Losing hair is a normal, everyday occurrence. But when does it become something to worry about? Keep reading below to learn more about why excessive hair loss may be happening to you and how you help treat it.
Hair loss (also known as alopecia) happens to us all. We have around 100,00 hairs on our head and typically lose between 50–100 hairs a day. We may not notice we are losing these hairs as new hairs will replace these lost hairs fairly quickly, but sometimes, this doesn’t always happen.
Symptoms of hair loss
There will be a few noticeable symptoms if you are losing more hair than usual. These will range from:
- Looser hair – This may be more obvious when you are brushing your hair, showering and then wringing out your hair, out or even by simply running your fingers through your hair. If you notice that more loose strands of hair are collecting when doing these things, it may be a sign that you are suffering with hair loss.
- Wider part – If you part your hair in the middle or to the side, you may notice it becoming wider which could be a sign of hair loss.
- Receding hairline – Your hairline could also begin to lose more hair, causing it look higher than usual.
- Itching & Pain – Some scalp conditions or underlying skin conditions could result in hair loss and a sign this is happening is if you feel an irregular amount of pain and itchiness on the scalp.
- Bald patches – These can vary from small to large and be due to a range of problems. They can also grow overtime.
Types of hair loss
Hair loss varies as there are several different types that have several different causes. These are:
Androgenic alopecia
This refers to hereditary hair loss such as both male and female pattern baldness. It is one of the most common causes of hair loss and affects around 85% of all men. Some people may experience this as early as puberty, whereas others may experience it later on in life. It is a gradual process and looks different depending on your gender. For women, female pattern baldness results in thinning all over the scalp as well as widening or thinning around the part. For men, it involves progressive hair loss above the temples and thinning at the crown, often creating an ‘M’ shape.
Alopecia Areata
This is an autoimmune condition that causes your immune system to attack hair follicles. This results in bald patches that can range in sizes and in some cases, lead to total hair loss. The hair loss doesn’t just occur on the scalp, it can also happen to other parts of their body too like the eyelashes and eyebrows.
Anagen effluvium
This type of hair loss occurs due to radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Your hair will usually regrow after your treatment stops.
Telogen effluvium
With this kind of hair loss, it is sudden and is usually caused by any emotional or physical shock. This can vary from things such as traumatic events, any extreme stress at places like work, school or even at home and serious illnesses. Not only is it limited to shock, but hormonal changes that can happen during childbirth, postpartum, menopause and polycystic ovary syndrome.
In some cases, telogen effluvium can be caused by malnutrition, starting or stopping hormonal birth control and sevre infections like COVID-19. Medications such as beat blockers, oral retinoids and thyroid medications can also cause it. Telogen effluvium can be resolved when the underlying cause is fixed.
Tinea capitis
This is also referred to as ringworm of the scalp. It is a fungal infection that affects not only the scalp but also the hair shaft, resulting in bald patches that can feel dry, scaly and itchy. If it isn’t treated fairly quickly, it can lead to bigger bald patches that fill with pus. Tina capitis can also result in brittle hair that snaps easily and tenderness of the scalp that can often look either grey or red.
Treatments & prevention
There are several treatments available as well as steps that you can take for preventing hair loss. It’s important to note that no treatment/prevention plan is 100% effective in retaining hair, but is a step forward into retaining the hair left and pushing new hair to grow.
Minoxidil
Most over the counter hair loss treatments such as shampoos and creams contain a chemical called minoxidil. It helps with androgenic alopecia in both females and males and works by supporting the hair follicle in functioning and growing new hair. It has to be used for around 4–6 months until you can see any positive results. If you do identify that it is working for you, then you will have to use the minoxidil based product indefinitely to retain the benefits.
Some side effects include scalp irritation and unwanted hair growth in other areas of the body.
Finasteride
This is the main treatment option for male pattern baldness. It is a prescription only medication that comes in the form of a pill. It works by reducing a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is found in high levels in male pattern baldness when the hair follicles shrink. Finasteride suppresses the amount of DHT produces, thus supporting the growth of the new hair and reduces hair loss.
It takes a few months to work and needs to be taken indefinitely to retain any positive results you may gain from it. However, it does not work well for men over 60 and has side effects that range from a diminished sex drive, depression and inability to have/maintain an erection.
Women who may be or are pregnant should not touch any finasteride tablets, especially if they are broken or crushed, as it can be absorbed through the skin and cause birth defects in male babies. It can also affect your pregnant partner through sexual intercourse, so it is highly recommended that you speak to a doctor/healthcare professional before taking it.
Massages & oils
Massaging your scalp with oils or just by simply using your fingertips is a natural and effective method in stimulating the scalp, improving hair thickness and promoting new hair growth. When massaging, you are encouraging the dermal papilla cells (located at the bottom of the hair follicle) in forming new hair, and shedding hair to grow new healthy hair strands.
You should avoid using your fingernails when massaging as this can damage the skin on your scalp. Instead, using your fingertips, massage in circular motions whilst using light to medium pressure. You can also use oils to increase hair and scalp health, such as rosemary and coconut oil. Research heavily suggests that rosemary oil can be extremely beneficial to those who suffer from androgenic alopecia. Coconut oil however contains fatty acids that are effective in penetrating from inside the hair shaft, reducing hair loss. It enriches the scalp’s microbiome, making both the scalp and follicles healthier.
Reduce stress & exercise
When we are stressed, our body begins to produce more hormones than usual to help deal with the change and this can have a massive impact on your body, in particular your scalp. Keep your stress in check by adding relaxation methods or activities to your daily routine. This can vary from yoga, breathing exercises or working out.
Implementing regular exercise isn’t only beneficial to your overall health, but more specifically your scalp also. It increases blood flow to the scalp, delivering the nutrients and oxygen it needs in order to work effectively. Nevertheless, it is important to keep a balance and not exercise too much, as this can cause your body to enter a chronic state of stress and trigger telogen effluvium.
Healthy diet
Just like exercising, a healthy diet is needed for the overall health of our body. When it comes to the health of hair and scalp specifically, you should be eating foods that are rich in fatty acids, vitamin D, folic acid and iron. Iron is one of the crucial nutrients that with hair growth, as it plays a big role in helping your body make blood. Low levels of iron are frequently linked to hair loss, so it is vital you eat foods rich in iron. This can vary from meat, fish, poultry and all kinds of greens.
Changes to Personal Life
Hair loss can be decreased by making changes to your everyday life. When your hair is wet, be gentle as your hair is more prone to breaking. The proteins that make up your hair strands become weaker, leaving your hair more vulnerable to irreversible damage. You should also avoid brushing your hair when it is wet, it is best to wait until it is dry unless you are using a brush specifically made for wet hair.
Be tame when brushing your hair, as brushing roughly can also pull out more hair strands and cause hair to snap. Limit your use of hair tools and products like blow dryers, straighteners, hair colourants and gel. You should avoid doing tight hairstyles on a regular basis as this can pull on hair strands and your scalp too.
Hair transplant
For extreme cases of hair loss, a hair transplant may be your last resort. It is a way to make the most of the hair that you have left and works by removing hair from one patch of your scalp and transplanting it onto a bald spot. The process doesn’t require hospitalisation but is painful, and you will be given sedation medicine to ease any discomfort. Some risks you could experience are bleeding, bruising, swelling and infection. With some cases, you may need more than on surgery to get your desired results. Hereditary hairless however will eventually progress even if you do get this procedure done.