Hair Loss

Causes of Loss

Losing hair can be caused by several different factors. Shedding due to illness or stress of surgery is common, and usually grows back within several months. Hormonal problems, such as an over- or under-active thyroid may also be to blame. Women who have recently had a baby may find themselves losing more hair than usual because their hormone levels have returned to normal.

Specific types of medication can also cause hair loss. Blood thinners, gout medicine, chemotherapy medicine, or too much of vitamins A, B, and C can cause shedding.

Styling hair can also cause shedding. If you pull your hair back into pigtails or ponytails that are too tight, you may experience breakage and loss. Chemicals used in perms or dyes can also cause excessive loss.

Several diseases may cause thinning hair, such as diabetes, iron deficiencies, vitiligo, or lupus. Check with your physician to make sure your condition is not a sign of a more serious disease.

Classifications of Hair Loss

Different classifications exist for the types of hair loss people experience. Knowing what kind of loss you are experiencing can help in finding a treatment for your problem.

• Telogen Effluvium: Loss caused by physical or emotional stress, abnormal thyroid activity, medication, or hormonal fluctuations. This is usually a temporary condition.
• Anagen Effluvium: Caused by internally administered medicines that kill the hair follicles.
• Traction Alopecia: Physical strain or tension on hair, such as cornrows or ponytails, that causes loss. This condition may become permanent.
• Alopecia Areata: Patches of baldness that occur in mostly circular areas, it is thought to happen when the body’s cells attack itself. On rare occasions, this can cause total loss from the scalp (alopecia totalis) or loss from the entire body (alopecia universalis).
• Trichotillomania: Loss caused by the intentional pulling of healthy hair. Usually this is simply a habit, however it can signal an emotional or psychiatric problem.
• Androgenetic Alopecia: Both men and women have pattern baldness. Usually genetic, in men it causes receding hairlines, while in women hair becomes thin all over the scalp.

Solutions to Loss

Thinning hair or balding can be crushing to an individual’s self-esteem. Fortunately, the hair industry has come up with ways to combat the problem and restore a thick, healthy head of hair.

Getting hair additions is one way to resolve the issue. Weaves, extensions and toupees can be worn to cover loss. These can be made of real human hair, synthetic, or a combination. Before attaching any addition, do an adhesive allergy test first. Make sure to regularly wash scalp and hair pieces.

Hair transplants are another option. Although more costly and time consuming, it offers a more permanent and realistic solution. Several types of surgery can be performed.

• Hair grafting: Moving pieces of scalp from sides and back of head to the top.
• Flaps: Large portions of scalp are transferred from back or sides of head. Usually the bottom part stays attached in the original position, allowing hair to continually grow.
• Scalp reduction: Removes bald areas at the top of the head.
• Scalp expansion and extension: When the scalp is too tight, this procedure is performed to make a reduction work.

Topical and other medications can be used. Corticosteroids are injections of cortisone to treat alopecia areata, but it can also be taken in pill form. Pattern baldness may be beaten with the use of minoxidil (Rogaine) for men and women. It is rubbed on the scalp and can be obtained without a prescription. Men may also take a pill containing finasteride (Propecia) with a prescription.

Before beginning any treatment program, consult with your family physician. To find a specialist near you, you can check out the American Hair Loss Council’s member directory.