Hair fall treatment

Overview

Hair fall or hair loss, also called alopecia, can affect men and women of any age. It can be temporary or permanent and may result due to hormonal changes, medical conditions, heredity, or as a normal part of aging.

When one experiences severe hair fall, it results in baldness, commonly seen in men. Today, different medical treatments help prevent further hair loss and restore normal hair growth.

What are the symptoms of hair fall?

Depending on the reason for hair fall, it may appear in different ways. It can occur gradually or abruptly, affecting the scalp and the whole body. Some common signs and symptoms of hair loss are the following-

• Receding hairline- It usually happens when hair starts thinning on top of the head and receding at the forehead's hairline. This condition is called frontal fibrosing alopecia.
• Patchy bald spots- In this condition, people start losing hair in patches and get circular bald spots on the scalp. It may happen in beard and eyebrows too. It is called alopecia areata.
• Abrupt hair fall- If you see handfuls of hair coming while combing or washing, it indicates severe hair fall. It may happen due to physical or emotional shock or stress and is generally temporary.
• Full body hair loss- This condition arises when a person undergoes certain medical treatments like chemotherapy for cancer. In such situations, hair usually grows back.

What causes hair fall?

Losing 50 to 100 hair strands a day is considered normal. It is usually not noticeable because new hair replaces them simultaneously. However, when new hair doesn't replace the fallen out, it is considered a hair fall or hair loss.

Some common causes of hair fall include the following-

• Heredity- People with a family history of hair fall, often described as male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia), can experience hair loss. It often starts with a receding hairline, followed by partial or complete baldness.
• Hormonal changes and medical conditions- Menopause, pregnancy, childbirth, and thyroid are some hormonal and medical conditions that lead to hair loss. It may also occur due to ringworm infection and hair-pulling disorder.
• Medications and supplements- Some people may experience hair fall as a side effect of certain drugs used for cancer, depression, heart problems, arthritis, blood pressure, etc.
• Hair treatments- Styling hair and using low-grade hair products can degrade hair quality, making them fragile and prone to falling. If scarring occurs while styling, hair loss could be permanent.

Apart from these, environmental conditions, stress, and radiation therapy can also cause hair loss.

When to see a doctor?

If hair fall is severe and persistent, you should take medical consultation. Taking early treatment can help avoid permanent baldness. Patchy hair loss and hair loss more than usual while washing or combing may indicate an underlying medical condition that needs treatment.

Contact SKINX, where you can consult with the best hair experts and dermatologists to treat hair fall and get fuller hair growth.