What is alopecia and what causes it?

Alopecia is the word that is used to refer to any type of hair loss or baldness. This can occur in any hairy region of the body. 

At present, there is no known cause of Alopecia. It is speculated that the disease may be hereditary since most people who have it, have relatives who also suffer from the condition. It is also believed to be a form of autoimmune disease. How so? Well, that’s because Alopecia occurs when the body’s immune system rejects its’ own hair follicles – thus, causing hair to fall out. It has also been observed that Alopecia affects patients with other autoimmune disorders such as SLE (Lupus), Thyroid problems, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis and others.

Who is at Risk for Alopecia?

Both men and women suffer from Alopecia. It can affect people from every race and nationality. The disease can also strike at any age – but, most of the time symptoms present themselves in the teenage years. As mentioned, there is evidence that the disease is hereditary. That is why individuals who have relatives with Alopecia are at risk for developing the disease. People who presently suffer from autoimmune conditions also have a chance of developing Alopecia.

The Patterns of Alopecia

Alopecia Areata, is a form of Alopecia that causes bald spots on the scalp. This can  occurs anywhere on the body, but it usually occurs on the scalp. It is also referred to as Spot Baldness. Total loss of the scalp is known as Alopecia Totalis. Alopecia Barbe refers to spot baldness on beard region and Alopecia Universalis is when a person looses all bodily hair. Early symptoms of Alopecia often include tenderness (pain to touch) on the bald spots.

How is Alopecia Diagnosed

Diagnosis of Alopecia often involves a biopsy of the affected scalp tissue. This will determine if the hair fall has been really been caused by Alopecia and not by other causes. Another telltale sign of Alopecia is referred to as – Exclamation Point Hair. It means that the strands of the affected hair taper off towards the roots.

Treatment

There is no known cure for alopecia. The majority of people diagnosed with alopecia areata will notice that their hair will grow back after a year. In the cases where the hair has not grown back, there are some treatments that may help. Steroid injection and steroid creams and common treatments. New ‘experimental’ treatments for alopecia include drugs that subdue the autoimmune system.

If you think that you might have alopecia or hair loss, please contact a dermatologist or trichologist.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Benedict_Yossarian

 What is causing my hair loss?

It is normal to shed about 150 -200 strands of hair each day. When the shedding is excessive it may be known as hair loss or alopecia.  

Hair loss can be caused by several factors. If your hair is coming out in clumps the following factors could be why:  

Poor diet or nutritional deficiency- Diet is very important for healthy hair. Iron deficiency also known as anemia can cause excessive shedding. Eating disorders such as anemia and bulimia can cause hair loss.  

Stress- Stress cannot only cause you to lose hair but it can cause premature graying.  

Hormonal Imbalances-Women can experience hair loss or thinning hair during menopause. Many women also notice that they are losing more hair than normal after childbirth. This is known as postpartum shedding. This is usually temporary. An underactive or overactive thyroid can also affect hormone levels, therefore causing you to lose more hair than normal.  

Poor hair care practices- Improper use of chemicals such as relaxers can cause hair loss. Braids and weaves, if they are done too tightly, can cause the hairline to recede.  This type of hair loss is known as traction alopecia and it is usually found in women. Tight buns and ponytails can cause this as well.  

Medications- Some medications  can cause thin hair. Hair loss usually stops once the medication is no longer being taken.  

Genetics- For men who suffer from male patterned baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, genetics is usually the cause. Male patterned baldness causes a receding hairline and/or baldness on top of the head.  

Scalp Inflammation- Infections such as ringworm are known to cause hair loss. Ringworm can be treated with medication and the hair usually grows back. Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition that can cause inflamed skin. If it is located on the scalp it can cause temporary hair loss.  

If you are noticing that you are losing more hair than normal, please contact a dermatologist or a trichologist to assess the cause and possible treatment for hair loss.  

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What hair styles can I wear for my thin hair?

Don’t let thin hair get you down. While you are still nursing your hair back to health, try having fun with the hair you have. Getting your hair to a healthy state does take time but there are things you can do to make your hair appear fuller.

Making Thin Hair More Substantial With Curls, Waves, And Color: Probably the first line of defense is to add volume by adding curls and waves.  This is going to help your strands cover much more ground and territory than they normally would.  You have to be careful though.  If you’re shedding or easily losing hair, you don’t want to have to use curlers that are going to pull more hair out.  And if you’re going to perm your hair, you should chose a stylist who understands what you are facing so that you are using products that are working with you rather than against you.  You have a unique challenge in that often thinning hair has problems holding a curl.  You’ll have to use special products for this, which can be harsh. So you’ll need to make sure that your specialists at least understands thinning hair and ideally specializes in it.

Curls and waves are great ways to make your hair look thicker but you don’t need to rely on curling irons to give you that volume. Try roller setting your hair with while it is wet and sit under a hooded dryer. Another good way to get wavy hair is by braiding small sections of your hair. Let the braids stay in overnight. When you take the braids out in the morning your hair will have pretty waves and more volume!

Some people find that adding color to the hair helps because color can coat the strands to make them look thicker. If your hair is in a fragile state, I would not recommend using any dyes or bleaches. A safe way to add color to the hair would be to use a semi permanent color that does not contain any ammonia or peroxide. A semi permanent lasts 6 to 8 shampoos before the color fades.

The Right Hair Cut For Skimpy Or Thin Hair:  There is a right hair cut for each head of hair.  You must find yours.  Your ideal cut is going to depend on what your texture can best pull off. People who have a fine texture won’t be able to pull off layered or feathered cuts because the strands will eventually fall flat against your head. 

There’s a huge amount of debate as to whether long hair helps or hurts.  Again, this really depends upon the texture.  Fine hair will just look stringy and limp if it is too long.  This is the same with women and with men.  On the other hand, if you cut the hair too short, this will only showcase the white of your scalp in some cases.  So you should ideally keep your hair long enough so that you’re assured of coverage, but not too long that you start to develop stringy hair that you can see through on the backs or sides.

Speaking of not working anymore, the best case scenario is to find out why your hair is thinning and then to address and fix that.  Sure, you can work with what you have.  But, it would be better to start stimulating a healthy scalp and healthy regrowth so that what you have to work with provides more coverage and volume and is therefore easier to deal with altogether.  

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ava_Alderman

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Thin hair can make you feel unattractive and it can be frustrating. Many people at some point in their lives have dealt with hair thinning. This can be a result of aging, illness, poor hair care practices, etc. This week we will be focusing on why hair can become thin and what can be done about it.

Does your hair look stringy and thin? Does your hair look limp and flat? Hair loss can be caused by genetics, medications, health issues and other factors. For the purpose of this article we will focus on hair thinning that occurs on the ends of the hair. This is usually caused by poor hair care practices.

Many factors can cause hair breakage and leave you with thin hair.

Heat- Using heat on a regular basis can eventually cause your hair to break off and thin out. Frequent usage of heat appliances can cause damage to the cuticle, the outer layer of the hair, making it difficult for the hair to retain moisture. In short, using heat appliances too often will eventually lead to dry hair  that will break off the ends of your hair.

Chemicals- if you use chemicals such as hair relaxers, dyes, and bleaches, you must proper caution to protect your hair. When applying chemicals like these, it is best to only apply them to the roots (unless it is a virgin hair application). Applying chemicals to previously processed hair will cause you hair to become weaker.

When you are washing the chemical out it comes in contact with previously processed hair, therefore it is important to apply a barrier such as an oil or conditioner to the ends of the hair.

Make sure that the chemical is thoroughly rinsed out and neutralized (if it is a relaxer) from the hair to avoid hair loss.

Environmental Factors and Elements- If your hair is shoulder length or longer it is most likely rubbing against your shoulders causing your ends to thin. Hair that is frequently exposed to wind and to the sun can be more susceptible to breaking off because the sun and wind can cause the cuticle to break down.

If your ends are damaged and thin, you can choose to cut them off all at once or you can cut little by little to avoid losing several inches at once.

Remember the ends of your hair are the oldest therefore they are more fragile and most likely to become dry and break off. Try not to misuse chemicals and heat. Make sure to protect them and to keep your hair well conditioned to prevent your hair from thinning.

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