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Alopecia (also called hair loss or baldness) is a dermatologic condition that may be caused by many reasons. It is normal to lose some hair every day, but if you see a receding hairline, bald spot, or overall thinning hair, it may be a sign of a medical condition. The sooner you find the cause, the more likely to successfully treat and prevent alopecia.
Alopecia hair loss, not only refers to the loss of hair on the scalp, it can also affect the entire body. A normal person sheds around 50-100 hairs (around 0.1% of total hair on the head) a day which are replaced with new hairs, so it is usually unnoticeable. Disrupting this hair-shedding cycle or damaging hair follicles would cause hair loss temporarily or permanently. If you notice that you are losing more hair than usual, it is better to seek help from your doctor as soon as possible.
Determining the underlying cause of alopecia is very important for diagnosing and treatment decisions. It is typically related to one or more of the following causes:
Similar to the abovesaid causes, the following risk factors can also increase the risk of hair loss, including:
There are many types of alopecia with different causes.
Depending on the cause, alopecia can present in different ways. It can be gradual or sudden without any signs.
Dermatologists usually assess alopecia by observing patterns of hair loss, then confirm the diagnosis by asking some questions or performing some tests.
For certain types of alopecia, hair may regrow within a year even without treatment. On the other hand, your dermatologist may recommend some treatment options to speed up the growth and prevent further hair loss. Hair loss treatment includes mainly medication and surgery.
Alopecia itself is hard to prevent since its causes can be influenced by many factors. Nevertheless, there are still available strategies to prevent further hair loss:
Balanced diet: Iron-rich (e.g. beef, beans, green leafy vegetables) and protein-rich (e.g. eggs, lean meats, seafood) foods should be consumed in the diet. Also, foods with fish oil, biotin, and zinc can improve hair health.
Hairstyles: Try not to pull, twist, or rub your hair. Avoid using styling chemical products and tools.
Reduce stress: A stressful lifestyle may be the culprit of alopecia. Try to relax and reduce stress by doing yoga, meditating, exercising, or listening to music, etc.
There are many possible causes of alopecia, in which the most common cause is family history and heredity. Other causes are hormonal changes, medical conditions, medications, severe stress, diet, and hairstyle, etc.
It depends on the types of alopecia. For some types of alopecia, hair may regrow even without treatment like alopecia areata. Most importantly is to get the correct diagnosis.
Alopecia is neither a serious nor life-threatening disease. However, its psychosocial impacts are usually concerning. As alopecia patients may feel uncomfortable about their hair and appearance, it may lead to depression, anxiety and other mental impacts.
A balanced diet with adequate amounts of iron and protein can help to prevent alopecia. Iron-rich foods include dried fruit, beans and red meats, white eggs, lean meats, and seafood are examples of protein-rich foods. Besides, fish oil-rich foods (e.g. salmon) and biotin-rich foods (e.g. egg yolks) are also beneficial for alopecia.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters and is not sponsored. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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