growth. Sometimes, the
medications used to treat high blood pressure can also result in hair loss as
they directly affect our hormones.
b) Cancer
Chemotherapy is especially known
for its extensive hair loss, due to the amount of heat and radiation that is
sent into the body, to treat cancer cells. Because of this, extensive hair fall
takes place.
c) Depression
Antidepressants contain
something called, telogen effluvium, which causes our hair particles to go into
a resting phase. As a result, hair loss increases when we are on medication for
depression.
d) Heart Problems
Very similar to how the
medications of high blood pressure work in our body and lead to hair fall,
medications used for heart problems also do the same.
e) Arthritis
Medications used to treat arthritis contain something called, methotrexate, which stops cell growth. This is the reason for hair loss.
4) Emotional or physical shocks also trigger hair loss. These
include:
a) Death in the family
b) Weight loss
c) High fever
5) An improper diet can also trigger hair loss
What the trigger could have been, for an individual, could be known only with the help of a specialist, upon medical examination.
Treatment For Hair Loss
1) Medication
It is always best to consult a
doctor before you choose to pick any cream or gel or shampoo from a random
store. Often, doing so might lead to the worsening of your hair loss. Upon
proper understanding of what the root cause for your hair loss could be, your the doctor might prescribe a simple medication, or if the situation is severe, the
degree of the medication may vary.
Sometimes, medication can lead to
some side effects, and the most common form of medication that can cause side
effects include corticosteroids. The side effects that corticosteroid can lead
to include:
a) Glaucoma – can cause vision loss and nerve damage
b) Fluid retention and swelling in the lower legs
c) High blood pressure
d) Cataracts
e) High blood sugar
2) Medical Procedures
Sometimes, when the damage is irreversible, medical procedures are opted for. The most common form of medical procedure is hair transplantation, which is done for people with baldness, which is not curable by any form of medication.
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