There are many causes of hair loss. One of the most common hair loss causes is the reduced hair growth with age. This sometimes results in baldness which is more common in men than women. This type of baldness is hereditary. Whilst we can’t escape this particular inheritance, there are some hair loss treatments available for hereditary hair loss.
Lifecycle of Hair
Hair loss is in fact quite normal. A healthy person loses about 50 to 100 hairs from their scalp every day. This natural process involves 3 stages. The first stage, anagen, is the growth phase, in which 90% of your hair is in at the moment. This is when hair is growing at around one centimetre each month. Depending on your genes, each hair can stay in anagen phase for two to seven years after which the hair follicles start to shrink. This is known as the catagen phase and lasts around two to three weeks. The blood supply to the hair follicle is cut off. At this point, the hair is ready to be shed, which is when it enters the last stage, telogen, the resting phase. After ten to twelve weeks the hair is shed and the cycle starts again.
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3 phases of hair lifecycle[/caption]
Other Causes of Hair Loss
Besides aging and hereditary hair loss, there are at least 8 other causes of hair loss. These include cancer treatment, trauma from hair product chemicals, some medicines, some medical conditions, poor diet, some skin conditions and scarring. If these are the causes of your hair loss and are a concern to you, it is best to speak to your doctor or pharmacist about your options.
What is Hereditary Hair Loss
Hair loss affects both men and women but men usually experience more severe hair loss. Whilst hair loss is normal with age, hereditary hair loss can occur as early as teenage years, especially in men. The pattern and extent of hair loss is usually similar, if not identical to, that of your parents or grandparents.
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Pattern of hair loss in men[/caption]
Hereditary Hair Loss Patterns
Men
Hereditary hair loss in men usually begins with a thinning of the hair and a receding hair line at the front of the head. It may then develop into hair loss at the top of the head.
Women
Hereditary hair loss in women does not usually involve a receding hair line at the front of the head. Instead hair loss is usually dispersed around the top of the head.
Minoxidil for Hereditary Hair Loss
The exact way in which minoxidil treats hereditary hair loss is unknown. What is known is that it does delay and slow down hereditary hair loss.
What to expect:
After two to six weeks of starting treatment, some people experience temporary increase in hair loss. This is due to the shift in the hair’s lifecycle from telogen (resting phase) to anagen (growth phase). Some people also experience changes in hair colour or texture.
Around 4 or more months, hair regrowth can be seen. If no improvement seen after one year of use, see the doctor.
Six to eight weeks after stopping treatment, baldness can return.
Products with Minoxidil
When to see the doctor or pharmacist
- Sudden or patchy hair loss
- Under 18 years old
- Signs of skin disorder or infection
- Symptoms of iron deficiency
- Feel unwell
- Treatment has not helped
- Uncertain what’s causing hair loss
Summary
Hair loss is a normal process with aging and is influenced by our genetics. Products containing minoxidil may help slow down hair loss and may encourage regrowth of hair. Time and patience are key, and if ever unsure before you start treatment or during your treatment, speak to one of our pharmacists for advice.
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Cat with fur loss[/caption]