Save Your Hair & Stop Hair Loss in Cincinnati, Ohio

If you’ve been finding more hair in your brush or shower drains, you might be worried that you’re losing hair. Everyone loses between 50 and 100 strands of hair every day. This is normal. Here’s what to do if you think your hair loss is getting worse.

What is Considered Hair Loss?

Hair growth undergoes a normal growth cycle. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology says that hair usually grows for a few years, stops for a few months, falls out, and then starts growing again. “Tegen” is the word for the resting stage. It’s called telogen effluvium when hair goes into the resting stage too soon. This can be a long-term or short-term problem.

Acute telogen effluvium usually happens when the body gets a shock of some kind. Possible triggers include giving birth, having a serious illness or surgery, having a high fever, or being under a lot of stress. Some medications, a lack of nutrients, or problems with the thyroid gland can also cause hair loss for a short time. This problem usually happens two months after the initial shock and is marked by clumps of hair falling out. It gets better in six to eight months.

On the other hand, chronic hair loss may have a medical or genetic cause. For example, a receding hairline and/or thinner hair on the top of the head are signs of hereditary pattern baldness. It happens more often to men, but women can also have it. Hair loss can also be caused by fungal infections and autoimmune diseases.

No matter what the cause is, the following signs show that you are losing more hair than you normally would:

• Bald patches
• Painful or itchy scalp
• Receding hairline
• Widening parting
• Loose hair strands in your brush, comb or drains

Differences Between Male and Female Hair Loss

By the time they are 35, 66 percent of American men can see that they are losing hair. A large number, right? The American Hair Loss Association says that by the time a man is 50, about 85% of them have very thin hair.

Men lose hair because their hair follicles are sensitive to 5-Dihydrotestosterone (5-DHT). DHT is a male hormone called an androgen. It causes hair follicles to shrink, which shortens their life and makes less hair. Usually, when a hair falls out, a new one grows from the same follicle. If DHT levels are high, however, hair growth slows down. Male pattern baldness, also called androgenetic alopecia in men, starts with a receding hairline that turns into a “M” shape and then a “U.”

Female pattern baldness, also called androgenetic alopecia in women, is when the hair on top or in the middle of the head thins. Most hair loss in women is caused by too much stress, hormone imbalance, thyroid problems, or exposure to toxins. In fact, hormones are the most likely cause of hair loss in women. Think about how hormones change during pregnancy, menopause, taking birth control pills, and other things that women often go through. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is another hormone-related health problem that can cause hair loss from the scalp but hair growth in places you don’t want it to grow.

Tips to Help Prevent Hair Loss At Home

Losing your hair not only changes how you look, but it can also make you feel bad about yourself and cause emotional stress. Thankfully, you can take steps at home to stop and prevent further hair loss:

Eat More Protein: You might not be getting enough protein every day, which can slow the growth of your hair. Especially if you’re a vegan or vegetarian, you may need to eat more protein.

Take More Vitamins: We can use different tests to find out if you are missing key vitamins. Some vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, B, C, D, E, zinc, and iron, can affect the growth of your hair.

Maintain Health Scalp & Hair Care: Try not to use harsh things on your hair, like hot tools, hair dye, and bleach. Your hair can also be damaged by styles like tight ponytails or braids. Wash your hair and scalp often to keep your scalp healthy.

What Steps Should I Take If I Notice Hair Loss?

The good news is that many causes of hair loss can be treated if they are caught early enough, and in most cases, further hair loss can be stopped or slowed. If hair loss is caused by a lifestyle or behavior, like taking certain medications or not getting enough nutrients, fixing the cause may be enough to get hair to grow back. If the hair loss was caused by a stressful event, like losing hair after giving birth, you may not need treatment. Normal hair growth cycles usually return within 18 months.

When caught early, treatment may be able to stop hair loss caused by things like age or genes from getting worse and allow hair to grow back. For example, treatments that are put on the scalp can help hair grow back and stop further loss. There are also prescription drugs, including pills, that can be taken by mouth to stop hair loss.

Some people may also choose our hair restoration procedures, depending on how bad their hair loss is and what caused it. For example, our injectable treatment for hair loss uses the body’s own natural growth properties to help hair grow back at the cellular level. This simple, non-surgical procedure is done in an office and starts with a blood draw. Then, the affected area is treated with microneedling.

Schedule Your Hair Restoration Appointment At Moksha Dermatology Today

If you’re ready to change your life and restore your hair, simply give us a call. Our offices in Cincinnati, Ohio and the surrounding areas of Dayton and Springboro can help you discover better hair today! In order to find out what’s ideal for your needs, contact Moksha Dermatology today!