What Happens
What happens in hair loss depends on its cause.
Inherited hair loss
Inherited hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) often begins between the ages of 12 and 40, and about half the population has some hair loss by about 50 years of age. 1, 2 The hair loss generally is gradual. Men tend to lose hair on the front hairline and forehead and on top of the head. Eventually, only hair around the ears, the sides, and back of the head remains. Women with this condition typically have gradual hair thinning throughout the scalp. This type of hair loss must be treated early for hair to regrow.
See an illustration of typical inherited hair loss.
Other causes of hair loss
Alopecia areata is hair loss caused when the immune system attacks hair follicles, where hair growth begins. It usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss or complete body hair loss. It often begins in childhood. The hair usually grows back within 1 year. However, hair loss in alopecia areata often comes and goes—the hair will grow back over several months in one area but will fall out in another area.
Hair loss may be caused by stress, disease, or medications or medical treatments. In these cases, clumps of hair may fall out. However, once the underlying cause is stopped, the hair usually grows back, although sometimes treatment may be needed.
Treatment to regrow hair does not work for everyone. If your hair loss is inherited, treatment may not permanently restore your hair. If your hair loss is caused by medication, stress, or damage, hair often grows back after the cause is removed, although sometimes you will need treatment.
For both men and women, hair thinning and baldness increase the risk of sunburn and skin cancer on the scalp. When in the sun, it is important to wear a hat or use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more to prevent sun damage to the scalp.
reference: http://health.yahoo.com/
Hair Loss
Minoxidil for hair loss
Examples
| Brand Name | Chemical Name |
| Rogaine | minoxidil |
Minoxidil (2% or 5% solution) is a spray or lotion that you put directly on your scalp twice a day. It is available without a prescription.
How It Works
It is unclear how minoxidil affects hair growth. Minoxidil appears to increase hair follicles and increase the diameter of hair shafts.
Minoxidil has been approved for both men and women.
Why It Is Used
Minoxidil was originally used to treat high blood pressure. It is now also used to treat inherited hair loss (androgenetic alopecia), the most common cause of hair loss, as well as for other causes of hair loss.
How Well It Works
Minoxidil slows hair loss and grows new hair. In men, the 5% solution appears to be more effective than the 2% solution, but it costs more and may have more side effects. 1
Some people who take minoxidil only grow hair that is thin and wispy or similar to peach fuzz.
Minoxidil seems to work best on people younger than 30 years of age who have been losing hair for fewer than 5 years.
Side Effects
The most common side effects include skin irritation and an itchy scalp. In women, minoxidil may promote facial hair growth, especially on the forehead and cheeks.
If you have heart problems, ask your health professional about using this medication.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Minoxidil must be used daily. If you stop using minoxidil, any regrown hair will gradually be lost, and within 6 to 12 months the scalp will most likely appear the same as before treatment.
reference: http://health.yahoo.com/
Women's Hair Loss
The causes of women’s hair loss are more diverse than those of men’s; with men it’s generally a genetic condition, yet with women, hair loss is usually caused by one or more of the following three conditions:
Female Pattern Hair Loss
The first is genetic hair loss, otherwise known as female pattern hair loss which is hair loss confined to the top area of the head. Many people do not realize that women produce the hormone ‘testosterone’ just like men, only in smaller amounts. For women who suffer from female pattern hair loss it doesn’t mean that they have more testosterone in their body than other women, but that the balance between testosterone and an enzyme called ‘5-alpha reductase’ is not evenly weighted – when this is the case a hormone derivative called ‘dihydrotestosterone’ is produced which is what attaches itself to the follicles and causes hair to be shed.
Telogen Effluvium
The second hair loss condition that is commonly found in women is Telogen Effluvium. This is a condition that is caused by a sudden event such as stress, shock, illness or an operation and the hair loss is usually spread over the whole scalp.
Telogen Effluvium causes the hair to be shed 3 months after the event, so much of the time it can be shocking for the person experiencing the condition and hard to pin-point the cause. The reason that the hair loss is experienced 3 months later with Telogen Effluvium is because when the event takes place, the hair is passed into the ‘telogen’ phase, which is the resting phase of a hair’s life. The telogen stage lasts for 3 months before the hair is shed.
With Telogen Effluvium the hair will usually grow back on its own but it is common for the condition to trigger Female Pattern Hair Loss which is an on-going problem.
Diffuse Hair Loss
The final condition that is frequently experienced by women is diffuse hair loss. The condition involves an increased rate of hair fall and subsequent thinning from all over the scalp.
For those experiencing Diffuse Hair Loss, diet should be checked for adequate intake of nutrients. Clinical investigations should be made for thyroid, haemoglobin and hormonal problems. Stress may also be a contributing factor in Diffuse Hair Loss.
All of the above treatments can be successfully stabilized and reversed with the correct combination of treatments.
Jonny Harris is a director of the Belgravia Hair Loss Centre in London and is an expert in the field of hair loss and the treatments that are available. Harris writes all of the literature on the Belgravia Centre website and Blog which are both useful and up-to-date sources of information for any man or woman experiencing hair loss.
Belgravia Centre Hair Loss Website - http://www.belgraviacentre.com
Belgravia Centre Hair Loss Blog - http://blog.belgraviacentre.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonny_Harris
reference: http://ezinearticles.com/
Solutions for womens hair loss
Hair loss in women can be very devastating. The NBC Today Show takes a look at female hair loss and the various treatment options available.
