Are you also worried about losing your hair? Let's talk about this (Hair Loss)

Have you ever woken up in the morning and found a pile of hair all over your pillowcase or stuck in your hairbrush while combing your hair? Do you feel like your hair is thinning? This is actually a common problem for many people. For some, this may be a minor issue, but for others, losing even a little bit of hair can be a huge stressor. So today, let's talk about this condition called hair loss, or hair loss.

First, let's see, what is this hair?

Simply put, hair is a protein that is produced by hair follicles in our skin. We call this protein Keratin . Hair grows almost everywhere on our bodies, except for a few places like our palms and soles. But some of it is so fine that we cannot see it.

On average, an adult has about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on their head. It's normal to lose about 50 to 100 of these hairs a day. So, there's no need to worry about a few strands of hair on your comb.

Even one of our hairs has a life cycle. It is divided into three main stages:

• Anagen: This is the period of active hair growth. This period can last from 2 to 8 years. About 90% of the hair on our head is in this phase.
• Catagen Phase: This is a short period of about 2-3 weeks during which hair growth stops.
• Resting phase (Telogen): This lasts about 2-3 months. At the end of this period, the hair follicle falls out, and a new hair follicle begins to grow from that same follicle. This cycle continues.

It is normal for the rate of hair growth to slow down a bit as we age.

What are the main types of hair loss?

Hair loss, or the medical term for the condition ``Alopecia'', can come in many forms. Let's take a look at the main types.

What are the causes of hair loss?

Although it is not possible to say exactly why some people's hair falls out more than others, there are several factors that contribute to this.

• Hormones: Hair loss can be caused by hormonal imbalances in the body, especially changes in male hormones (androgens).
• Genes: The tendency to baldness may be determined by the genes you inherit from your mother and father.
• Mental and physical stress: Things like extreme stress, major illness, and childbirth can cause temporary hair loss.
• Some medications: Anti-cancer (chemotherapy) drugs, blood thinners, and some medications for high blood pressure can also cause hair loss.
• Nutritional deficiencies: Not eating a balanced diet, especially when the body lacks nutrients like protein, iron, zinc, and vitamins (A, B, C, D, and E), can increase hair loss.
• Other medical conditions: Conditions such as thyroid disease, diabetes, lupus, and iron deficiency anemia can also cause hair loss.
• Hair care: Frequent chemical treatments such as bleaching, dyeing, and perming hair can weaken and break hair. Also, pulling your hair tightly and using hot curlers are also harmful to your hair.

How do you accurately identify a hair follicle?

If you think you're losing your hair, you should first see a qualified doctor (doctor) . The doctor will then do the following:

1. Medical history and examination: They will ask you if anyone in your family has this condition, what medications you take, and what your lifestyle is like. They will also carefully examine your skull.

2. Blood tests: You may be asked to take a blood test to check things like iron levels, thyroid hormone levels, and vitamin levels.

3. Trichoscopy: This is a test that uses a special camera-like device to magnify the scalp and hair follicles.

4. Skin biopsy: Very rarely, if the diagnosis is unclear, a very small piece of skin may be taken from the scalp and sent for examination.

After these tests, the doctor will be able to conclude what is causing your hair loss.

What are the treatments?

Treatment depends on the cause of the hair loss. In some temporary cases, treating the cause (e.g., taking iron pills for iron deficiency) can stop the hair loss and allow hair to grow back.

There are several treatments for conditions like hereditary baldness:

Types of drugs

• Minoxidil (Rogaine): This is a liquid or foam that is applied directly to the scalp. It stimulates hair growth.
• Finasteride (Propecia): This is a pill approved for men. You should definitely talk to a doctor before taking this.
• Corticosteroids: In conditions related to the immune system, such as `Alopecia areata`, this type of medication (injections or creams) can be used.

Other treatments

• Hair Grafting/Transplantation: Hair follicles are taken from a well-developed area of ​​the body (usually the back of the neck) and transplanted to areas where there is no hair.
• PRP therapy (Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy): Plasma is separated from your own blood and injected into the scalp as a nutrient concentrate. This stimulates hair follicles.
• Light therapy / Laser therapy: Uses low-level laser light to increase the activity of hair follicles.
• Scalp Micropigmentation: This is a method similar to a permanent `tattoo`. Very fine dots are tattooed on areas where the hair is thin, to make it look like there is hair.