Hair Loss

The Secret of Great Health Care

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Hair Loss

(Free Health Ebook Chapter on Hair Loss)

The technical term for hair loss is alopecia. It is not only a cosmetic issue but is associated with psychological distress. While it can affect either men or women, it is more common in men.

What causes hair loss

The most common cause of hair loss is androgenic alopecia, better known as male or female pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness is associated with a receding hairline at the temples and a loss of hair on the top of the head. Women often have thinning or lose hair on the front, sides or crown

Other causes of hair loss include:

Medications: some blood pressure medications, chemotherapy (often 2-4 weeks after chemo or radiation), anabolic steroids, birth control pills, medication for gout and some depression medications.
Infections – fungal infections, syphilis, and some skin infection
Systemic illness such as lupus, high fever or thyroid disease
Menopause
Psychological stress
Physical stress – after a surgery as late as 3-4 months after surgery
Alopecia areata (this is associated with patchy hair loss from an unknown cause)
Chemicals used to treat the hair such as products to straighten the hair
Hair pulling
Poor diet – low levels of protein or iron

What does hair loss look like

Male pattern hair loss starts on the temples and the crown of the head and spreads to diffuse thinning. It typically spares the back and sides

Female pattern baldness is characterized by the center and the front of the scalp thinning without the receding hairline

If there is a non-symmetrical pattern consider trichomonia. Trichotillomania is a hair pulling disorder.

Who needs to go to the doctor

To determine the cause it is important to ask a few questions:

When did the hair loss start? Rapid hair loss is more likely caused by a disease.
Is the hair loss generalized or localized? The pattern to female or male baldness is typical. Any other type of hair loss should prompt a visit to your doctor.
Is there any itching or scaling of the scalp? This may indicated a disease.
Has there been any recent toxic exposure? Drugs, toxins, or chemicals.
What are the hair practices – do you use tight braids? Any hair practices that involve tightly pulling the hair may result in hair loss.
Has there been any fatigue, cold or heat intolerance, weight changes? This may indicated a problem with the thyroid or endocrine system.
Obsessive compulsive disease (OCD). Those with OCD may pull their hair resulting in hair loss.
Hirsutism. This is characterized by growth of body or facial hair in women where it not typically. This may include the face, chest or stomach.

Individuals who need to go to the doctor include those with:

Hair loss that is not typical for male or female pattern hair loss
Females who have hair growth on their face, chest or stomach.
Signs and symptoms suggestive of a systemic illness (fatigue, cold intolerance)
Sign and symptoms suggestive of heavy metal poisoning
Hair loss that is occurred abruptly
Any suggestion that a medication is causing the hair loss
Any suggestion that a mental illness (excessive hair pulling or OCD) is causing the hair loss.
Pustules with scaring indicated a skin disease

How to treat hair loss

There are not great options available for the management of hair loss.

Topical products (see OTC products)

To purchase products discussed in this chapter visit The Drug Store.
Finasteride (Propecia) is indicated for male pattern baldness. This is a prescription pill that is dosed one mg and needs to be given for at least six months until there is a positive effect noticed. Side effects include decreased sex drive, ejaculation problems and muscle pain/weakness.

Natural products. A great natural solution to treating hair loss is available at: How to Naturally Regrow Lost Hair.

Surgical options. Few scientific studies confirm effectiveness of surgical options.

Over-the-counter products

Minoxidil – prolongs the growth phase of the hair follicles. It needs to be applied topically to the hair twice a day for 8-12 months. Treatment must be continued to maintain the benefit.

Rogaine is the most popular over-the-counter product that contained Monoxidil. It comes in a men and woman formulation. The male formulation is meant to be placed on the top of the head and comes in a strength of 5%.

Rogaine for women is the same medication but its dose is only 2%

To purchase products discussed in this chapter visit The Drug Store.