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Hair has been referred to as
our "Crowning Glory."
Society
has placed a great deal of social and cultural importance on hair and hair
styles. If hairlines start to recede or hair thins, both men and women may
become very concerned about the loss. Without understanding why their hair is
falling out, they may resort to so called "magic potions," megavitamins, scalp
massage and electric treatments to encourage new hair grow. Hair loss is common
nearly two out of every three men develop some form of balding. An even higher
percentage of men and women have some form of hair loss during their lives. With
correct diagnosis, many people suffering from hair loss can be helped.
Normal Hair Growth
About 90 percent of a person's scalp hair is continually growing, a phase that
lasts between two and six years. Ten percent of the scalp hair is in a resting
phase that lasts between two and three months. At the end of its resting stage,
the hair is shed. Shedding 50 to 100 hairs a day is considered normal. When a
hair is shed, it replaced by a new hair from the same follicle located just
below the skin surface.
Scalp hair grows about
one-half inch a month. Natural blondes typically have more hair (140,000 hairs)
than brunettes (105,000hairs)or redheads (90,000 hairs). as people age, their
rate of growth slows down.
Hair is mostly made up of a
form of protein, (keratin) the same material found in fingernails and toenails.
Everyone, regardless of age, should eat an adequate amount of protein to
maintain normal hair production. Protein is found in meat, chicken, fish, eggs,
some cheese, dried beans, tofu, grains and nuts.
Causes of Abnormal Hair Loss
Abnormal hair loss can be due to many different causes.
people who notice their hair shedding in large amounts after combing or hair
brushing, or whose hair becomes thinner or falls out, should consult a
dermatologist. It's important to find the cause and whether or not the problem
will respond to medical treatment.
Dermatologists, physicians
who specialize in treating diseases of the hair and skin, will evaluate a
patient's hair problem by asking questions about diet, medications taken within
the last six months, family history of hair loss, any recent illness and hair
care habits. The dermatologist may ask a female patient about her menstrual
cycles, pregnancies and menopause. After examining a patient's scalp and hair,
he may check a few hairs under the microscope. Laboratory tests may be required
which sometimes include examining a small sample of scalp under a microscope.
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Childbirth.
When a woman is pregnant, she does not lose as much hair as usual. However,
after a women delivers her baby, many hairs enter the resting phase of the hair
cycle. Within two to three months after delivery, some women may see large
amounts of hair coming out in their brushes and combs. This can last between one
to six months. The condition reverses completely in most cases.
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High fever, severe
infection, severe flu. From four weeks to three months
after a person has high fever or severe infection or flu, he or she may be
shocked to see a lot of hair falling out. this condition usually corrects
itself, but some may require treatment.
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Inadequate protein in diet.
Some vegetarians, people who go on crash diets that exclude protein. and those
with severely abnormal eating habits, may develop protein malnutrition. When
this happens, a person's body will help to save protein by shifting growing
hairs into the resting phase. Massive hair shedding can occur two to three
months later. hair can then be pulled out by roots fairly easily. This condition
can be reversed and prevented by eating the proper amount of protein and, when
dieting, maintaining adequate protein intake.
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Medications.
Prescription drugs causes temporary hair shedding in small percentage of people.
Examples of such drugs are some blood thinners, some drugs used to treat gout
and arthritis, some medications to treat depression, some medications for heart
problems and high blood pressure problems, and high doses of vitamin A.
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Birth control pills.
Women who lose hair while taking birth control pills usually have an inherited
tendency toward hair thinning. If hair thinning occurs, a woman can consult her
gynecologist about switching to another control pill. When woman stops using
oral contraceptives, she may notice that her hair begins shedding two or three
months later. This may continue for six months when it usually stops. This is
similar to hair loss after the birth of a child.
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Alopecia areata.
In this type of hair loss, hair usually falls out, resulting in totally smooth,
round patches about the size of a coin or larger. it can, in rare cases, result
in complete scalp hair loss and loss of body hair. This disease may affect
children, women or men of any age. The cause of alopecia areata is
unknown. Apart from the hair loss, affected persons are generally in excellent
physical health. Dermatologists are able to treat some people with this
condition. In some cases, the hair regrows by itself.
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Hereditary thinning or
balding. Hereditary balding or thinning is the most
common cause of thinning hair. The tendency can be inherited from either the
mother's or father's side of the family. Women with this inherited trait develop
thinning hair , but do not become bald. The condition is called androgenetic
alopecia and it can start in the teens, twenties or thirties. There is no
cure......... But Hair Replacement options are
available.
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Improper hair cosmetic use /
improper hair care. Many men and women use chemical
treatment on their hair, like dyes, tints, bleaches, straighteners and permanent
waves. these treatments rarely damage hair if they are done correctly.
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However, the hair can
become weak and break if any of these chemicals are used to often. Hair can also
break if the solutions is left on to long, if two procedures are done on the
same day, or if bleach is applied to previously bleached hair. If hair becomes
too brittle from chemical treatments, it's best to stop until the hair has grown
out. Shampooing, combing and brushing too often can also damage hair, causing it
to break. A cream rinse or conditioner may be used after shampooing to make it
easier to comb and to make it more manageable. When hair is to wet, it is more
fragile, so vigorous rubbing with a towel, and rough combing and brushing should
be avoided. Don't follow the old rule of 100 brush strokes a day, this damages
hair. Instead, use wide toothed combs and brushes with smooth tips.
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Hairstyles that pull on the
hair, like ponytails and braids, should not be pulled tightly and should be
alternated with looser hairstyles. The constant pull causes some hair loss,
especially along the sides of the scalp.
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Most hair shedding is due to
normal hair cycle, and losing 50 to 100 hairs per day is no cause for alarm.
However, if you are concerned about excessive hair loss or dramatic thinning,
consult your dermatologist.
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Some forms of hair loss
will regrow. Other forms can be treated successfully by a dermatologist. For the
several forms of hair loss for which there is no cure at present, there is
research in progress that looks promising for the future.
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