Hair Loss: Exploring Causes, Prevention and Treatment Options

Hair loss is a concern that transcends aesthetics to touch our physical and emotional well-being. Below, we will unveil causes from age and heredity to external stressors and infections. We will then delve into the world of prevention and treatment options. 

The Causes of Hair Loss 

Hair loss causes, as identified by The American Academy of Dermatology Association, include: 

• Age: Hair follicles stop growing, hair starts to lose color, and hairline begins to recede
• Hereditary: its medical term is androgenic alopecia. In males, it is called male pattern hair loss, while for women, it is called female pattern hair loss. 
• Cancer treatment: Chemotherapy or radiation therapy to your neck or head can cause hair loss. 
• Alopecia areata: It is a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks hair follicles. 
• Scarring alopecia: Here, inflammation destroys hair follicles. 
• Stressors: These can include illnesses, work, death of loved ones, or childbirth. Pulling your hair to relieve stress (medical term: trichotillomania) can also cause loss of hair. 
• Hair care and hairstyles: dying, perming, and tightly pulling back your hair can lead to breaking and falling hair. 
• Scalp Infection: It leads to inflamed or scaly areas on your scalp.
• Hormonal imbalance: Stopping birth control pills or having PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) can lead to hair loss in women. 
• Medication: Certain medicines can cause hair loss. 
• Scalp psoriasis: If you have plaque psoriasis, you can develop psoriasis on your scalp that leads to hair fall
• Sexually transmitted infections (STI): STIs, such as Syphilis can cause patchy hair loss. 
• Thyroid disease: If you have problems with your Thyroid, it can result in thinning hair. 
• Deficiency: Too little zinc, iron, protein, and biotin can cause noticeable hair loss. 
• Poison: Poisons, such as thallium, arsenic, lithium, mercury, and warfarin (large amounts, can cause hair loss. 

Treatment Options 

Solutions for hair loss range from medications to surgical hair transplants.

• Medications: Medications, such as Minoxidil, also known as Rogaine, treat hair loss by widening blood vessels around shrinking hair follicles on your scalp, allowing more blood, nutrients, and oxygen to reach hair roots. You can opt for oral or topical Minoxidil based on your preference. Other medications include finasteride and phenylephrine. You can head over to UpGuys to get the best Minoxidil Canada has. 
• Hair transplant: A surgical hair transplant moves hair from where it is thickest to an area with no or thin hair. Side effects include itching, infection, swelling, inflammation, and more. After surgery, your scalp may be sore, and you may have to take antibiotics or pain medications to reduce infections.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): This involves taking blood from your body, typically the arm region, separating it into 3-layers: platelet-poor plasma, platelet-rich plasma, and red blood cells, and injecting platelet-rich plasma into your scalp. 
• Red Light Therapy: Red light therapy is a hair loss treatment involving exposing the scalp to low-level wavelengths of red light. It stimulates hair follicles, improves circulation, and promotes hair growth. Red light therapy beds are available for home use or clinic administration, with promising preliminary results.

Preventing Hair Loss

Full and healthy hair is often central to people’s self-confidence and appearance. Here are several ways to prevent hair loss: 

• A Mediterranean diet containing fresh herbs and raw vegetables reduces the risk of androgenic alopecia.
• Vitamin A, made of retinoids, supports healthy hair growth. You can find it in spinach, sweet peppers, and sweet potatoes. 
• Supplements like multivitamins, vitamin D, biotin, saw palmetto, and ginseng promote hair growth. 
• Wash your hair daily, and use a mild shampoo.
• Researchers believe coconut oil can prevent hair damage from UV light exposure and grooming.
• Skip tight ponytails, braids, perms, and hair color as they damage your scalp. Let your hair air dye prevent scalp irritation. 
• Essential oils such as thyme oil, chamomile, and more can reduce hair loss. 

Endnote 

In the pursuit of healthy and resilient locks, this exploration of hair loss unravels the intricate tapestry of causes and solutions. As we navigate the realms of medications, transplants, and preventative measures, remember to practice caution and consult with your practitioner!