Hair LOSS

HAIR LOSS

Just thinking about hair loss can make you anxious. Suspecting you are actually losing hair far worse. You loose some hair everyday, of course: about 70 to 100 strands, out of a total 100,000 to 150,000. it may take a loss of up to 70 percent of normal hair for even medically trained eye to diagnose a true thinning condition. Here’s the 411 on hair loss you need to know.



HAIR GROWTH CYCLE
Hair follicle go through three stages of development:
• The Anagen (growth) phase lasts anywhere from two to six years. Hair grows approximately one-half to one inch a month. The hair shaft is thickest during the anagen phase.
• The Catagen (resting) phase lasts just a few weeks.
• The Telogen (shedding) phase usually lasts five to six weeks. New hair begins to grow, and the telogen hair is shed and replaced. Telogen hair is very fine.

CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS
If you suspect your hair is thinning, you should talk to your dermatologist, who may have better knowledge of the causes than your regular physician. The most common include:
• Female-pattern alopecia ( female pattern hair loss, the most common cause of thinning hair of women )
• Thyroid disease
• Severe anemia
• Lupus
• Side effects from a prescription drug
• Hormonal imbalance
• Zinc, Iron, Protein or biotin deficiency
• Traction alopecia ( physical trauma to the hair shaft )


TREATMENT
There are many options to choose from when fighting hair loss and your dermatologist can recommend one that is right for you. Some formulas you might hear:
FNS Follicle Nutrient Serum - Contains natural ingredients said to stimulate hair growth.
Nizoral Shampoo - May provide some benefits to women with female-pattern alopecia.
Rogaine - A tropical medication that helps trigger growth of hair. Women should stick with the 2% formula to minimize growth of hair elsewhere (like the face)
Propecia - A prescription medication taken once a day to help regrow recently lost hair and slow or stop hair loss.
Flutamide – A prescription medication that can help reduce the female-pattern alopecia.
Minimize Physical Trauma – Not a product but an action. Minimizing the use of daily hot roller, blow dryer, flat irons and chemical application can reduce the trauma on the hair shaft and help minimize hair loss.


HAIR BREAKAGE OR HAIR LOSS?
Many people mistake breakage for hair loss, but there is a distinct difference. Hair loss is a medical condition; hair breakage is not. Follow these steps to keep your hair intact and looking healthy to avoid breakage.
Shampoo – Make sure your routine shampoo says its pH-balanced and avoid those that are alkaline. Alkaline shampoo strip the hair’s natural oils and disrupt the acid mantle, causing dehydration and leading to porous, fragile hair.

Hot-Oil Treatments
Hot-oil treatments have become very popular. However, the very heat that causes them to penetrate the hair shaft can also lead to further damage of the hair. Over time, the continued excessive heat exposure will cause the hair to become weaker. Stick with regular conditioners or hair mask.

Leave-in Conditioner/Treatment
Consider the routine use the leave-in conditioner/treatment or detangler. Typically applied after towel drying, these help reduce trauma and breakage when you comb through wet hair.