Hair Loss Solutions You Need To Know About
Hair loss will be one of the most common issues both men and women will have. Hair loss can be reversed by knowing what types of hair loss there are, what causes them, and what the treatments are.
Hair Loss Overview
Alopecia, or hair loss, is any condition that causes you to lose your hair on the scalp or other areas of your body. It does not discriminate — it can affect anyone at any age or gender — from mild thinning on the top of the head to severe baldness. If you are experiencing hair loss it is best to seek help from the best dermatologist in Karachi who can guide you on the possible treatments.
The most well known forms of alopecia are androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness), alopecia areata (patchy hair loss), and telogen effluvium (temporary shedding from stress or illness). There are a number of factors that can impact hair loss including genetics, hormonal imbalances, medical conditions, lifestyle and certain medications. Hair loss may be dismissed as being purely cosmetic, but it can have a profound effect on the wearer’s self esteem and emotional well being.
Types of Hair Loss:
- Androgenetic Alopecia (Male/Female Pattern Baldness): A most common form of hair loss from genetic and hormonal causes.
- Alopecia Areata: In which the body’s own immune system starts attacking hair follicles resulting in patchy hair loss.
- Telogen Effluvium: It is caused by stress, illness or changes to the hormones.
- Scarring Alopecia: Unlike telogen effluvium, it’s irreversible because it is caused from damage to hair follicles, usually due to inflammation or injury.
Causes of Hair Loss:
- Genetics: Family history accounts for the majority of hair thinning and baldness.
- Hormonal Changes: Pregnancy, menopause or thyroid imbalances can even affect hair growth.
- Medical Conditions: Scalp infections, autoimmune diseases and iron deficiency can cause loss of hair.
- Medications: Some of the treatments that can cause hair shedding are chemotherapy or blood pressure medications.
- Stress and Lifestyle: Physical or emotional stress, poor diet or smoking, can be types of hair loss.
Effective Treatments:
- Medications: You can use a topical treatment, such as Rogaine (minoxidil), to slow hair loss and burn in the mass of new hair. Finasteride (Propecia) is an oral medication for men that prevents hair loss by blocking the hormone DHT.
- Hair Transplant Surgery: Involves the movement of hair from areas of high density to areas of baldness. Two techniques and they are very popular are FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation).
- Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT): Laser devices promote growth of hair follicles.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: It is where platelets from your own blood are injected into the scalp to promote hair growth.
- Scalp Micropigmentation: A cosmetic procedure in which pigments are applied so that your scalp appears covered with hair.
- Lifestyle Changes: By improving your diet, steering clear from harsh hair care products and by cutting your stress levels you can slow your hair loss down.
Conclusion
Although hair loss is multifactorial, having many types, causes and treatments. The main key of treating hair loss is to know its cause which may be genetic, hormonal or as a result of lifestyle choices. Types of treatment include topical and oral drugs, followed by hair transplants and laser therapy.
In other cases, simple lifestyle changes, like proper nutrition, proper stress management and proper hair care products can help too. It is very important to consult a dermatologist for proper diagnosis and a proper treatment plan. While it’s not always possible, with the proper approach we can often slow down or even reverse hair loss, bringing hair and confidence back.
