Hair loss can signal some health problems
Hair loss is something that most of us will have to deal with at some point in our lifetime. In fact, if you have hair, you are dealing with hair loss at this very moment for it is estimated that on average, people typically lose up to 100 hairs a day. Unfortunately for some, hair loss may occur at a faster rate or onset early, which may be the sign of some sort of underlying medical problem.
Hair loss or thinning hair is known as alopecia. There are different types of alopecia and they can occur in men as well as women:
The most common type of hair loss is due to genetic factors known as androgenetic alopecia and occurs in both men and women. Hair loss usually starts somewhere between the ages of 12 and 40, but it often goes unnoticed. Visible hair loss usually occurs in approximately one half of all individuals by the time they turn 50.
The second most common type of hair loss, especially in women, is called telogen effluvium. Those who suffer from this condition experience thinning of the hair that is usually brought about due to trauma, which can interfere with the normal hair growth cycle. Women usually see an increasing number of hairs on their hairbrush or on the shower floor. Contributing causes are stress, medications and hormonal diseases such as thyroid disorders.
The third most common type of hair loss is known as alopecia areata. This condition is usually associated with autoimmune disorders and usually presents as a single round patch or sometimes multiple round patches that may grow together. They can become so severe that one can lose all of the hair on their head. This condition may be present at any age, but is more common in children and young adults.
Other conditions that may lead to hair loss include trauma from tightly braided hair known as corn rows, which can cause what is known as scarring alopecia. This condition commonly affects black women. Also, trichotillomania is the loss of hair as a result of either consciously or subconsciously pulling out of the hair. Usually there is an underlying psychological cause for this condition.
Medications have also been known to lead to hair loss. Some of the most common medications are chemotherapy agents, birth control pills, radiation to the scalp, anticoagulants such as heparin and warfarin, arthritis medications such as indomethacin as well as certain seizure medications.
In addition, one may see hair loss with certain types of antihypertensive medications such as beta blockers like Lopressor or metoprolol. High doses of Vitamin A have been known to cause hair loss as well.
If you find you are losing your hair earlier than expected or in an abnormal pattern, it may caused by an underlying medical condition. Some of those include hypothyroid disease (overactive or underactive), severe infections, hormonal imbalances and nutritional deficiencies such as zinc, Sprue and malnutrition. Recent reports have also linked hair loss to certain medications to treat indigestion known as H2 blockers, along with birth control pills.
If you have been diagnosed as having alopecia, there are several options available. One is topical minoxidil, which started off as a cheap viagra used to treat hypertension. This cialis has a side effect of producing excessive hair growth, so it was subsequently studied and found to be effective when used properly. Another medication, finasteride, known by the brand name of Propecia, is felt to be better for vertex balding, which is the part of the head in the middle of the scalp. But this medication does have serious side effects in the developing male fetus.
Povillus is a herbal medicine to stop hair loss and start hair regrow and also it does not have any known side effects. Provillus comes in two varients, one to treat hair loss among men and another to treat hair loss among women.
Source: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/