Asking for medical help is absolutely necessary for people who have noticed sudden hair loss. Progressive balding patches should cause much alarm. A sure sign of potential hair loss are: more than a hundred strands of hair fall out each day. This is evident when the patient combs his hair or when he washes it during his baths.
Definition
Hair loss is often the term referred to excessive loss of hair on one’s scalp. There could be many reasons for hair loss such as: heredity; taking medications that might cause hair to fall out; and the worst scenario is an underlying medical condition. Men are the ones who are often plagued with this condition but women and children could be affected, too.
The medical term that refers to hair loss is alopecia. The most common type of alopecia is the so called pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. About 1/3 of the adult population is afflicted with this type of hair loss. Usually, hair loss only becomes permanent when the hair follicles of the affected area become damaged.
Permanent Hair Loss and People who are affected by Them
1. Androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness. This is the most common type and it afflicts men even in their early 20s. This type of hair loss is often characterized by a receding hairline (usually beginning at the temples) and a balding crown. The final result could be either partial or complete hair loss. Alopecia in women is limited to thinning hair at the crown of the head, the front, or the sides. Women, unlike men, often do not experience total baldness.
2. Cicatricial (or Scarring) alopecia. This is one of the rarest types of alopecia and this occurs when the hair follicles are damaged or scarred due to swelling. When this happens, the person will inevitably lose his hair permanently. Slight itching and pain often accompany patchy hair loss conditions.
Temporary Hair Loss Types
1. Alopecia areata is a condition where the hair loss occurs in round patches all about the head. These patches are often smooth and are about the size of a quarter. Usually, the patches are not numerous but this condition can occur on any areas of the body that has hair. Possible areas that are affected are: the eyelashes, eyebrows, and the beard. Some people get the rare type where hair loss is experienced throughout the person’s body (alopecia universalis). If the scalp totally lose all its hair, the condition is called alopecia totalis. Alopecia areata is often preceded by incessant itching and soreness.
2. Traction alopecia is a condition where bald patches are caused by frequent hairstyling. The most common culprits are braids, pigtails, tight rollers and cornrows. Hair loss occurs at the spots where hair is parted and tightly pulled.
3. Telegen effluvium is a type of temporary hair loss which can suddenly happen. This often causes shock as massive hair loss can be experienced while combing or washing hair. Even gentle tugs can result into a handful of hair.
People with temporary hair loss still have much chance to regain their head full of hair. That is why it is important to seek medical help as soon as the first symptoms start to appear.
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