There
are various reasons that can lead to hair loss such as personal
health, genetic factors, stress, climate, side effects
of some medication, and improper nourishment. Hair has a growth
cycle that can continue from 2 to 6 years.
On an average a
hair grows 1 cm per month during this cycle. At any given point of
time 90% of the hair is in the growing stage and 10% in
resting age.
After 2 to 3 months the resting hair falls off, and a new hair stats
growing at its place. On an average one loses 50 to 100
hairs per day but some people experience excessive hair loss. Anyone
can be affected by this problem but the extent of the
problem various from person to person.
Hair loss, caused by weather or weakness owing to an illness, may be
remedied easily but in other cases it is advisable to
consult a physician or a dermatologist to determine the exact cause
and consequently the possible cure for the hair loss.
A Simple Test
A vast majority to people suffer from the problem of hair loss
today. Seeing a vast bunch of hair in the basin after a hair
wash makes many people paranoid, some even start fearing baldness. A
simple test called ‘Tug Test’ can help you determine
whether or not there is some problem. Hold about 15 to 20 hair
between you thumb and the index finger, pull them slowly but
firmly. If more than 6 hair break then you might need some help.
Types of Hair Loss
There are various types of hair loss, the most common are:
• Alopecia Areata is considered an auto-immune disease that starts
with a rounded bald patch about an inch across. It
is often first experienced in childhood. 95% of hair loss in both
men and women is because of Androgenetic alopecia. In women
it leads to diffused hair loss over most the scalp but in men the
loss of hair starts with a receding hairline and then thins
the top of the head.
• Hair loss caused by chemicals or radiation is called Anagen
Effluvium. Cancer therapy or exposure to chemicals like
Thallium and Arsenic leads to sudden hair loss within 1 to 3 weeks
of the exposure.
• Telogen Effluvium is a kind of hair loss caused by sudden or
severe stress. It stops the growth of hair follicles
prematurely. This kind of hair loss is often temporary.
• Trichotillomania and Traction Alopecia are two kinds of self
induced hair loss. Often, consciously or unconsciously,
we ourselves inflict some damage to our hair. Young children,
adolescents and even some adults are in the habit of constantly
pulling or plucking their hair causing Trichotillomania.
Traction Alopecia is a result of various hairstyles that inflict
continuous an excessive pulling on the hair. The excessive
gripping and pulling of the hair, that styles like tight ponytails,
buns, and cornrows entail, results in hair loss.
Apart from these there are various other types of hair loss too such
as Scarring Alopecia, Syphilitic Alopecia and
Scleroderma.. |
