Even if the term refers to something negative, causing goose bumps on many people, hair loss is not necessarily a problem. "Hair loss is the detachment of the scalp hair," explains Dr. Nilton de Ávila Reis, dermatologist at Clinic Doppio, specializing in hair treatment. "It's part of the normal hair cycle because, like other animals, we also constantly change our hair / hair," she adds.
The big problem and cause for concern is when this hair loss runs away from normality. ? When the number of strands that fall out is greater than expected, we have pathological hair loss, with several causes that need to be investigated. One of them is baldness ?, says Nilton.
Are you worried about the wires falling in the shower or around the house? Keep reading this guide on the subject and clear up your doubts.
Top Causes For Hair Loss
When it comes to hair loss, it's common to think of baldness right away, but it's two different things. According to Nilton, the confusion occurs because of the feeling that many people have that when the hair falls, it does not come back, as occurs in baldness. However, although baldness can affect up to 40% of women after menopause, according to the expert, there are other common causes for female hair loss. He lists below the main ones:
Vitamin, protein and mineral deficiency: Even if we don't remember it all the time, hair is part of our body and, like the rest of it, depends on proper nutrients to stay healthy. Among them, the expert cites iron deficiency as one of the main reasons for hair loss.
Read also: Dermatologist points out the 9 worst things you can do with your hair
Oral medications: Several drugs have side effects such as hair loss, including antidepressants, appetite suppressants, anabolic, anticonvulsant, antihypertensive, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, among others.
Contraceptives: They are linked to hair loss in women who are sensitive to hormonal variations and may occur during use or months after discontinuation.
Post childbirth: The fault again is hormonal variation, which starts in pregnancy and alters the so-called hair cycle. The sharp fall can occur for up to 6 months after delivery.
Hormonal Disorders: Thyroid diseases, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, as well as diseases involving hormones like cortisol are also linked to hair loss.
Systemic diseases and chronic diseases: Systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis, syphilis, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, among others may have hair loss as one of the symptoms.
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Life habits: Hair reflects the balance or not of our body, so habits that cause hormonal changes or make it difficult to absorb nutrients such as stress, physical inactivity, smoking and poor diet may reflect the problem.
Inadequate hair care: Improper staining, straightening and stretching practices lead to yarn breakage, followed by fall. The same goes for an inadequate frequency of washes and use of products that contribute to excessive sebum production.
Scalp Problems: For different reasons, diseases such as dermatitis, psoriasis, ringworm and others on the scalp weaken the hair and may result in hair loss.
Female Androgenetic Alopecia: Also called female pattern baldness, it is an inherited condition characterized by loss and not just hair loss. It is considered the main cause of hair loss in men and women.
As you may have noticed, it is not always easy to identify the reason for hair loss in women, as many factors often contribute to the problem. • Hair loss in women is often multifactorial. Generally there is participation of genetic factors, lifestyle and even hair care ?, explains Nilton. Therefore, it is essential to make a correct assessment in order to find a proper treatment.
Also read: 5 things that may be making your hair greasy and you can't even imagine
How many wires is normal to lose per day?
According to Nilton, "up to 100 to 150 wires are expected to fall every day." However, the expert acknowledges that this may not be the best answer to the question. "Although classically used as a reference, the amount of wires that fall per day is not a good parameter in practice, as it is impossible to keep counting the wires," he adds.
Thus, he draws attention to other indicatives that serve as a warning for a pathological hair loss. Among them, the expert mentions, for example, notice a greater amount of hair on the bathroom floor, combing brush or after using a hairdryer, and the appearance of hair in unusual places, such as on the desk and in public places.
In addition to the loose wires, Nilton says that some changes felt to the touch or when we look in the mirror also reveal the problem. For example, when you notice greater difficulty in straightening the strands, decreased capillary volume and even changes in shape and length of strands, such as loss of curls and waves. In more severe cases, it is possible to notice, including exposure of the scalp.
It is noteworthy that there are times when the hair may fall out more, such as after childbirth, during breastfeeding or in the period between late summer and autumn. These are temporary falls that improve without the need for intervention. In people without baldness or other reasons for falling, the wires return normally ?, says.
How to prevent hair loss
Although some causes for hair loss are more difficult to control, minor everyday attitudes can contribute to delaying or decreasing the risk of developing the problem. See some of them:
Read also: Hair loss after childbirth: all you need to know
Caring for the scalp: shine, restoration, definition of curls? You can see how we always go after the care of the wires. Identifying the need for the scalp and seeking appropriate solutions is essential to preventing hair loss.
Have a balanced diet: As stated earlier, hair health depends on having adequate nutrients with sufficient amount of vitamins, proteins and minerals.
Maintain healthy habits: Like the skin and nails, the hair is a reflection of the good or malfunctioning of the body, so exercise regularly and avoid cigarettes and alcohol.
Get a good night's sleep: A few hours of sleep or bad nights are responsible for hormonal imbalances in the body, which in turn can cause hair loss.
Invest in leisure time: Since stress is one of the factors causing hair loss, relaxing is critical to avoiding the problem.
Avoid home remedies or self-medication: Even seemingly harmless polyvitamins can cause hair loss.
Reduce the use of hair chemistry or procedures: dyes, straightenings, flat iron and babyliss alter the structure of the wires, providing breakage. In cases that reach the scalp, they can stimulate the fall by causing irritation.
What about the frequency of washing? Unlike common sense, there is no rule. Nor is it true that it is best to wash your hair as few times as possible during the week, as greasiness only worsens the condition. The recommendation, therefore, is, if a problem with locks is suspected, always seek advice from a dermatologist.
Attention to these vitamins
A balanced diet is essential to maintain the health and balance of the body and, consequently, the locks. In the case of vitamins, it is important to know them and where to find them, as our body is unable to synthesize these essential substances for hair balance. "Both deficiency and excess of some vitamins can cause hair loss," warns Nilton. Learn what these vitamins are:
- Vitamin A: Also known as retinol, it is found mainly in colorful fruits and vegetables such as carrots, squash, broccoli and spinach. It aids in the process of hair reproduction, is antioxidant and aids in the maintenance of scalp oil. But be careful! Its excess is also associated with the fall.
- D vitamin: other names for her are ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol. It is the vitamin that the body produces when exposed to the sun, but it can also be found in salmon, sardines and tuna mainly. According to Nilton, she participates in the differentiation of follicular cells, which regulates the hair cycle.
- Vitamin B3: Also called niacin, it can be found in beef liver, fish, cereals and oilseeds such as peanuts and sesame. It improves blood circulation, which eventually nourishes the strands. In addition, niacin also aids in anti-inflammatory processes.
- Vitamin B7: In addition to a B-complex vitamin, biotin has been shown to be effective in strengthening strands as well as in fighting dryness and breakage. Its main sources are oil seeds.
Remembering that these are just the main vitamins whose deficiency is linked to hair loss. In addition, there are others like almost all B vitamins, and vitamins C and E.
What are the treatments for hair loss?
If you have identified with what you have said or suspected may have abnormal hair loss, the best solution is to look for an expert on the subject, either a dermatologist or a trichologist. This is because the sooner you seek help, the more likely you are to reverse the picture, which also depends on finding the right treatment for each case. Below you will find the main treatment options currently available:
Topical Minoxidil
Used in both male and female hair loss and baldness treatments, minoxidil should only be applied to affected areas. Its use has been shown to be very effective, with improvement of the condition between 6 to 8 weeks of use.
Low power laser
Although it is not known exactly how the low power laser acts in the hair treatment, it is known that it helps in the growth, thickening and strengthening of the hair by stimulating the cellular activity, promoting, besides hair growth, a tissue regeneration.
Injectable Corticoids
It is indicated for the treatment of scarring alopecia (when there is replacement of the hair bulbs with scars), and alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease in which the body rejects the hair. These drugs, applied to the affected sites with the help of an injection, have a similar effect to cortisol and help as an anti-inflammatory action and suppressing the immune system.
Nutritional Supplements
Since hair health is related to body nutrition, supplements can help treat hair loss as they correct deficiencies in certain vitamins, proteins and minerals. Its use, however, should be recommended by a physician after testing, as the excess of certain substances is also associated with the fall.
Although hair loss and baldness also have an aesthetic weight, it is noteworthy that any treatment related to the problem should be directed by a doctor, and never by unskilled beauty clinics, salons or even blogs on the internet.
Because hair loss usually occurs for a number of factors together, identifying each one of them is critical to achieving good results and not further worsening the condition.
Mayo Clinic Minute: Treatment for hair loss in women (April 2024)
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