Is hair loss
normal?
Everyone has some hair loss every day.
In fact, it is normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day. However, some people lose
a lot of hair early in life because it runs in their family (inherited) or
because of disease, medications, stress, injury, or damage to the hair.
What causes
hair loss?
The most common cause of hair loss is
genetics—you inherit the tendency to lose hair from either or both of your
parents. This is called male-pattern or female-pattern hair loss, or
androgenetic alopecia.
Types of hair loss:
Toxic alopecia
This type of hair loss is temporary and can a severe and often infectious
disease by a period of as long as three to four months. It can occur in
hypothyroidism, diabetes, hormonal problems and imbalance, nutrient and vitamin
deficiencies, such as iron and biotin, hypopituitarism, parasites, poor
digestion, early stage of syphilis, after pregnancy, and with thallium
compounds, vitamin A or retinoid overdoses, or other cytotoxic drugs.
Alopecia areata
This is a sudden hair loss in demarcated areas. It can affect any hairy area,
but most frequently affects the scalp and beard. Hair loss confined to a few
areas is often reversed in a few months even without treatment. Recurrences may
occur. Alopecia areata usually occurs in people with no obvious skin disease or
systemic disease, but in rare cases lab tests may show anti-microsomial
antibodies to thyroglobulin, gastric parietal cells and adrenal cells.
Trichotillomania (hair pulling)
Trichotillomania is a habit that usually appears in childhood. This condition
is often hard to differentiate from alopecia areata, and may remain undiagnosed
for a long time. Hairs may be broken, hairs may be different lengths, and there
may be regrowth seen.
Scarring alopecia
Scarring alopecia results from inflammation and tissue destruction. It may be
due to injuries such as burns, physical trauma, or destruction after xrays. In
these cases, little regrowth is expected. Other causes are cutaneous lupus
erythematosus, lichen planus, chronic deep bacterial or fungal infections, deep
ulcers, sarcoidosis, syphilis, or tuberculosis. Slow growing tumors of the
scalp are a rare cause of hair loss.
Other common causes of hair loss include:
· Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis),
which is common in children.
· Mental stress or physical stress, such as recent surgery,
illness, or high fever.
· Chemotherapy, the use of medication to destroy cancer
cells.
· Pulling your hair back too tightly, wearing tight braids
or ponytails, or using curling irons or dyes.
· Age. As you age, you grow less hair. It is also thinner
and tends to break more easily.
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