Are you also losing a lot of hair? Let's find out exactly about this (Hair Loss)

It's normal to feel a little scared and worried when you see your hair falling out of your comb, on the bathroom floor, or on your pillowcase. "How many hairs are normal to lose a day?" "Is this some kind of disease?" You may be wondering. Don't worry. Today, we'll talk about this problem that many people have, hair loss, in a simple way.

Let's first see, what is this hair?

Simply put, our hair is made of a protein. We call this protein Keratin . These are produced in tiny follicles inside our skin. As new hair cells are produced from these follicles, old ones are pushed out of the skin. That's how our hair grows.

Consider that a healthy adult has about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on their head. So it's normal to lose about 50 to 100 hairs a day . So there's no need to worry if you have a few hairs on your comb.

As we age, the rate at which this hair grows slows down. It's natural.

Main Types of Hair Loss

Hair loss is medically known as Alopecia . There are many different types of this. Let's look at some of the main types.

• Androgenic Alopecia: This is the most common type of hair loss that is hereditary . For men, it can start at a young age. The most common symptom is thinning hair on the sides of the forehead and the crown of the head. Women can also experience this condition. However, it usually becomes noticeable after the age of 40. Women tend to have thinning hair all over their heads.
• Alopecia Areata: This is a condition that starts suddenly. Hair falls out in patches on the scalp, in circular patterns. About the size of a dime. This is caused by a change in our body's immune system that attacks the hair follicles. But in most cases (about 90%) the hair grows back within a few years.
• Telogen Effluvium: This is a temporary condition. Due to a major shock to the body, for example, after childbirth, after a major illness, after surgery, or during times of extreme stress, a large number of hair follicles suddenly enter the resting phase (Telogen phase). After a few months, those hair follicles suddenly fall out. This makes the hair look very thin.
• Traction Alopecia: This is something we can do ourselves. It is a condition caused by styling our hair in a way that pulls it too tightly . For example, wearing tight buns, braiding hair tightly, and using hot combs can damage the hair follicles and cause permanent hair loss if done for a long time.
• Scarring Alopecia: Some skin infections (cellulitis, folliculitis) or other diseases (lupus, lichen planus) can cause scarring of the scalp. These scars permanently destroy the hair follicles, preventing hair from growing back in those areas.

What are the common causes of hair loss?

Why do some people lose more hair than others? There is not one reason for this, but many factors can contribute to it.

| Reason | Description |

| :--- | :--- |

| Hormones | Hormonal imbalances in the body, especially changes in the levels of male hormones, androgens, are a major cause of hair loss. |

| Genes | Genes from both parents play a role. If someone in your family has baldness, you may also be at risk. |

| Mental and physical stress | This leads to the condition `Telogen Effluvium` we talked about earlier. Things like major illness, surgery, childbirth, the death of a loved one. |

| Some drugs| Things like chemotherapy, blood thinners, some high blood pressure medications, and birth control pills can cause temporary hair loss. |

| Nutritional Deficiencies | When the body lacks nutrients such as iron, zinc, biotin, vitamin D , and protein, hair loss can increase. |

| Other medical conditions | Diseases such as thyroid disease, diabetes, and lupus can also cause hair loss. |

| Hairstyle | Frequent bleaching, rebonding, and dyeing of hair can weaken the hair shaft and cause breakage. |

How is this diagnosed?

If you think you're losing more hair than normal, the best thing to do is see a doctor , especially a dermatologist.

The doctor may do the following:

• You will be asked about your medical history, family details, and medications you take.
• Examines the skull carefully.
• If necessary, they will order several blood tests (e.g. iron levels, thyroid hormones).
• Sometimes the scalp is examined with a special instrument (trichoscopy) that magnifies the scalp.
• Very rarely, if the cause is difficult to find, a very small piece of skin may be taken from the scalp and sent for a biopsy.

What are the treatments available?

Treatment depends on the cause of the hair loss. When the cause is treated, hair loss often stops and begins to grow again.

• Medications: Scalp lotions like `Minoxidil` and tablets like `Finasteride` for men are available on medical advice. Corticosteroids are given as creams or injections for conditions like `Alopecia Areata`.
• PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy): This involves injecting growth factors from your own blood plasma back into your scalp. This stimulates hair follicles and increases hair growth.
• Hair Transplantation/Grafting: This is a surgical procedure that involves taking hair follicles from a well-developed area of ​​the body (usually the back of the head) and replanting them in areas where there is no hair.
• Light Therapy: Low-level laser therapy is used to stimulate hair follicles.