I STARTED LOSING HAIR: WHAT CAN I DO?

Hair is the second fastest growing tissue in our body after bone marrow. Everyone loses their hair, it happens while taking a shower, when you brush it, and even when you play with it. You look down at your brush, and say, “Oh my god, look at how much hair I lost!” Well, on average, we lose fifty to one hundred hairs a day. Hair goes through cycles, but sometimes hair loss could also be a sign that there may be a more serious problem, that needs to be evaluated.

Hair loss can be due to genetics, medications (birth control), hormone imbalances, conditions such as cancer (due to chemotherapy), stress, skin problems, and other reasons. Genetic hair loss is known as androgenetic alopecia, and according to the American Academy of Dermatology, is noted as the most common cause of hair loss. The gene can be inherited from either your mother or father’s side of the family, though you’re more likely to have it if both of your parents had hair loss.

Hair loss affects more than 50 million Americans, and 20 percent of those affected are women. Men lose their hair the majority of time due to genetics. That means they’ve inherited the pattern of hair loss from somebody in the family. Hair loss for women is mostly genetic, but there are other causes related to medical conditions, including: iron deficiency, thyroid disease, and changes in hormones. When a woman experiences menopause, for example, the hormone estrogen, which supports hair growth, is depleted from the body. This imbalance of hormones can lead to hair loss among women.

In men, there is what is called a wreath, or band of hair around the side and back, called permanent hair. There is no such thing as completely bald unless they have a disease. That hair will literally last most of the lifetime of the man. Unfortunately, this doesn’t exist with women. Women can end up with hair loss, but donor hair is not going to be there for women. Most women, don’t have that wreath, so often times hair transplants are not a good option.

Most women with pattern hair loss don’t get a receding hairline or bald spot on top of their head, like men do. Instead, there is visible thinning over the crown and part. In men and women, hairs and their follicles are miniaturized because of a shortened growth cycle where the hair stays on the head for a shorter period of time. These wispy hairs do not achieve their usual length. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to combat pattern hair loss, including:

• Minoxidil (Rogaine)
• Hair transplant surgery
• Wigs/ toupees
• Eat a good diet full of vitamins, and foods packed with omega-3s

To learn more about hair loss and what can be done to treat it, MAXiM Hair Restoration has locations in New York, Long Island, Connecticut, Chicago, Dallas, and the Washington, DC area. Contact MAXiM today for a consultation.