All About Hair Loss Treatment

Hair loss or alopecia can affect just your scalp or your entire body temporarily or permanently. Heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging are most important responsible factors for hair fall. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it’s more common in men. But in most of the cases, only female patients complain about hair loss.

Baldness typically refers to excessive hair fall from your scalp. Hereditary hair fall with age is the most common cause of baldness. Some people prefer to let their hair fall run its course untreated and unhidden. Others may cover it up with hairstyles, makeup, hats or scarves. And still others choose one of the treatments available to prevent further hair fall or restore growth.

Frequently Asked Questions on Hair Fall

Why am I suddenly losing so much hair? How can I stop my hair loss? What causes hair fall in females? What kind of illnesses cause hair loss?

The American Academy of Dermatology Association states that losing between 50 and 100 hairs a day from one’s head is completely normal. However, excessive hair loss that results in bald patches, thinning hair that doesn’t stop, or even complete hair loss can be very upsetting.

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What causes hair loss?

Hair fall could have a number of causes. These include:

Significant stressors like a prolonged illness, a job fall, or a bereavement can cause telogen effluvium, which is a type of hair fall.
Illnesses like thyroid conditions, an unbalanced sex hormone, or a lack of protein, iron, zinc, or biotin in the diet, for instance
Some medicines, such as beta-blockers, levodopa, antidepressants, and chemotherapy drugs
Tight hairstyles, also known as traumatic or traction alopecia, cause the hair follicles to become stressed.
Alopecia areata is a condition in which autoimmunity can result in hair fall in one or more small patches on the scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes.
Pattern hair fall, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is caused by a combination of genetics, male hormones, and advancing age.
Nutritional deficiencies
Birth control pills can cause hair fall

Although the biology of hair growth is complicated, recent years have seen advances in our knowledge of the various factors that contribute to hair fall. They anticipate that this will eventually result in new, more potent treatments.

Hair Follicle Growth Cycles

A skin pore that resembles a tube and houses the hair shaft and root is called a hair follicle. On average, healthy adults have between 80,000 and 120,000 hairs on their scalps. Every time a hair follicle grows, it goes through a cycle of development that has three unique phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen. The hair inside the follicle grows roughly 1 centimeter per month during anagen, which lasts between 2 and 7 years.

The hair detaches from the blood supply during the next 2-week transitional period known as catagen, when the follicle enters. The follicle sheds hair during the final, dormant period, known as telogen. It can then take up to four months for the follicle to regenerate. Two to three months after a traumatic or stressful event, a person may develop telogen effluvium, which is a type of hair fall in which the follicles remain stuck in the inactive, hair-shedding stage.

How Does Chronic Stress Cause Hair fall?

In March 2021, scientists reported how persistent stress might keep hair follicles dormant for prolonged periods of time. The hair follicle is one of the few tissues in the body that can renew itself, owing to adult stem cells. The Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology in Cambridge, MA, found how persistent stress decreases the function of these cells in mice.

They discovered that a stress hormone called corticosterone, which is the rodent counterpart of cortisol in humans, keeps follicle stem cells dormant. They also discovered that in the absence of circulating corticosterone, stem cells performed far more rounds of regeneration throughout the course of the animals’ lives. High quantities of the hormone, on the other hand, as a result of chronic stress, kept them dormant for longer and resulted in fewer rounds of regeneration.

Corticosterone, on the other hand, acts on a cluster of cells beneath the follicle known as the dermal papilla rather than directly on the stem cells. The stress hormone stopped the dermal papilla in mice from creating a chemical signal called Gas6, which typically stimulates follicle stem cells.

Is hair fall caused by a muscle?

A muscle that surrounds each hair follicle has also been revealed to have a role in hair fall and regeneration, according to researchers. The dermal sheath muscle is a form of “smooth muscle.” This implies that, unlike skeletal muscle, it is not controlled by the user. The team, coordinated by experts at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine in New York, explored the role of the dermal sheath in mice.

They demonstrated that the muscle physically causes hair follicle regression, which occurs during the “catagen” stage of the hair growth cycle. The scientists discovered that as the dermal sheath contracts, it squeezes the hair follicle, causing the regression process to begin.

At the same time, the dermal papilla cells are moved from underneath the follicle to the upper follicle, where the stem cells are situated. The dermal papilla can then signal to stem cells to begin creating new hairs in its new place. The same contraction mechanism is seen in human hair follicles, according to the researchers. They hope that if they can keep the muscle from contracting, they will be able to halt hair follicle regression.

Pattern Hair Fall

Males and females are both affected by pattern or androgenetic hair fall. The syndrome predisposes people to have a greater reaction to androgens (male hormones) in their scalp. Androgen receptor activation in dermal papilla cells shortens the growth phase (anagen) of hair follicles. Excessive activation of the receptor in those prone to pattern hair fall reduces the follicle, resulting in shorter, thinner hairs.

People with the disease create more dihydrotestosterone, a powerful androgen (DHT). They also have more androgen receptors in their scalp and greater quantities of 5 alpha-reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT.

For pattern hair fall, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized two drugs: finasteride and minoxidil. Finasteride reduces DHT levels in the scalp by blocking 5 alpha-reductase. However, the drug’s usefulness in females is unknown, and some doctors advise pregnant women not to take it since it might cause a male embryo to acquire ambiguous genitalia. Spironolactone, a less effective inhibitor of androgen action than finasteride, is an option for ladies experiencing pattern hair fall.

Minoxidil solution, known as Rogaine in the United States and Regaine in the United Kingdom, dilates blood capillaries when administered directly to the scalp. By enabling more blood, oxygen, and nutrients to reach the hair follicles, this may encourage growth. Men and women can both use minoxidil safely.

Alopecia areata

The FDA authorized the first medication for alopecia areata, a form of hair fall in which the immune system assaults hair follicles, in June 2022. The medicine, baricitinib, is already licensed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, another inflammatory condition.

It acts by suppressing the activity of Janus kinases, which may prevent some of the molecular signals that trigger autoimmune illness. In clinical studies, the medication outperformed a placebo in terms of encouraging hair regeneration in persons with severe alopecia areata.

Anagen effluvium

During the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle, anagen effluvium causes a substantial volume of hair to come out quickly. Hair may fall out from the scalp as well as other regions of the body, including the brows and eyelashes, as a result of the disorder.

Causes of anagen effluvium include:

chemotherapy
radiation
fungal infections
autoimmune disease

The treatment for this ailment is dependent on the etiology, although it may involve a topical application of minoxidil. If a person suffers anagen effluvium as a result of chemotherapy, chilling the scalp during the treatment may assist. Hair usually grows back 3-6 months after chemotherapy is stopped.

hair loss female

Pregnancy

Following childbirth, some women may have substantial hair fall. This is because estrogen levels have dropped. This form of hair fall is generally transient and cures within a year or less. Try the following to help your hair return to its regular state:

using a volumizing shampoo and conditioner
using products designed for fine hair
avoiding intensive conditioners or conditioning shampoos as these can be too heavy for fine hair
applying conditioner to the ends of the hair, rather than the scalp, to avoid weighing hair down

Birth Control Pills

People who use birth control tablets may develop hair fall. Others may have hair fall several weeks or months after discontinuing use. People who use birth control tablets can select one with a low androgen index. This may help to reduce the likelihood of hair fall. Birth control pills are one of the most important causes of hair loss in women.

Nutritional deficiencies

Hair fall can be caused by nutritional inadequacies. Excessive hair fall can be caused by extreme diets that are deficient in protein and certain micronutrients, such as iron. A person should consult a doctor and have a blood test to determine whether they have a nutritional deficiency that is causing their hair to come out.

Examples of birth control pills with a lower androgen index include:

Desogen
Ortho-Cept
Ortho-Cyclen

The androgen index of Ovral and Loestrin is greater. Other hormonal birth control methods, such as implants and skin patches, may also cause hair fall. The American Hair Loss Association recommends that those who are predisposed to hereditary hair fall use non-hormonal birth control.

Ringworm

Ringworm is a fungus that can cause hair fall. Ringworm on the scalp, also known as tinea capitis, can cause temporary hair fall on the scalp.

Symptoms include:

a small spot that gets bigger, causing scaly, bald patches of skin
itchy, red patches of skin in the affected areas
brittle hair that breaks easily
oozing blisters on the scalp
ring-like patches, with a red outside and the inside of the circle matching the skin tone

If ringworm does not go away on its own, a doctor may prescribe an antifungal medication. They may also prescribe an antibiotic, such as Griseofulvin.

Post Partum Hair Fall

Postpartum hair loss is the significant losing of hair that occurs many months after giving birth. Hormone changes during and after pregnancy are to blame. Because of pregnancy hormones, many hairs in the growth phase (anagen) abruptly enter the resting phase (telogen). You lose the hair a few months later.

Your scalp generally has 80,000 to 120,000 hairs and sheds up to 100 hairs every day. Post partum hair loss causes you to lose more than 100 hairs every day.
Though hair fall during pregnancy might be upsetting, it is only temporary. The shedding should be completed in less than six months. Your hair should be back to normal by the time your child turns one.

Before pursuing hair fall treatment, talk with your doctor about the cause of your hair fall and treatment options.

It becomes more difficult to manage and care for your hair as the weather changes. Ignoring the importance of hair care can lead to thinning, malnourishment, changing textures, and further hair fall and damage. Hair is sensitive and vulnerable, so it is very important to take care of it properly. If your hair does not take the right measures at the right time, the gradual hair fall will eventually lead to permanent hair fall.

At this stage, people choose hair fall treatment. There are several treatments for hair loss. It is important to choose the right one for your condition and avoid further damage. Many reasons cause hair fall, but anti-loss treatment cannot be achieved.

Treatment for Hair Fall

Is hair loss a permanent problem? Is there any treatment for hair loss? Read the above mentioned explanation carefully. You may have found the answer how to stop hair loss or treatments hair loss.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is an FDA-approved over-the-counter medication that stimulates new hair growth and prevents further hair fall in the case of hereditary hair fall. Minoxidil is rubbed into the scalp twice a day.

Hair transplant (surgery)

Hair transplantation is where a dermatologist removes a small, full-thickness patch of skin from one part of the body and transplants it into a bald patch. Some surgeries are usually done over several months.

Prescription Finasteride For Hair Fall

Oral finasteride for hair loss (Propecia, Proscar) is an FDA-approved baldness medication and is the only medication available in tablet form (1 tablet per day). It is a prescription drug for men only because it can negatively affect women’s health.

Hair transplantation can be divided into two types of hair fall treatment: hair follicle unit extraction (FUE) and hair follicle unit transplantation (FUT).

Hair Follicle Unit Extraction (FUE)

With FUE flocking, each hair follicle unit is extracted directly from the scalp without removing tissue debris. Hair follicles are randomly drawn, resulting in a less dense and less noticeable donor area. No stitching is required, and there are no scars, reducing healing time. This is a time-consuming process and therefore expensive compared to FUT.

Hair follicle unit transplantation (FUT)

The FUT process removes a small piece of tissue from the back of the head and harvests the donor hair follicles. A qualified clinical team takes the hair follicles from the strip before transplanting them individually to the recipient area. Because this involves the removal of tissue, linear scars are left behind, and some clients experience more discomfort and pain later than those who had FUE surgery. The industry standard for the price is standard per graft.

These hair fall treatments are much more complex in nature and require much more reading and consultation to see if it is the right thing to do for your hair. It is strongly recommended to consult an accredited clinic or a trusted doctor before deciding. When deciding what type of hair fall treatment to do, not just hair, to determine what treatment to choose, such as health, immunity, and other important factors, elements are involved.

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All About Hair Loss Treatment