Hair Loss – Causes and Treatments
Hair loss is a common problem in people of all age groups. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 80 million men and women in the country experience hair loss at some point in their life. Here are the different hair loss causes and treatments that you should know about.
Common causes of hair fall
1. Age
One of the most common causes in the list of hair loss causes and treatments is age. As people grow older, their hair growth phase reduces. Hair fall is not matched equally by new hair growth, and this leads to gradual hair loss.
2. Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune cells wrongly assume the hair follicles to be dangerous to the body and start attacking them. This leads to hair fall all over the body. The condition can be managed with medications.
3. Childbirth
One of the common temporary causes of hair fall is childbirth. Hormonal changes in the body after delivery can lead to sudden hair fall. This condition should, hopefully, reduce in a few months.
4. Hereditary
If there is one cause that you have no control over, it is your genes. You could be genetically prone to baldness and hair fall. Hereditary causes are very commonly seen in young people struggling with baldness.
5. Medications
Consumption of certain kinds of medications for your health problems could be causing hair loss. Talk to your doctor about this.
Common treatments for hair loss
1. Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a medication that is commonly used for both male and female pattern baldness. This medication helps in opening up blood vessels and allows more blood and oxygen flow, encouraging hair regrowth and strength. You can apply Minoxidil solutions to the scalp directly.
2. Corticosteroid injections
Corticosteroids are prescribed to those who suffer from alopecia areata. This injection helps in bringing down the effects of the immune system and also reduces inflammation in the scalp.
3. Hair transplantation
For people who have already lost considerable hair and are struggling with baldness, hair transplantation is an option. In the list of hair loss causes and treatments, this is becoming one of the most common treatments. Hair transplantation offers a natural alternative to using wigs.
4. Prescription medications
There are two kinds of prescription medications that are commonly chosen to treat pattern baldness. Both these medications work in stopping further hair loss and increasing the density of existing hair strands. You have to get your doctor to prescribe these for you.
- Finasteride – For male pattern baldness
- Spironolactone – For female pattern baldness
This is the list of hair loss causes and treatments that are commonly observed in adults. If you think you are losing more hair by the day, talk to a dermatologist and identify the root cause to treat it right.