Hair Loss: Causes and Cures

What causes hair loss?

Hair loss is an essential part of renewal.New growth replaces,As some hair falls out. However, this process may be fast by a number of conditions. Hormonal changes may be cause of rapid hair loss, such as during pregnancy or childbirth, or even when coming off the Pill.As these changes in hormone levels control, the hair loss should clear up, so the condition is only temporary. In both male and female patients experiencing severe hair loss hormone levels were studied. The research shows a complex interaction between sex and thyroid hormones that may lead to the condition.
Another factor linked to hair loss is Stress. Though it has not been proved exactly, emotional trauma is associated with hair loss to some extent, but milder strains and worries probably do the same thing. Continuous Stress placed on the body may also cause a woman's hair to drop off. For example, crash dieting, in which a woman loses a great amount of weight fastly, may also cause her to lose her locks, too. As stress is often transient, if its cause clears up, the resultant hair loss will also disappear.

Female-Pattern Hair Loss

Hair tends to thin out in women with age,Though the results are not as dramatic as they are for many men - think of your grandmother's hair compared to your grandfather's (if he has any). Pattern of hair loss in women is similar to men's, but has several important differences. The ages we start having hair loss are the same. A few of both sexes will start having hair loss very early--in their twenties, but most do not note changes until the mid-thirties to forties.Hair loss in women tends to be an even overall thinning; as compared to men's hair loss in which the hairline recedes andthere is balding at the crown of the head. Women tend to lose hair on the crown and at the hairline, which is called female-pattern hair loss.

When to Worry

No doubt,hair loss may often be temporary,but a condition called alopecia areata (al-o-pee-see-uh are-ee-ah-tuh) ismore dangerous.Patchy loss of hair is a symptom of this disease, and if a woman is experiencing this, she should consulther dermatologist as early as possible. Corticosteroids are often prescribed to slow or even halt hair loss.There is often hereditary hair loss and it effects about 50% of women. As long as it is not abrupt, severe, or patchy, nor due to emotional or physical stresses, it can be considered a normal part of maturing.

Treatment
Many women want to prevent from any kind of hair loss. If a woman desires to take treatment medically, she will get better results if she acts sooner rather than later. Rogaine (minoxidil) is one of the most popular remedies. It costs about $30 a month and must be applied twice a day.Still, only about 20% of people have normal hair re-growth, another 40% have a lighter, shorter re-growth that is like "peach fuzz." The growth only lasts for as long as the woman uses it. Propecia,a new drug, is now being observed by Merck on post-menopausal women. Propecia works by blocking the conversions of testosterone into a related hormone, dihydrotestosterone that shrinks hair follicles. Its success rate is same as Rogaine in the men and likewise the hair re-growth stops once the drug is discontinued.Whether Propecia works with women's hormone profile or not is unknown. In addition, this drug cannot be taken while pregnant because it can cause birth defects in the urinary and genital organs of male fetuses. There are concerns about taking a drug that affects hormones long-term in men or women.
The earlier hair transplant techniques taking large chunks of scalp and hair from dense areas and moved them to bald spots, something that did not address the typical situation for women. The newer, micrograft hair transplant techniques make this a viable option for a woman's overall thinning pattern.

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