I was 8 years old, when my mom first witnessed a quarter-sized round balding patch in the rear part of my head. I guess at first she misunderstood it with a birth mark that went unnoticed earlier. It was when one of my family friends (a dermatologist) met me in a get-together and noticed it. He called me for a medical examination and it was then that I was diagnosed by “Alopecia Areata”.
It is not just this 8-year-old kid, who today is 30 years and is still struggling with this condition, but many alike him. Hair fall is a common problem that affects different people in the society in many different ways. Hence, it is very important for us to be vigilant and observant of the pattern of hair loss that we have.
Hair growth cycle primarily occurs across three phases. It is during the telogen phase that the hair follicles rest and begin to fall apart from the shaft. This phase is followed by the anagen phase where the hair follicles begin to grow again. In case of disrupted hair growth cycle, the hair follicles fall out but fail to regenerate.
In one of our previous articles, we have shared expert comments and effective tips on how one can assure the health of their mane. Healthy eating, drinking lots of fluids (most importantly water), regular exercising, taking nutritional supplements and using good quality hair loss products are some of the key essentials for healthy hair. Well if you still are missing the fish’s eye, it is important to first know what form of hair fall you are going through.
Below, we have discussed some of the most common forms of hair loss affecting men, women and children.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition, causes the body’s immune cells to attack the healthy tissues which affects the hair growth cycle too. Commonly caused due to stress, it can affect both adults and children. In case of severity, the condition may also lead to massive hair shedding from the other parts of the body as well and lead to complete hair loss. Usually, dermatologists recommend the patients to try topical or oral medications in order to target hair regrowth.
Male Pattern Baldness
For men, in most cases, thinning of hair is noticeable around the hairline and crown. It is primarily governed by the genes, family history of baldness and male sex hormones called the androgens. As is known, each hair strand is associated with a hair cycle, which due to several reasons is perturbed. After a point the hair do not enter a new growth cycle which leads to baldness in a particular pattern. Some of the other commonly associated reasons for the baldness include serious diseases such as cancer, thyroid condition and anabolic steroids.
Also Read: Hibiscus Benefits for Hair Fall
Female Pattern Baldness
Female pattern baldness most commonly affects women aged around 50 years of age. Contrary to men, women have been found to lose their hair over the parting width. In their case, the hairline usually does not recede. Only in severe conditions such as increased androgen levels, will you see a female losing her hair around the hairline.
Telogen Effluvium
Most commonly, it is a form of hair loss that is primarily caused due to stress. It is a common dermatological condition that causes increased shedding of hair. This happens when there is a premature arrest of the growth of hair follicles and these follicles enter into the telogen phase (resting) followed by diffuse thinning of hair on the scalp. In most cases, the hair thins on the top of the scalp compared to the sides and back of the scalp. The hair loss is temporary and post recovery the hair soon grows back.
Seasonal Hair fall
This type of hair fall had to come as a separate category, because it is believed to be among the most common in our country. With our country being diverse not only in cultures, but also the seasons, the transition from one season to another is considered as one of the prime reasons for hair loss. For this, you need not worry as you can try a few grandma’s recipes and some novel hair serums and lotions.
At the very onset, it will be difficult for you to know what form of hair loss it is, and that is why we recommend no delay in seeing a dermatologist. For something that you may be assuming to be a nutritional deficiency could be due to more serious problem. Therefore, make sure you go for an effective diagnosis of the problem before you jump onto medications and herbal remedies.
For sure if left untreated, losing a few hair strands here and there may make you more prone to a bald head tomorrow! So go ahead and diagnose the kind of hair loss you are suffering from, and seek advice from a dermatologist.