Hair Loss – Normal Hair Growth Cycle
Our hair, made up of Keratin, and formed from the hair follicles, grows at the rate of about ½ an inch per month. Hair growth and loss is a continual process that happens over a period of two to six years. At any given time, approximately 90% of your hair in growing and the balance is in a resting phase, preparing to fall out. Over the course of this cycle of hair growth and rest, you will lose an average of 100 hairs per day. In this normal hair growth cycle, the hair loss and shedding should replace itself.
Stages of Hair Growth & Rest
- Anagen – Normal Active Growth of hair lasting two to six years
- Catagen – Hair preparing to rest – lasts 2 to 3 weeks
- Telogen – Hair in the resting phase, which can last up to 3 months that is preparing to shed. This hair should fall out and the follicle grows new hair.
Symptoms of Hair Loss and Excessive Loss
Hair loss, also called alopecia, exists when the shedding hair is not replaced, or an excessive hair loss occurs. Hair loss that is excessive in nature can mean losing hundreds of hairs per day, overall hair thinning, or developed balding spots. It can also take the shape of loss in the temporal hairline region, known as receding hairline, or the crown of the scalp.
There can be numerous reasons for loss of hair, and not all of them are permanent. Anything from medical issues, vitamin deficiency, genetics, hormonal changes, or stress can lead to it. Below are the causes of hair loss in greater detail.
Cause of Hair loss
The cause of hair loss is important to identify, as loss of hair may signify a more serious medical condition. Below are the most common reasons for hair loss, but only a hair loss specialist may be able to identify the actual cause.
Hair loss Causes in Women- Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Menopause
Women experiencing high periods of hormonal change may experience temporary hair loss. Pregnancy, both pre-birth and after having a baby, breastfeeding, and going through menopause all can cause hair loss in women.
The good news is that the thinning is normally temporary and the normal hair growth cycle will return when the hormones in your body return to normal levels.
Thyroid Imbalance and Hair Loss
Thyroid disease, referred to as Hyperthyroidism or Hypothyroidism can cause hair loss. The Thyroid gland is responsible for releasing hormones into the body, and hair loss is often caused by changing hormone levels in the body. The over or under active thyroid gland can be resolved with treatment to correct the hormone imbalance.
Vitamin Deficiency & Loss of Hair
When the body is low on vitamins such as Iron or Vitamin B, hair loss may be a result. Biotin, part of the B family, is often used as a supplement to strengthen hair and nails.
Hair Loss from Illness or Surgery
A loss of hair can occur after a period of illness or a surgery. This may result from the illness itself, drugs used during the illness, stress, poor health, or a combination of all of them. Often, this hair loss is temporary.
Losing Hair from Stress
Stress itself can cause a loss of hair. There are three main contributors to this. They include;
- Alopecia areata – It is thought that normal male and female pattern baldness can be brought on with period of extreme stress.
- Telogen effluvium – This condition occurs when periods of stress result in the hair resorting to telogen, or the normal resting phase. Within three months, these hairs fall out, leaving you with thinning or balding, which often occurs months after the period of stress.
- Trichotillomania – A condition called Trichotillomania is self induced hair loss, often caused by stress, anxiety and other emotional issues. This physological hair pulling, often seen in children, can cause thinning or balding.
Prescription Drugs and Hair Loss
Drugs can induce hair loss or even cause the beginnings of pattern baldness. It is often very difficult to know if the hair loss will be temporary or permanent, and changing the drug is often not a simple process. It is best to research any drug before you start, to see if hair loss is a side-effect.
Below are some types of medications which may cause hair loss;
Blood thinners, high cholesterol drugs, anti-depression medications, high blood pressure pills, birth control, and anti-inflammatory pills.
Never stop using a drug if you suspect it is causing hair loss without first consulting a doctor.
Fungal Hair Loss
Many forms of fungal infection can affect the hair and scalp. This often affects children, can be easily treated and is normally temporary hair loss.
Over Processed Hair Thinning
Something as simple as overprocessing your hair by coloring , straightening or perming can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss is temporary.
Normal Aging Hair Loss
As we age, more hair naturally goes into the telogen resting phase, and is not replaced by the hair follicle.
Genetic Hair Loss – Female or Male Pattern Baldness
Norwood Scale of Hair Loss in Men
Male or Female pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is genetic hair loss. It is the most common cause of permanent hair loss, but it occurs differently in men and women.
Hair loss in Men – Androgenetic Alopecia
Male pattern baldness normally begins with a loss of hair and thinning in the frontal/temporal region (receding hairline) or with a crown hair loss (upper back of the head) . These areas follow the Hamilton-Norwood Scale of Hair Loss, and result in an eventual loss of hair on the entire top of the scalp. The sides of hair may not fall out.
Male pattern baldness is caused by the male hormone testosterone converting to DHT, which attacks the hair follicles on the scalp.
Hair Loss in Women – Female Pattern Baldness
Hair loss in women is generally characterized by an overall thinning of the scalp. Female pattern baldness can involve hair loss that is temporal, at the crown, or on top of the head, but it is more likely to result in thinning. It is much less likely that women with hair loss will lose all of their hair, as men do.
Hair Loss Specialist – See a Hair Loss Doctor
To know why you are experiencing hair loss, you can schedule a visit with a hair loss specialist. Here are some doctors to visit who may be able to help you find out if you can stop hair loss.
Family Physician for Hair Loss
Your general practitioner, although not a hair loss specialist, may be able to help you by running blood tests to find the cause of your hair loss. They may also be able to guide you regarding treatment options.
Endrocrinologist or Gynecologist
If you are a women losing hair, you may want to see a Gynecologist, who may be able to help regarding menopause or pregnancy hair loss. They may also refer you to an Endrocrinologist, who is a doctor of hormone disorders. If the issue may be with the thyroid, they can help.
Dermatologist
A Dermatologist is a doctor of the skin and hair, and may be able to help with diagnosis and treatment options, including treatment of female or male pattern baldness. They may recommend prescription treatment for hair loss, or natural products to stop the hair fall.
Trichologist Hair Loss Specialist
A holistic hair loss specialist, a trichologist will study your scalp and hair to find why you are losing your hair. They may provide natural therapy or refer you to a hair transplant surgeon for a consultation.
Hair Transplant Doctor
A hair restoration physician is a board certified specialist, who will take grafts of hair to transplant to the areas of hair loss. Although more common for men, women can have hair transplant surgery also. A hair restoration procedure is a surgery, does involve risk, and can be very expensive, but it is an option for those who want a permanent hair loss solution.
Hair loss Treatments
If your hair loss is temporary, and your doctor can identfiy the reason for it, then you can expect to stop the hair loss and start growing it back after you have treated the problem. It is possible simple remedies are all that is needed to grow back your hair. Proper nutrients, vitamin supplements, and gentle hair loss shampoo may be all that is required, other than patience. You may see hair growth begin again within 3 to 6 months.
If you are facing permanent hair loss, below are FDA approved and natural hair loss remedies that may work for you.
Minoxidil for Hair Loss, which is FDA approved to treat the loss of hair in men and women, and available without a prescription. Hair regrowth will stop once discontinued. It can be purchased as a leave in treatment or a foam, which is applied directly to the scalp.
Propecia – Finasteride for Hair Loss is also FDA Approved as a hair loss treatment for men only. Loss of hair will resume when treatment is discontinued. It requires a doctors prescription and is taken orally.
Hair Restoration Surgery or Flap Surgery – These medical procedures involve replacing inactive hair follicles with healthy ones, to grow back hair. These procedures offer the only permanent hair restoration solution, but there are risks and will not be effective for everyone. Price, pain and recovery periods are considerations before surgery for hair loss is undertaken.
Hair loss vitamins, shampoo, and home treatments such as laser therapy are also options. None of these choices are FDA approved, but many claim to have success. Other treatments for hair loss in men or women include covering the area with colored spray, applying thicking products or wearing a wig or toupee.
