Also known as alopecia, hair loss is an extremely pervasive problem that many people are going to struggle with at some point in their lives. Both men and women can face this difficulty and will need to find either treatments or ways to cope with hair loss. Here is a quick look at four of the most common forms of alopecia and a few steps that you can take to combat those conditions.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is the leading cause of hair loss, and experts believe that it affects around 80 million Americans. Your genetics are the primary risk factor for androgenetic alopecia, and many people begin losing hair at puberty. While this condition is often known as “male-pattern baldness,” it can affect both men and women at almost any age. To delay this type of hair loss, patients should speak with a dermatologist about a long-term treatment plan. Treating this condition usually involves a mixture of medications and surgery.
Telogen Effluvium
This unique condition usually doesn’t result in complete baldness, but it can make your hair very thin. This is a type of scalp disorder that affects the hair follicles and is often caused by extreme stress and anxiety. Patients who have telogen effluvium usually lose between 300 and 500 hair follicles per day, and that can result in bald patches around the temples or top of the head. If you have been diagnosed with telogen effluvium, then you should spend some time searching for the best supplement hair growth. A high-quality supplement could help you delay or even reverse this type of hair loss.
Anagen Effluvium
When you undergo certain medical treatments, often cancer treatments, you might develop anagen effluvium. While this condition isn’t dangerous, many people find this type of hair loss very frustrating. Luckily, anagen effluvium will almost always disappear on its own after you stop the treatments that caused it. Once your treatments are over, you can then speak with a dermatologist about which medications you can take to speed up your hair growth.
Alopecia Areata
This autoimmune condition can be triggered by many different things, and most patients don’t realize that they have alopecia areata until they begin to rapidly lose hair. Typically, it is caused by stress or anxiety and will cause the body and immune system to attack the hair follicles. This creates circles of hair loss. To treat alopecia areata, most patients will be given oral medications as well as topical creams for the scalp. Patients should also work with a medical team that can help them determine which triggers must be avoided. In some cases, alopecia areata can be managed with nothing more than lifestyle changes.
While this cosmetic problem usually isn’t a serious health issue, you should speak with your doctor if you lose any hair unexpectedly. Hair loss can be caused by a variety of medical complications, and you must determine what has caused your hair loss before you start any treatments. If you are able to identify the cause, this will greatly improve your chances of reversing the effects of hair loss.
