hair loss

There are Many Types of Hair Loss

There is just not one type of hair loss. You can suffer from effuviums, alopecia areata, scarring alopecia, congenital hypotrichosis, or have a fungal infection. There is male-pattern hair loss, female-pattern hair loss and hair loss associated with other diseases and conditions and medication adverse reactions as well as hair loss as a result of the stress in your life.

In order to figure out which type of hair loss you have it is important to see a doctor or dermatologist to receive a diagnosis. The diagnosis will help to discover what is causing your hair loss. Once the cause or multiple causes are known, a treatment plan can be devised. Your doctor or dermatologist will need to have a good account of the symptoms you have been having and how long you have experienced excessive hair loss. These clues along with what your diet is like and if you are experiencing any stress in your life can help to arrive at the correct type of hair loss you are suffering from.

Effluviums are a type of hair loss that affects different phases of the hair growth cycle. The term effluviums mean, "outflow".

Alopecia areata is a type of hair loss affected by your immune system. It attacks hair follicles. The hair follicles are where all hair growth begins. This type of hair loss happens most often in those younger than age 20, although it can occur at any age.
Scarring alopecia causes irreversible damage to the hair follicles and then scar tissue covers the scalp in that area. Another term used to describe this type of hair loss is, "cicatricial alopecia".

Congenital hypotrichosis is when there is no hair growth at all, so it is technically not a hair loss condition but a condition in which no hair at all appears on the scalp. This condition is a genetic disease. There are not usually any treatments for this type so those suffering from this type will need to cope by accepting baldness or by getting creative in covering it up or using hair pieces.

Fungal infections can cause hair loss and is commonly seen in children and teens. Antifungal medications can treat the infection and when the infection is gone, hair will grow back.

Because there are so many different types of hair loss or conditions in which hair does not grow it is important to understand the type of hair loss you are dealing with first, before deciding what to do about it. Most types of hair loss will have identifiable causes that can lead to appropriate treatments. Your doctor can explain about the different types of hair loss, your particular diagnosis and the treatment options available to you.

Tags: types of hair loss, effluviums, alopecia, hypotrichosis

Examining The Problem of Hair Loss

Have you any idea just how big a problem hair loss is? Does it affect you in any way? Do you suffer from hair loss, have a loved one who has dealt with hair loss or are you worried you may have a hair loss problem in the future because a close family relation has hair loss? Hair loss can happen to children, men and women so the problem is pretty wide spread.

There are many reasons why hair loss can occur and sometimes there is more than one cause for hair loss. Women usually suffer from hair thinning more than balding but they can experience balding as well. Men usually experience hair loss earlier in life than women on average. Children typically experience hair loss as a result of a fungal infection such as Ringworm or from medications that they take or as a result of chemotherapy for cancer.

Many causes for hair loss are a result of how we care for our hair. We can contribute to hair loss by pulling on our hair too tight when we use hair accessories such as ponytail bands, cornrow hair pieces, brushing too hard or for too long or by using harsh chemicals and solutions on our scalps such as when we color our hair, have a permanent, or use hot oil treatments.

If we have poor nutrition habits or are malnourished we can experience hair loss.

Hair loss can occur from heat such as using high heat control on electrical dryers, or from constant exposure to the sun. Hair loss can also occur from other harsh environmental elements.

When we tug on our hair too hard such as constantly twirling or pulling it out of nervous habit or when we have a mental illness in which we intentionally pull out our hair.

Sometimes hair loss is the result of stress. Stress can come in the form of emotional, mental or physical stress and all three can cause hair loss. Major surgery, a loss of a loved one, or long-term financial hardships can all contribute to hair loss.

Even the normal hair cycle of growth, and rest results in the hair falling out but that occurs in a normal pattern of hair loss. Hair loss becomes a problem when the hair falling out is of an excessive amount so that the hair becomes thinned out in a noticeable fashion or patches of balding or a large bald area appears on the scalp.

Consulting with your doctor or a dermatologist can help you to arrive at a diagnosis and the cause or causes for your hair loss. Once you know what is causing you to lose your hair a treatment plan can be formulated. It is easier to cope with hair loss if you know what causes the problem. Your doctor or dermatologist can guide you to other resources of information including local support groups where you will be able to learn more about coping with hair loss. 

Tags: problem of hair loss, hair loss, balding