Scalp hair loss happens all the time, it's a natural hair renewal cycle. Old hair dies and new hair grows in its place. But when they fall out with greater intensity than they subsequently grow, we can talk about the initial stage of baldness, as a result of which a bald patch on the head may appear.
Let's understand the terminology
Excessive hair loss that results in hairless patches or complete hair loss is medically referred to as alopecia. The most common type of this disease is alopecia areata. In this case, the hair falls out in a certain place: on the top of the head, above the eyebrows. The area affected by baldness is gradually expanding.
Today, medicine cannot unequivocally determine what causes baldness on the head. Science knows only the factors that provoke the onset of the disease and increase its course.
Alopecia affects men, women and even children. Sometimes hair loss can be a symptom of another disease, other times the problem isthe hairline itself. As soon as excessive hair loss begins to bother you or a bald spot has formed on your head, you should urgently visit a doctor. A specialist who deals with problems with hair and scalp is called a trichologist.
Why does hair fall out?
The exact cause that affects the hair follicles and leads to hair loss has not yet been identified. Definitely, a genetic factor plays a role in the appearance of baldness: if any of your relatives had a bald spot on your head, then with a high probability you will have it in the same place and at the same age. In addition, genetic diseases that affect the density and quality of hair are also inherited.
In second place in terms of influence on the appearance of baldness are endocrine disorders. Any diseases of the thyroid gland, as well as disruptions in the balance of the hormonal system, can lead to focal hair loss and even complete baldness.
In addition, the state of the nervous system significantly affects the state of the hair follicles. Strong nervous shocks and chronic stress quite often lead to chronic hair loss, resulting in a bald head. Causes of a neurogenic and endocrine nature very often occur simultaneously, which only aggravates the course of alopecia.
Additional factors that can negatively affect hair density and growth are infectious diseases - acute and chronic, fungal pathologies of the scalp, injuriesthe surface of the skin on which hair follicles are located, as well as local inflammatory processes in tissues and organs.
Features of baldness in different people
The baldness on the head manifests itself differently for everyone, and it depends on various factors. The manifestation of alopecia differs by gender, age and depending on localization. Baldness is an unpleasant condition that affects both men and women, and in rare cases can also affect children.
The baldness on the head of men is not perceived by society as an extraordinary phenomenon, rather, it indicates age-related changes in the male body. This is not always the case: alopecia is a pathological condition, just not every man will decide to go to the doctor with a similar problem.
In men, alopecia areata most often occurs, when baldness begins gradually, increasing more and more over time. The areas above the eyebrows are most susceptible to this phenomenon (bald patches appear on the forehead), as well as the crown of the head.
Baldness on the head of women causes much more frustration for its owners: it is unacceptable for the fair sex in modern society to walk with bald patches. Most often, female alopecia is manifested by excessive hair loss and a decrease in their total number, without the appearance of a bald spot with clear boundaries. The most noticeable absence of hair in women in the temporal region and on the back of the head.
Children's form of baldness is a rather rare phenomenon that requires an urgent consultation with a doctor, soas may indicate the presence of a serious illness or developmental disorder in the child.
Is there a cure for baldness?
Any competent trichologist can give a list of recommendations on how to treat baldness on the head. But initially, you should tune in to the fact that there is simply no magic pill that will stop the process of hair loss.
The treatment of alopecia is a comprehensive examination and identification of possible causes of the disease. After that, the doctor selects the appropriate therapy, which will necessarily include drugs for internal use and external use.
Don't trust advertisements or sellers of "miracle products" that promise instant results after shampooing. Hair loss is a problem that occurs inside the body, which means that treatment should also begin from the inside. Any topical product that can be used to wash your hair, rub into your hair or make lotions is nothing more than an auxiliary that can help with temporary loss of a small amount of hair.
What does traditional medicine offer?
After establishing the cause of hair loss, the doctor selects an adequate drug therapy. The set of drugs will depend on the diagnosis that has been established. If thyroid dysfunction or other endocrine disorders are detected, then hormonal therapy is mandatory. Picking it up yourself is categorically contraindicated: due toa high probability of side effects, the appointment of hormonal medications should only be handled by a specialist.
If a bald spot on the head appears due to a skin disease (psoriasis, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis), then in addition to treating the disease from the inside, shampoos with a low content of hormones can be prescribed. Such drugs help to quickly relieve inflammation and reduce the rate of cell death on the scalp. Thanks to these measures, the metabolic processes in the skin are restored, and the process of hair loss is normalized.
Very often, patients who are worried about hair loss are prescribed sedative therapy to calm the nervous system, as well as a course of taking multivitamins and trace elements.
Hardware treatment
In addition to medications, physiotherapeutic methods show high efficiency in improving the condition of the hairline. Usually, a course is prescribed, consisting of 10-14 procedures, which must be repeated after one and a half to two months.
Physiotherapy procedures are aimed at improving blood circulation in the scalp, accelerating metabolic processes and nutrition in the hair follicles. The effect of applying such a treatment does not come very quickly, but it is more persistent and natural.
Among the most popular means of physiotherapy for the treatment of alopecia, darsonval occupies a special place. The impact on the scalp with high-frequency current pulses allows not only to improve blood circulation and stimulate metabolic processes inhair follicles, but also favorably affect the state of nerve endings on the skin and the nervous system as a whole. Darsonvalization is a simple, affordable, inexpensive and effective method of hardware treatment of alopecia. As prescribed by a doctor, you can take a course of darsonvalization in almost any clinic.
Also, laser therapy shows high efficiency in baldness. It is carried out in beauty salons, the procedure is more expensive and has a number of contraindications, so it should be controlled by a doctor.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine offers a large number of prescriptions for baldness. All of them are based on self-preparation of masks or shampoos for washing your hair. Such products may contain various decoctions of herbs, natural foods and fresh juice from plants.
For the most part, these methods have a beneficial effect on the condition of the hair and scalp. But in the case when there is real baldness and intense hair loss, home remedies will be ineffective, and a consultation with a trichologist is necessary to select therapy.
General recommendations for hair loss
The condition of the hair and scalp is an indicator of the he alth of the whole organism. Therefore, at the first symptoms of unhe althy hair, it is necessary to reconsider your lifestyle and diet. Here are the basic steps to follow for increased hair loss:
- full night rest for 7-8 hours;
- rejectionalcohol and junk food: fried, smoked, s alty and fast food;
- make a menu with an emphasis on fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs, exclude various sauces and food additives from the diet;
- start taking multivitamins and trace elements;
- take a course of herbal sedatives or soothing herbal teas;
- remove aggressive hair washing and styling products from use - they should be with a minimum amount of fragrances and dyes.
If after a month of following these recommendations the situation with the hairline does not normalize, you should visit a doctor for a consultation.
What to do if treatment doesn't work?
It happens that, due to various circumstances, medicine cannot help, and the hair continues to fall out. Do not despair, because there are alternative methods for solving the problem of baldness.
For women, it is possible to use a wig, which is now made from natural materials. Such products look very organic and do not cause discomfort when worn.
If there is partial hair loss, then hairdressers can offer an extension procedure: artificial strands are selected according to color and texture and attached to their curls.
Men can also wear wigs or shave their heads bald in accordance with the current fashion. Gentlemen are also offered a more radical solution to this problem - hair transplantation.
The appearance of bald patches and hair loss is a serious phenomenon. No need to treat himnegligent and afraid of a visit to the doctor. An experienced specialist will be able to establish a diagnosis and choose an adequate treatment. Pay close attention to the condition of your hair, and they will respond to you with a he althy and shiny look!
