Alopecia Areata: Further Facts about Hair Loss

The lock of hair has an average duration of 2–6 years. Each strand grows about 1cm per month during this time. Approximately 90 percent of the hair on the scalp grows at a time. The remaining 10 percent at any time, is in the resting phase. About 2 or 3 months off, the hair falls out and the new part is developed in its place.

What is hair loss?

Alopecia is the scientific term for hair loss. There are three types of hair loss: areata, totalis and universalis. Areata is a form of hair loss in areas of the body, usually the scalp. It’s the kind of bald spots or patches on the scalp. It can only be on a certain area of the scalp. One to two percent of people with areata have experienced the condition to progress to alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis.

Alopecia totalis, better known as baldness, is characterized by the loss of all hair on the scalp. The reasons are still unclear, but it has been associated with autoimmune disease and said to have been caused by stress.

Alopecia universalis is a medical disorder in which the patient is unable to grow hair all over his/her body. This condition can begin at any age.

What causes hair loss?

Many factors can contribute to abnormal or severe hair loss.

Three or four months after major surgery or illness, you may notice a large patch of hair loss. This hair loss may be related to stress and anxiety caused by the state and is probably temporary.

Hormonal disorders can cause hair loss. If you have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, the hair may fall. This hair loss can be corrected with a treatment for thyroid problems. Hair loss can also occur if male or female hormones are not balanced. Correcting hormonal imbalances may stop or reduce hair loss.

Most women notice hair loss after three months from delivery or childbirth. This is due to the fact that the woman’s body returns to pre-pregnancy state, and causes extra hair removed.

There are also medications that can cause hair loss. Drugs such as anticoagulants, gout treatment medications and drugs used in chemotherapy to cure cancer, too much vitamin A and the pill antidepressants can cause or aggravate hair loss.

Some infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss, too. And finally, loss of hair can be a side effect of underlying diseases such as lupus or diabetes.

How can I treat alopecia?

The most cost-effective means to minimize hair loss is to reduce stress. Some forms of hair loss were caused by stress and anxiety. Your doctors will ask for the diet and medications you are having or if you recently had a disease. From this, your doctor can determine the apt treatment for you. Some medications can help reduce or even stop abnormal hair loss.

If rest and medication do not help reduce your hair loss, you may consider trying different hairstyles to cover bald spots or wear wigs, hairpieces, toupees or even undergo surgery.

This surgery is known as the hair transplant surgery. This method provides a long-term solution to your problem of hair loss. This transfer of hair from hair-growing areas to bald patches entails a lot of money and significant risks. For some, it’s deemed to be the best solution for hair loss problems, although it can be very expensive.

Hair loss is not something we should just forget or ignore. It may serve as a sign of hidden diseases you may have. When you find large amounts of shed hair, you should contact your dermatologist and get your scalp checked in order to act on the problem immediately.