Curly or straight, long or short, blonde or brunette, our hair is part of our identity, so it’s not easy when it starts to fall or thin out. There are many reasons why hair loss happens and very often, there are ways to treat it. Although, not getting bothered over it is okay too.
Why does hair loss happen?
Hair goes through three main stages: a growing phase (takes 3-5 years), an intermediate phase (2 weeks’ long) and a shedding phase. Under normal circumstances, we lose about 50 to 100 hairs on a daily basis. Our hair follicles can be in any of the three stages, but are mainly in the growing phase. When most hairs switch to the intermediate or shedding phase, you’d notice an increased number of lost hairs.
Main patterns of hair loss
There are several:
- Patches of hair loss spread across the scalp. There could either be no hairs at all or very short weak hairs inside the area
- Receding hairlines at the temples or across the forehead
- Hair loss patch over the crown
- Generalised hair thinning
Medical causes
If there’s a sudden onset of hair loss, it’s good to take quick action. You might notice clumps of hair in the shower or an increased number of hair strands on your pillow. These symptoms can be due to an underlying condition. This type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium.
Here are some causes:
- A fast or slow thyroid
- Certain immunologic conditions like lupus
- Some vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- A change in hormones – common causes are after childbirth or menopause
- Stressful events such as losing a loved one or getting involved in an accident
- Sudden weight loss or extreme dieting
Some other causes that might cause hair to fall out include: ringworm infections, eczema, diabetes and after getting treated with chemotherapy.
Speak to your GP who’ll be able to run some tests to see if everything’s fine. Once the condition causing the hair loss is treated, it’s likely that you’ll see a return of your usual hair density.
Pattern baldness
This is the most common type of hair loss and many men are susceptible to it. On the other hand, women usually only get some general thinning, with complete loss being very rare.
Symptoms start appearing gradually over years and consist of:
- Lightening of hair strand colour and thickness
- Receding temple lines – in men only
- Thinning of the hair
- Hair loss over the crown
Some men start showing signs of pattern baldness in their teenage years, until half the men at the age of 50 get this type of hair loss. Whereas only a third of all women over 70 show some signs, with the commonest symptom being thinning of the hair.
Mental health and hair loss
Some people don’t mind losing their hair, while others can be deeply affected by it. It’s common for people to get a low self-esteem and a low mood. If this happens to you, please feel reassured that it’s natural to feel this way.
Speak to your GP who’ll be able to help with treatment for low mood and may refer you to a psychiatrist or a psychologist as necessary. Moreover, your doctor will be able to discuss with you ways to manage the hair loss.
Treatment
There are several ways to deal with hair loss. If there’s an underlying cause, treating it often helps resolving the problem.
Your GP can prescribe some vitamins to correct any deficiencies. You can also get prescriptions for minoxidil which comes in different formulations, including potions, shampoos and foam sprays. Minoxidil helps switch hair follicles in the dormant stage into the growing stage and is frequently quite effective after 3-4 months of treatment. However, you might find that effects are reversed once the treatment is stopped, so consider using the treatment at lower doses for the long term.
Some people prefer using wigs or hair pieces. You can find some very high quality ones that are made of real hair, but they can come with significant price tags. Alternatively, people use hats, scarfs or dyes to cover their loss. Yet others, do nothing at all.
Whichever option you choose will be fine. Hair loss is experienced by many people across the world and it’s a natural part of life.
In 2007, Dr Natalie Psaila read for her MD at the University of Malta. She continued training and obtained her MMCFD and MRCGP (Int) to become a Specialist in Family Medicine in 2013.
