Hair loss is a normal situation that everyone experiences in their life. Hair loss can be caused by seasonal changes, diet, various diseases, and genetic predisposition. A healthy person may experience 100-150 hair loss per day on average. However, prolonged hair loss and an excessive amount of hair loss may indicate various problems. Now, what are the causes of hair loss, what are the types of hair loss, and what can be done to prevent hair loss? questions can be answered.
What is Hair Loss?
Hair loss (alopecia) may be temporary or permanent, affecting only part or all of your scalp. Hair loss can be a normal result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions, or aging. Hair loss can affect anyone, but men are more likely to experience it. The most common cause of baldness is hereditary hair loss with advanced age.
Some people prefer to let their hair loss run its course untreated and hidden. Some people choose one of the available treatments to prevent further hair loss and allow hair to regrow. In a healthy person, hair loss can last up to two months. However, if the hair loss period exceeds two months, it may be a sign of some serious diseases and may require specialist help.
What Provoke Hair Loss?
All existing hair follicles have its own life cycle. Each strand of hair lives for 4-6 years and then falls out. An average of 100 strands of hair loss per day is considered normal. If more than this number is shed, if the amount of hair that can be touched has increased while taking a bath, or if we get 3-5 strands of hair when we pull the washed and dried hair by hand, this situation should be taken seriously. Hair loss can have many different causes. The important thing is to identify the cause and treat it appropriately. What exactly gives rise to hair loss?
Genetic Factors
The reasons for hair loss in men and women are different. Hair loss seen in men is usually genetic and male-type hormone-sensitive hair loss. This type of hair loss is chronic. As age progresses, baldness develops and may eventually require hair transplantation. Supplementary treatments and PRP treatment started at an early age to slow down the rate of shedding. It delays the onset of baldness. This type of shedding is also seen in women. Especially people who have baldness problems in their family are at risk of hair loss. Today, male pattern hair loss is more common in young girls.
Eating Habits
Not eating a balanced diet is extremely important for the growth and development of hair follicles. A Uniform diet, carbohydrate-based diet, and ready-to-eat foods can cause hair follicles to weaken over time and shed.
Diseases Occurring on the Scalp
Most skin-related hair losses occur when diseases involving the skin affect the scalp. If the hair is affected by diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, lichen disease, excessively oily skin, and fungal diseases, shedding may be inevitable. The treatment of this hair loss is possible with the treatment of skin diseases.
Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency
Although there is no nutritional problem, the lack of vitamins and minerals required for hair in the blood is another reason for hair loss. When B12, vitamin D, folic acid, biotin, zinc, and iron levels are low, hair cannot be nourished and falls out. Even when there is no iron deficiency, iron supplementation reduces hair loss.
Certain Diseases and Medications
Some diseases can also trigger hair loss. Thyroid gland diseases, rheumatic diseases, hormones used, weight loss pills, adrenal gland diseases, diabetes, insulin resistance birth control pills, and sometimes discontinuation of these control pills can cause hair loss.
Stress and Depression
Excessive stress is another reason for hair loss. Depression, anxiety, psychosis, and the drugs used in their treatment can affect the growth of hair and cause it to fall out. Hair is a living organ that can be influenced by a variety of factors in a short period of time. Therefore, stress and depression trigger hair loss.
Cosmetic Effects
Increasing cosmetic habits are other factors that cause hair loss. In other words, tying the hair tightly, internal bonnets, blow drying processes exposed to excessive heat, dyes used to lighten hair, and straightening methods damage the hair from the outside and cause hair loss. To prevent this, hair-strengthening shampoos and oils can be used.
Pregnancy
People may also experience hair loss during pregnancy. Postpartum shedding, which starts 2-3 months after birth, is the most common. It is caused by the unexpected loss of hair that should have been shed during pregnancy but did not. This situation can be overcome with the necessary supplements.
What are the Types of Hair Loss?
Generally speaking, male pattern hair loss is the most common type of hair loss. In addition, female pattern hair loss and alopecia type hair loss are also common. Now, we can explain these hair loss types one by one.
Male Pattern Hair Loss
It is also called androgenetic hair loss because it occurs under the influence of androgens. This type of hair loss is seen in approximately half of the men and 20% of women who experience hair loss. The process starts with thinning and then ends with shedding.
Female Pattern Hair Loss
Genetic factors are the most common cause of hair loss in women. Due to these factors, the hair becomes thinner and tends to fall out. Anemia due to iron deficiency, hormonal imbalances, thyroid hormone problems, postpartum experiences, pregnancy, breastfeeding period, menopause process, and use of birth control pills are seen as periods of increased hair loss in women. In addition, perm, hair dyes, and other processes applied to the hair are among the causes of female pattern hair loss.
Alopecia
Alopecia areata is a frequently observed disease characterized by one or a few rounds, completely balding areas of varying diameters that appear suddenly. It is a treatable type of hair loss.
How to Prevent Hair Loss?
Experts use it in conjunction with various medical procedures to prevent hair loss. The number of these methods is growing every day as technology advances. Limiting the formation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with medical applications, topical lotion applications, accelerating hair cell division with laser, and using platelet (platelet) rich plasma are all methods that can be used for this purpose (PRP).
After the hair fiber analysis, the blood vessel system carrying nutrients to the hair is evaluated and the requirements for the continuity of cell division are determined. At the same time, the products applied to the scalp with nano molecular structure pass to the hair root and nourish the hair from the root. The measures taken to prevent hair loss are only applied to the hair. It is not limited to applications. In PRP, which is the most commonly used method, the blood taken from the person is subjected to a special process, and the platelets are separated and injected into the areas with hair loss.
