Hair loss is a more common condition than many patients realize. Hair loss can happen to men or women, and sometimes even teenagers and children. Hair loss refers to a higher than average rate of hair loss that leaves more of the scalp visible than before. It is normal to lose a percentage of hair daily without any ill effects.
The symptoms of hair loss include finding thinning patches of hair throughout the head, excessive hair left behind in the sink, shower drain, and combs and brushes. While there are typical places on the head where hair loss becomes evident initially, hair loss can start from anywhere on the head. While it is most common to lose only scalp hair, it is possible to lose body hair as well. There are typically 2 variations of hair loss, androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata. Androgenetic alopecia can cause hair loss in adults and teens. Alopecia areata can be either permanent or temporary.
It is common knowledge that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments typically lose their hair, but once treatment has ceased the hair returns. Most people do not understand why they may lose their hair otherwise. When hair on the head grows, it grows in at a two to six year growth stage. When the end of the growth stage has been reached, the hair rests for two or three months before it falls out. A new hair follicle begins to grow in its place almost immediately. While it is likely for the average person to lose anywhere for 50 to 150 scalp hairs every day, baldness begins to occur when the hairs falling out are not being replaced by new hairs or the new hairs are significantly thinner than the hairs which are falling out. Heredity plays a huge role in hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia hair loss is associated with family patterns of balding. Hair loss histories can determine not only the rate, but also the age of hair loss and whether complete baldness is likely. A brother and sister are at equal likelihood to be genetically affected by Androgenetic alopecia hair loss regardless of whether their mother or father had this type of hair loss. Alopecia areata can be equally as genetic, but this type of hair loss has been classified as an autoimmune disease and requires a trigger such as environmental factors or illness before hair loss will begin.
There are some dramatic differences of opinion in the medical community when it comes to risk factors for hair loss. Some believe that genetics are solely responsible for hair loss while others believe that over-styling and over stressing the hair can contribute to hair loss. Bleaching, curling, and straightening hair is stressful to the hair and can lead to damage, but many researchers believe that this only affects the hair strand and not the follicle or rate of replacement hair growth. Poor nutrition, surgeries, diseases, high fevers, scalp infections, and childbirth can all contribute to hair loss, although most of the hair loss that happens under these circumstances is temporary.
Diagnosing hair loss is a simple a relative case of asking your physician (although most people ask their hair stylist) if the hair loss a patient believes he or she is noticing is real or imaginary. Sometimes people believe they are losing their hair as the weight if the hair pulls the part farther and reveals more scalp.
Hair loss can be treated. Without treatment hair loss typically leads to either male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness, unless the hair loss is only temporary. While treating hair loss does not guarantee the cessation of hair loss, it has been proven effective for more than half of those who attempt it.
Topical medications have been proven to be fairly effective and reasonably priced treatments for hair loss. Medications such as anthralin, corticosteroids, finasteride (for men only), and minoxidil have been proven to promote new hair growth and slow down hair loss, although it is not a cure. Surgical procedures such as scalp reductions and hair transplants can be costly with mixed results. Some patients have had great success while others have been left with less than desirable results. Hair pieces and wigs are the fastest and most inexpensive treatment option for hair loss. Of course hair pieces and wigs are temporary and run the risk of falling off or restricting activity.
Coping with hair loss is a self esteem issue, especially for women. In today’s society, women are expected to present themselves with nice figures, attractive faces, and a full head of hair. Coping with hair loss can be a battle that can take years or even a lifetime to overcome, especially hair loss that begins during the adolescent and older adulthood. When hair loss is especially devastating, counseling is highly recommended.
Find out more by viewing the Human Anatomy page:
Sensory organs
Medication commonly used for these disease:
1 - 9 of 9 <<previous | next>>
|
Developed by GlaxoSmithKline, Dutasteride is a new drug designed for treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), a condition where the prostate is enlarged. Currently, Dutasteride has been gaining popularity for its ability to treat hair loss. more...
|
|
Vaniqa, which is generically prescribed as eflornithine topical, is commonly used to treat unwanted facial hair in women. Vaniqa does not eliminate facial hair, but it can slow the growth and the thickness of the facial hair in order to dramatically impro more...
|
|
Kenalog, which is generically prescribed as triamcinolone topical, is commonly used to treat inflammation of the skin. Kenalog is most commonly used to treat inflammation caused by allergic reactions, psoriasis, eczema, and in the dental form is used to t more...
|
|
Aldactone, which is generically prescribed as spironolactone, is commonly used to conditions where the body has too much aldosterone in the body. Aldactone is a potassium sparing diuretic which prevents the body from absorbing too much salt and keeps the more...
|
|
Finasteride is the generic form of Propecia and Proscar. It is prescribed to prevent the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone which causes hair loss and enlarged prostate. Finesteride will only help prevent or reduce hair loss contributed t more...
|
|
Nasacort is also known as Nasacort AQ and TriNasal and generically known as triamcinolone nasal. This medicine is a steroid that will prevent the inflammation in the nasal cavity that occurs from seasonal and other allergic reactions. This medication bec more...
|
|
Nasacort AQ, which is generically prescribed as triamcinolone nasal, and is commonly used to treat the nasal symptoms of allergies. Nasacort is considered a steroid. This medication prevents the chemicals in the body that create inflammation from being pr more...
|
|
Propecia, which is generically prescribed as finasteride, and is commonly used to treat enlarged prostate and male pattern baldness. Propecia prevents testosterone from converting to dihydrotestosterone in the body. more...
|
|
Proscar is the brand name for a synthetic steroid that comes in tablet form. Its generic name is finasteride, and it is used to treat symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia, or BPH with symptoms. BPH is a condition found in men in which their prostate more...
|
1 - 9 of 9 <<previous | next>>
|
Home
E-Mail
Site Map
http://www.medical-look.com
FORUM 
Hair loss
