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Archives for April 2022

Types of Hair Loss: The Six Main Types of Hair Loss

Hair loss is a condition that the majority of the populace battle with nowadays. I could say that the types of hair loss in females are more manageable as ladies have wigs for covering it up. On the other hand, it’s more visible in males as it causes hair thinning, receding hairlines, and even balding.

This condition is indeed a cause for worry. However, to get a solution to a problem, you need to understand the problem. Hence the need to understand the main types of hair loss.

Key Takeaways

Alopecia, more popularly known as hair loss, is a condition that can affect not the scalp but the whole body. It may be hereditary, temporary, or permanent. Alopecia has many forms of appearance and is more common in men. Hair loss in males often leads to baldness.

There are six major types of hair loss; while permanent hair loss has no treatment, the temporary type does. There are medical pills to strengthen the hair follicles and natural remedies and preventive measures. You can use these to salvage your hair as it is the crown of your being.

Different Types of Hair Loss

If you’re experiencing hair loss and want to identify the kind or are just interested in the topic, there are six major types of hair loss. And, of course, their causes vary. As we focus on the types, the six most significant ones are below.

1. Androgenic Alopecia

A type of hair loss that affects both genders is called male/ female pattern baldness. Make victims begin to experience receding hairline & vanishing of hair as early as their teenage years. However, in females, this genetic condition starts manifesting at the age of forty. They later experience general hair thinning with loss severity at the crown.

2. Involutional Alopecia

In this case, most hair follicles go to rest while the remaining hair grows scantier and shorter. It is natural, and the thinning is mainly experienced as one age.

3. Alopecia Universalis

Victims of this kind of Alopecia experience full-body hair loss. This condition is severe as naturally, hair grows on all parts of the body except the palms and feet. There is a fall out of eyelash brows, scalp, pubic hair, etc.

4. Alopecia Areata

This hair loss is common in children and young adults and starts without warning. It is prone to becoming total baldness, known as Alopecia totalis eventually. However, the baldness is mostly temporary as the hair returns within a few years in about 90% of cases.

5. Trichotillomania

This kind of Alopecia results from a psychological disorder that causes people to uproot their hair.

6. Scarring Alopecia

Scarring Alopecia is caused by inflammatory skin conditions and disorders that cause scars that weaken and kill hair regeneration.

The above are the six major types of hair loss. However, there is one more rampant type that isn’t among the top six. It is known as Telogen Effluvium resulting from change in hair growth cycle, emotional or physical shock. It becomes visible in the form of hair thinning. There are also several unmentioned types of hair loss.

Preventions and Treatments for Various Types of Hair Loss Patterns

To every problem, there are tons of solutions. You just have to look well enough to find them. If you’re reading this, you’re in luck because below is a compilation of effective treatments & preventive procedures.

For prevention of hair loss:

  • Consume healthy meals and balanced diets. Focus on eating proteins and iron.
  • Rather than using a towel to press or twist your hair after washing, pat it till it dries.
  • Avoid pulling, twisting, rubbing, and touching your hair unnecessarily.
  • Go for protective and loose hairstyles that do not stretch your hair tautly and stress your scalp.
  • Be mindful of the hair products you use.

For treatment:

  • Scalp Micro Pigmentation: It is a non-surgical procedure that gives the illusion of fuller hair. Also known as a hair tattoo involves using pointillism to recreate an illusion of hair on the scalp. This process creates tiny dots on the scalp in different hues that bear a semblance to natural hair follicles. It is usable for any hair loss, including cancer.
  • Over-the-counter medications that often contain minoxidil. These include creams, foams, and gels.
  • Surgical procedures like hair transplant or scalp reduction.

Please note that these are to mention but a few. There are many more preventions and treatments, including effective natural home remedies.

Conclusion

The causes of hair loss in humans range from genes, aging, hormones, medications, radiation therapy, and stress to hairstyles. While this demise/ reduction of hair doesn’t bother some, others are in perpetual turmoil. For individuals in the second category, there’s hope for a boost of your confidence once again.

There are many ways to prevent, treat or hide hair loss. You should be bold enough to rock your look or cover it pretty well. However, there are also precautionary measures to ensure you never have to face such a dilemma.

Hey there, I hope you had a great read? If you’ve got any unanswered questions, utilize the comment section and ask away!

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Stress and Hair Loss: Can Stress Cause Significant Hair Loss?

Stress has a lot of impact on the human body, one of which is hair loss. In addition, the conditions go hand in hand when the body becomes excessively fatigued. What stress does is push your hair follicles to a resting phase. When this happens, that area of your head stops growing new hair.

You might be wondering what kinds of stress induces hair loss and what you can do about it. Look no further as this article explains everything you need to know about the subject matter.

Key Takeaways

Many studies have been carried out to determine the relationship between stress and hair loss. Furthermore, results showed that both had three conditions. They include:

  • Telogen effluvium (which has to do with poor diet and stress).
  • Trichotillomania (due to stress and anxiety).
  • Alopecia Areata ( mostly has to do with aging in stress).

Though therapy can work for some of these, it is highly advised you eat and rest right.

Stress and Hair Loss: Can Anxiety Make Your Hair Disappear?

Ever noticed an increase in hair shedding after a major life event or period of intense stress? You’re not alone. The link between stress and hair loss is well-established, with millions experiencing this frustrating side effect of mental and emotional strain. But how exactly does stress impact our precious locks, and how significant can the hair loss truly be?

The Science Behind Stress and Hair Loss:

Our hair follicles go through a natural growth cycle of growing (anagen), resting (telogen), and shedding (exogen). Normally, around 50-100 hairs are shed daily, replaced by new growth. However, stress can disrupt this cycle, pushing more follicles into the resting phase prematurely. This leads to a condition called telogen effluvium, characterized by excessive hair shedding weeks or even months after the triggering event.

How Common is Stress-Related Hair Loss?

Stats show that telogen effluvium affects up to 30% of women and 20% of men at some point in their lives. It’s particularly common after major life stressors like:

  • Job loss
  • Divorce
  • Death of a loved one
  • Financial difficulties
  • Medical surgery
  • Severe illness

How Significant is the Hair Loss?

The amount of hair loss caused by stress can vary greatly. Some people experience diffuse thinning across the scalp, while others notice patchy hair loss in specific areas. The good news is that stress-related hair loss is often temporary. Once the stressor subsides and the body has time to adjust, hair follicles typically return to their normal growth cycle, and hair regrowth can occur within 6-12 months.

Beyond Telogen Effluvium: Other Stress-Hair Connections:

  • Alopecia areata: In this autoimmune condition, stress can trigger the immune system to attack hair follicles, leading to patchy hair loss.
  • Trichotillomania: This hair-pulling disorder can worsen under stress, leading to significant hair loss. We will look at these in detail shortly.

What Kind of Hair Loss is Associated With Stress?

Medically, there are a lot of hair loss conditions that have been diagnosed and talked about over the years. Researchers discovered stress and hair loss to have a cohabitation and split the conditions into three:

1. Telogen Effluvium

This condition is the most common cause of stress-induced hair loss. What happens here is that fatigue pushes your hair follicles to a vegetative state. This way, they cannot produce any new hair from those follicles. Since the follicles are now weak, all it takes for your hair to fall off is washing, combing, or even rubbing.

A related cause of telogen effluvium is poor diet and hormonal changes. Therefore, once you’re diagnosed with this condition, try your best to fix your diet. Good food doesn’t only keep you nourished; it also helps balance hormone levels.

2. Trichotillomania

If you experience hair loss because of stress, another condition you could have is trichotillomania.

Trichotillomania is a psychological condition where people pull out their hair by themselves. Although some know it as OCD, it’s quite different because this is caused by stress.

This condition is most common amongst teenage girls, and its trigger mechanisms are anxiety and stress. However, this isn’t for just the head alone, people with trichotillomania pull out hairs from other parts of their bodies too.

3. Alopecia Areata

You experience Alopecia Areata when your body’s immune system begins to attack your hair follicles. When the hair follicles are attacked, they can no longer hold or produce any hair.

People who suffer from alopecia start by experiencing thin hair, followed by bald spots. In addition, doctors are not yet precise on the cause of alopecia, but they know genetics can come to play. It isn’t precisely a stress-induced hair loss condition but makes the list because it can be very stressful.

How To Know if Hair Loss is A Result of Stress

Stress and hair loss can go hand in hand, but that doesn’t mean every hair loss condition results from stress.

There are some ways you can determine or decipher this problem. They include:

  • Check to notice if you lose up to 80-109 strands of hair in a day.
  • Bald patches on the head may be a sign of alopecia Areata.
  • Having the frequent urge to pull out your hair may signify trichotillomania.

Managing Stress and Protecting Your Hair

If you’re experiencing stress and hair loss, there are steps you can take:

  • Stress management techniques: Practice relaxation methods like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing.
  • Diet and Nutrition: Ensure a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals that support hair health.
  • Gentle hair care: Avoid harsh hair products and styling practices that can damage hair.
  • Seek professional help: If hair loss is severe or persistent, consult a dermatologist or trichologist for diagnosis and treatment options.

Will Hair Lost to Stress Grow Back?

Image source: Pexels

Looking at the situations surrounding the problem, it is only fair to ask if it is likely to be a permanent problem.

Hair loss because of stress will not stay permanently. The condition is only temporary, and depending on which one, yours going through, all you need is time.

For telogen effluvium, your hair begins to grow back within 3-6 months after starting therapy. However, in other cases like trichotillomania, you might not experience new hair growth until you seek medical help.

A few ways to cope with stress-induced hair loss are:

  • Go on a healthy diet. You can check out several diet plans online or see a dietician.
  • You can ask your doctor to recommend some multivitamins.
  • Learn to practice some relaxation techniques, e.g., taking long inhales and exhales, yoga, or any form of meditation.
  • Ask for professional advice from a medical doctor.
  • Take care of your hair with trusted products.

Conclusion

The relationship between stress and hair loss is undeniable. While the experience can be unsettling, understanding the science behind it and adopting effective stress management strategies can offer hope for hair regrowth and improved overall well-being. Remember, prioritizing mental and emotional health is key to keeping your hair and yourself thriving.

Stress and hair loss conditions do not automatically mean that the problem will be permanent. The best thing to do is to seek medical advice.

This way, you know what therapy and medication type work for you.

What do you think about this article? Let’s see your thoughts in the comment section.

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