What is baldness?
Hair loss can begin as few strands of hair in the sink or comb, and later progresses to a bare scalp. Most people shed 50-100 hairs a day. But with 100,000 hairs in the scalp, that amount of baldness won't be noticeable. Gradual thinning is part of aging, nevertheless hair loss may lead to baldness when the rate of shedding exceeds the rate of re-growth, when new hair is thinner than the hair shed or when hair comes out in patches.
Baldness or hair loss can be ancestral, caused by certain medications or an underlying health problems. It can strike anyone - men and women, kids and adult can develop hair loss. Other causes of alopecia include poor nutrition, hormonal changes, hair treatments, scalp infection, or trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder).
The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. According to medical studies, the most prevalent type of alopecia is pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia. It affects 1/3 of men and women and is characteristically incurable just like the circatricial (scarring) alopecia. Circatrial alopecia on the other hand, is a rare condition that happens when hair follicles are damaged and inflammed. It predisposes the person to suffer from permanent hair loss. Other types of alopecia includes alopecia areata (small, round. Smooth patches), telogen effluvium (triggered by aggravation or illness), traction alopecia (cause by regularly wear of hairstyle, pobytails, braids or tight rollers) and anagen effluvium (growing hair affected by chemotherapeutic drugs).
How to avoid baldness?
If one notices sudden hair loss, or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing hair, consult a doctor. Impetuous hair loss can signal underlying medical condition that may require medical attention.
A broad medical history, family history and physical examination will be done to help the diagnosis. The pattern, rate of baldness, the appearance of nearby hairs, and accompanying symptoms are considered. Some test may be done prior to treatment, such as Pull test, skin scrapings, punch biopsy and screening tests for related diseases.
Regrettably, baldness whether permanent or temporary cannot be cured. On the other hand, hair loss treatments are available to help encourage hair growth or hide hair loss.
Medications
Like any other medications, the treatment modalities for hair loss depends on the cause, extent and the patient's response. The following are different types of medication that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration:
1. Minoxidil (Rogaine) - an over-the-counter medication accepted to treat androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata. It is a liquid or foam that can be rub into your scalp twice every day to grow hair and to avoid further loss.
2. Finasteride (Propecia) - a medication pill to be taken day after day. It prevents the conversionof testosterone to dihydrotestosterone which is responsible to the shrinking of follicles. Like minoxidil, its advantages stops once discontinued. It is only approved for men.
3. Corticosteroids - injection of corticosteroids to scalp to treat alopecia areata. Pills may be prescribed for severe baldness.
4. Anthralin (Dritho-scalp) - obtainable as either cream or ointment, to promote growth of hair for cases such as alopecia.
Surgery
1. Hair transplant - techniques as pinch grafts, minigrafts, micrografts, slit or strip grafts are available to treat androgenic alopecia. A dermatologist or aesthetic surgeons take tiny plugs of skin, each containing one to a few hairs, from the back of the scalp. The plugs are then entrenched into the bald sections.
2. Scalp reduction - the skin of the scalp is outstretched enough for some of it to be surgically removed. The space now is closed with hair-covered scalp.
The proceduures mentioned above are indeed expensive and risky. If one is considering this approach of treatment, it is a must to consult with a board accredited dermatologist.
Wigs and Hair Pieces
An alternate to medications and operation is wearing wigs or hairpieces to cloak the bald area. Quality, real-looking hairpieces and wigs are available in the market.
Absolutely, there are so many things one can do in order to avoid and treat baldness. It is important to be clever and consult first with your general practitioner before making any health related decisions.
Hair loss can begin as few strands of hair in the sink or comb, and later progresses to a bare scalp. Most people shed 50-100 hairs a day. But with 100,000 hairs in the scalp, that amount of baldness won't be noticeable. Gradual thinning is part of aging, nevertheless hair loss may lead to baldness when the rate of shedding exceeds the rate of re-growth, when new hair is thinner than the hair shed or when hair comes out in patches.
Baldness or hair loss can be ancestral, caused by certain medications or an underlying health problems. It can strike anyone - men and women, kids and adult can develop hair loss. Other causes of alopecia include poor nutrition, hormonal changes, hair treatments, scalp infection, or trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder).
The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. According to medical studies, the most prevalent type of alopecia is pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia. It affects 1/3 of men and women and is characteristically incurable just like the circatricial (scarring) alopecia. Circatrial alopecia on the other hand, is a rare condition that happens when hair follicles are damaged and inflammed. It predisposes the person to suffer from permanent hair loss. Other types of alopecia includes alopecia areata (small, round. Smooth patches), telogen effluvium (triggered by aggravation or illness), traction alopecia (cause by regularly wear of hairstyle, pobytails, braids or tight rollers) and anagen effluvium (growing hair affected by chemotherapeutic drugs).
How to avoid baldness?
If one notices sudden hair loss, or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing hair, consult a doctor. Impetuous hair loss can signal underlying medical condition that may require medical attention.
A broad medical history, family history and physical examination will be done to help the diagnosis. The pattern, rate of baldness, the appearance of nearby hairs, and accompanying symptoms are considered. Some test may be done prior to treatment, such as Pull test, skin scrapings, punch biopsy and screening tests for related diseases.
Regrettably, baldness whether permanent or temporary cannot be cured. On the other hand, hair loss treatments are available to help encourage hair growth or hide hair loss.
Medications
Like any other medications, the treatment modalities for hair loss depends on the cause, extent and the patient's response. The following are different types of medication that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration:
1. Minoxidil (Rogaine) - an over-the-counter medication accepted to treat androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata. It is a liquid or foam that can be rub into your scalp twice every day to grow hair and to avoid further loss.
2. Finasteride (Propecia) - a medication pill to be taken day after day. It prevents the conversionof testosterone to dihydrotestosterone which is responsible to the shrinking of follicles. Like minoxidil, its advantages stops once discontinued. It is only approved for men.
3. Corticosteroids - injection of corticosteroids to scalp to treat alopecia areata. Pills may be prescribed for severe baldness.
4. Anthralin (Dritho-scalp) - obtainable as either cream or ointment, to promote growth of hair for cases such as alopecia.
Surgery
1. Hair transplant - techniques as pinch grafts, minigrafts, micrografts, slit or strip grafts are available to treat androgenic alopecia. A dermatologist or aesthetic surgeons take tiny plugs of skin, each containing one to a few hairs, from the back of the scalp. The plugs are then entrenched into the bald sections.
2. Scalp reduction - the skin of the scalp is outstretched enough for some of it to be surgically removed. The space now is closed with hair-covered scalp.
The proceduures mentioned above are indeed expensive and risky. If one is considering this approach of treatment, it is a must to consult with a board accredited dermatologist.
Wigs and Hair Pieces
An alternate to medications and operation is wearing wigs or hairpieces to cloak the bald area. Quality, real-looking hairpieces and wigs are available in the market.
Absolutely, there are so many things one can do in order to avoid and treat baldness. It is important to be clever and consult first with your general practitioner before making any health related decisions.
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