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Is There Any Way to Stop Hair Loss?
by April Maguire
Nobody wants to go bald, and yet odds are that at some point in your life you're going to start losing your hair. By some estimates, more then 60% of men and 40% of women will experience a significant amount of hair loss by the time they reach 70 years old. So is all of this hair loss inevitable or is there something that you can do about it? Well, the answer depends on what type of hair loss you have.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Far and away, this is the most common type of hair loss. Commonly known as male-pattern baldness (although it can affect women as well) this type of hair loss occurs over a long period of time and can have a number of different environmental and genetic causes. Although pinpointing the underlying cause can be difficult, there are over-the-counter medications, such as Rogaine and Propecia, which can go a long way towards curbing hair loss. Additionally, some women have success using estrogen replacement therapy as a way to stop androgenetic alopecia in its tracks.
Brittle and Damaged Hair
Sometimes your hair falls out simply because it has become too brittle or the follicles are damaged. Generally, this type of hair loss occurs due to harmful hair styling practices, such as excessive coloring, overheating or wearing your hair in styles that pull the follicles too tightly.
Fortunately, for this type of hair loss the solution is simple. If you stop doing whatever it is that's damaging your hair, then it should grow back normally.
Alopecia Areata
With this type of hair loss, the body's own immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing them to stop producing new hairs. Typically, alopecia areata results in small, noticeable patches of hair loss, but it can also be general all over the body. In order to correct the problem, topical creams can be used, as well as immune suppressant drugs, such as cyclosporine, but patients on these medications need to be closely monitored as they can have harmful side effects.
Telogen Effluvium
Perhaps the most noticeable type of hair loss, telogen effluvium is characterized by the rapid shedding of hair. Generally, this type of hair loss occurs as the result of medications, thyroid disease and anemia, and it is even possible post-childbirth. Since there are only a handful of underlying causes for this issue, you and your doctor should be able to identify it and take steps to get your body back on track.
Ultimately, there may be no way to stop hair loss indefinitely, but that doesn't mean you have to live with being bald. Even if you can't curb hair loss, you can choose to undergo hair transplantation surgery to regain your natural hair. Or as an alternative, you can always wear a wig or hairpiece to mask your hair loss.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about hair loss and how to treat it, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!
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