Hair Loss – Causes and Treatments

Monday, March 16, 2009

Hair loss is the main concern of many people today. Hair is the important part of human body; it gives the look that is needed to project personality externally. Shedding 80 – 100 hairs a day is considered normal. When a hair is shed, it is replaced by a new hair from the same follicle. If you estimate that your hair loss is more than what is expected, consult your dermatologist immediately.

There are number of reasons of hair loss. Some of the common causes are diseases, inherited factors, medicines, poor nutrition, stress, injury or aging.

  • Heredity: Pattern baldness is generally the result of heredity or hormones. Hair loss due to hereditary usually becomes apparent in men in their late 20’s.
  • Diseases: Disease such as diabetes can cause hair loss. Infection caused by cuts or even medical operations may cause hair loss.
  • Medicines: Some medications that may cause hair loss include birth control pills, overdose of vitamin A or medicines used to treat gout.
  • Poor nutrition: Hair is made up of a form of protein. Poor nutrition, especially lack of protein and iron in the diet can result into hair loss.
  • Stress: Physical stress or mental stress due to surgery or illness may result to hair loss three to four months after the stress.
  • Injury: Injuries to scalp can damage hair follicles and cause hair loss.
  • Aging: Aging weakens the hair follicles; the active growth phase of hair becomes shorter as age progresses.

Some hair loss treatments can actually stop or even reverse hair loss. Discuss with your doctor all of the possibilities that could cause hair loss. Causes like stress, diseases, medicines, poor nutrition are temporary and get cured with time. Permanent hair loss often caused by hormonal imbalance can be treated by medications like Propecia or another option is hair transplant surgery. Propecia is a FDA approved proved hair loss treatment. It is an oral prescription treatment and is available online also on prescription.