Hair is made up of a
protein called keratin that is produced in hair follicles in the outer layer of
skin. Hair loss, also known as alopecia or baldness, refer
as loss of hair from part of the head or body. Typically at
least the head is involved. The severity of hair loss can vary from a small
area to the entire body. Hair loss in some people
causes psychological distress. It can be the result of heredity,
hormonal changes, medical conditions or medications. Anyone can experience hair
loss, but it's more common in men. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair
loss from your scalp. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of
baldness. Some people prefer to let their hair loss run its course untreated
and unhidden. Others may cover it up with hairstyles, makeup, hats or scarves.
And still others choose one of the treatments available to prevent further hair
loss and to restore growth.
Hair grows everywhere on
the human skin except on places like the palms of our hands and the soles of
our feet, our eyelids and belly buttons, but many hairs are so fine they're
virtually invisible. As each follicles is capable of producing new hair cells,
old cells are being pushed out through the surface of the skin at the rate of
about six inches a year. The hair you can see is actually a string of dead
keratin cells. The average adult head has about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs and
loses up to 100 of them a day; finding a few stray hairs on your hairbrush is
not necessarily cause for alarm. There are many types of Alopecia. Involutional
Alopecia, it is the natural and gradual thinning of the hair with ages.
Androgenic Alopecia, it is a genetic condition that affect both men and women equally, it is characterized by a gradual disappearance of hair from the crown or the frontal scalp. Alopecia Areata, causes sudden patchy hair loss in children and young adults. Scarring Alopecias, it is the permanent hair loss due to the inflammatory skin condition. It completely destroys the ability of the hair to regenerate. Telogen effluvium is the temporary thinning over the scalp due to the change in the growth cycle of the hair. SYMPTOMS:- Hair loss can appear in many different ways. It can come on suddenly or gradually and affect just your scalp or your whole body. Some types of hair loss are temporary, and others are permanent. o Gradual thinning on top of head. This is the most common type of hair loss, affecting both men and women as they age. In men, hair often begins to recede from the forehead in a line like letter M. Women typically retain the hairline on the forehead but have a broadening of the part in their hair. o Circular or patchy bald spots. Some people experience smooth, coin-sized bald spots. This type of hair loss usually affects just the scalp, but it sometimes also occurs in beards or eyebrows. In some cases, the skin may become itchy or painful before the hair falls out. o Sudden loosening of hair. A physical or emotional shock can cause hair to loosen. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning and not bald patches. o Full-body hair loss. Some conditions and medical treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can result in the loss of hair all over your body. The hair usually grows back after sometime. o Patches of scaling that spread over the scalp. This is a sign of ringworm. It may be accompanied by broken hair, redness, swelling and, at times, oozing.
Androgenic Alopecia, it is a genetic condition that affect both men and women equally, it is characterized by a gradual disappearance of hair from the crown or the frontal scalp. Alopecia Areata, causes sudden patchy hair loss in children and young adults. Scarring Alopecias, it is the permanent hair loss due to the inflammatory skin condition. It completely destroys the ability of the hair to regenerate. Telogen effluvium is the temporary thinning over the scalp due to the change in the growth cycle of the hair.
SYMPTOMS:-
Hair loss can appear in many different ways. It can come on suddenly or gradually and affect just your scalp or your whole body. Some types of hair loss are temporary, and others are permanent.
o Gradual thinning on top of head. This is the most common type of hair loss, affecting both men and women as they age. In men, hair often begins to recede from the forehead in a line like letter M. Women typically retain the hairline on the forehead but have a broadening of the part in their hair.
o Circular or patchy bald spots. Some people experience smooth, coin-sized bald spots. This type of hair loss usually affects just the scalp, but it sometimes also occurs in beards or eyebrows. In some cases, the skin may become itchy or painful before the hair falls out.
o Sudden loosening of hair. A physical or emotional shock can cause hair to loosen. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning and not bald patches.
o Full-body hair loss. Some conditions and medical treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can result in the loss of hair all over your body. The hair usually grows back after sometime.
o Patches of scaling that spread over the scalp. This is a sign of ringworm. It may be accompanied by broken hair, redness, swelling and, at times, oozing.
CAUSES FOR HAIR LOSS:-
Hormonal
changes can cause temporary hair loss, including pregnancy, childbirth,
menopause, discontinuing with the birth control pills. Medical conditions that
cause hair loss include scalp infection with ring worm, Alopecia areata and
thyroid diseases. Medication that causes hair loss includes Arthritis, Depression,
Cancer, Heart problem and high blood pressure.