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All You Need To Know About Hair Growth & Hair Loss

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All You Need To Know About Hair Growth & Hair Loss

Hair loss can happen to both men and women and they are commonly seen amongst older adults but it does not mean that people of other ages will not experience hair loss, including children. Hair loss concerns can slowly worsen over years or it can also happen unexpectedly, affecting a person’s daily life both physically and mentally.

What are the early signs of hair loss?

Noticing early signs of hair loss can help to prevent further hair loss.

Early signs of hair loss includes:

  • Widening Part / Receding Hairline can be a sign of hair thinning leading to hair loss. Unknown medical conditions such as chronic diffuse telogen loss, androgenic alopecia, diffuse alopecia, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), or thyroid issues.
  • Loose Hair / Clogged Drain can be a sign of early hair loss. Check your comb or brush if you are seeing more hair falling off than usual. If you realised your shower drains getting clogged with hair more than usual, it may be an early sign of hair loss.
  • Bald Patches that appear can vary from sizes and grow bigger over time.
  • Pain / Itching can also be an early sign of hair loss and you might experience pain or itching on the scalp. It is best to seek the doctor to prevent any further hair loss.
  • Gradual Thinning on top of the head is a common symptom of early hair loss. Hair loss in men usually starts from the forehead with the hairline receding while women usually experience a widening part of the hair.

What is the common type of hair loss?

The most commonly reported hair loss is Alopecia, also known as hair loss by many individuals. This hair loss condition can be a temporary or a permanent issue faced by the victims which can affect the scalp or anywhere around the body that produces hair. While hair loss concerns might be due to heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or ageing, many do not know that Alopecia is categorized into three categories or stages:

  • Alopecia Areata is the mildest stage amongst the rest and it refers to balding, leading to patches or spots on the scalp and can also happen to any areas where hair grows.
  • Alopecia Totalis is a more advanced stage of Alopecia Areata. The hair loss concern can be spread to the whole head including eyelashes and eyebrows. 
  • Alopecia Universalis is the most extreme stage amongst all. This is the stage where the whole epidermis, also known as the outer layer of the skin, has caused it to be hair-free. 

What causes hair loss?

There are many reasons that lead to hair loss. It can be due to a medical condition or health issues that you are facing. It is very important to seek treatment from the dermatologist as soon as possible if you are facing hair loss issues such as thinning hair or baldness.

  • Hereditary is one common factor that causes hair loss, also known as androgenic alopecia. This causes the hair follicles level to decrease, and results in the hair to stop growing which can happen to teenagers as long as they are inherited with the genes. However, it usually happens later in life.
  • Age is also a factor that leads to hair loss. As we mature in age, hair growth starts to slow down, leading to hair thinning on the scalp which will slowly be noticeable.
  • Feeling Stress Out can result in hair loss. You will notice hair falling off suddenly when you comb or wash your hair because feeling stress forces a huge amount of hair follicles to fall into the resting phase.
  • Illness leads to hair loss issues as more hair sheds, also known as telogen effluvium. It causes more hair loss because during the process of hair growth lifecycle, more hair shedding (telogen) phase.
  • Lack of Hair Care can be another key factor for hair loss. Frequent perming, colouring or even bleaching is very harmful and damaging to the hair due to the chemicals used to achieve the results. In the long run, this will lead to hair loss without post-proper care done. 
  • Tight Hairstyle that continuously pulls your scalp will cause hair loss that damages your hair follicles, damaging and preventing hair growth
  • Hormonal Imbalance such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a concern that is seen in women and it refers to cysts that grow on women’s ovaries, leading to hair loss. Another reason that causes hair loss because of hormonal imbalance is due to the stop of continuously consuming birth control pills. 

What causes permanent hair loss?

Scarring Alopecia refers to inflammatory skin issues that will cause scars and destroy hair follicles, resulting in permanent hair loss. Skin conditions can include cellulitis, folliculitis and acne.

Does hair still grow during hair loss?

During hair loss, the re-growth of the hair is possible unless the cause of hair loss or hair thinning is due to genetics. As long as the hair follicles are still intact, it is possible to stimulate hair growth.

How to stimulate hair growth?

  • Diet and Supplements plays a big part in promoting hair growth because the benefits that the supplement produces contains a lot of vitamins and nutrients that can stimulate hair growth, as well as the type of food that we consume.
  • Avoiding Smoking can benefit hair growth because smoking will decrease and disrupt the blood flow to the hair follicles and nutrients, thinning the hair and making it dry.
  • Keratin-Based Product promotes hair growth as it helps to strengthen and protect the hair from falling off easily, boosting faster hair growth. 
  • Hair Loss Shampoo does not prevent hair loss but it can help to stimulate hair growth and thicken the hair as well as volumize it. 
  • Minimising Stress can allow more possibility for hair to grow as it lowers the amount of time under the resting phase.
  • Hair Growth Treatments help to boost hair growth by deep cleaning clogged follicles and supplying active ingredients for hair growth.
  • Fotona Hair Growth Laser is a laser treatment that requires no surgical procedure. It helps to boost natural hair growth and scalp health as well as to improve metabolism.
    • How does Fotona Hair Growth Laser work? – It releases wavelength to the scalp tissue without damaging using non-ablative lasers that encourage hair growth by increasing the blood circulation. This can lessen inflammation of hair follicles and increase production of hair follicles that are brought down by androgen, also known as male sex hormones.
    • Are there any side effects for Fotona Hair Growth Laser? – There are no side effects after the treatment. However, the scalp might appear slightly red and flush but will go off after a few hours. 
    • How long does Fotona Hair Growth Laser treatment last? – The treatment results will be noticeable in around a month’s time and will last around 9 to 12 months. However, continuous treatments will be needed in order to maintain hair growth.
    • How many sessions of Fotona Hair Growth Laser treatment are required? – An average of 5 to 10 sessions is recommended and varies to each individual’s condition. However, more sessions are recommended if the agenda is to achieve a longer-lasting result.
    • Who is suitable for Fotona Hair Growth Laser? – Individuals that do not need to have a full transplant and are facing concerns such as balding, hair thinning and hair loss can seek treatment.

When should I see a dermatologist for hair loss concern?

It is suggested to consult a dermatologist if you notice a rapid or sudden amount of hair loss such as more hair falling off than usual when combing or showering, or when there is an inflammation or rashes on the scalp. Avoid delaying seeking a treatment to prevent further hair loss or worsen the condition. 

What are the stages of hair growth?

It is good to have an understanding of the different stages for hair growth in order to better understand the hair loss concern that you are having. There are 4 stages for hair growth:

  • Anagen is the first stage of hair growth and it is known as the growing phase, as well as the active period where the cells on the root cause more hairs to grow out faster with around half an inch per month and go up to 18 to 30 inch which last for around 3 to 5 years.
  • Catagen is a short transitional phase after the anagen phase that lasts around 10 days. It is the stage where the active period of the hair growth stops and the cells on the root stops the formation of new hair. 
  • Telogen refers to the resting phase where the hair is not actively growing as the strands stay inside the hair follicles for around 3 months.
  • Exogen is the final stage of the hair growth cycle where the hair follicles start to release the hair strand and cause it to fall off.

What will happen if the hair growth cycle is disrupted?

Hair growth cycle can be disrupted for some reasons including illnesses, lack of nutrition or a lack of balance in metabolism. Hair will start to show issues such as thinning and falling off when the hair growth is disrupted, resulting in hair loss. 

Does hair loss problem go away on its own?

Hair shedding, yes. But hair loss does not go away on its own without treatment for most hair loss reasons. Hair loss can be due to genetics, incorrect hair care products or shampoo used, hairstyles that pull the hair, drugs consumed or treatment received.

What are the preventions for hair loss?

There are many reasons that cause hair loss and our daily lifestyle can play a big part of it and it is important to know how to prevent hair loss at a young age. 

  • Using the right hair care products allows hair to regrow regardless of the stage that the hair growth cycle is in and concerns include hair thinning or shedding. 
  • Getting enough sleep is very important as it boosts hair growth because our body creates the hormone melatonin which helps our hair to grow. However, our body lowers the amount of hormone melatonin produced when we do not get enough sleep.
  • Exercising is the key to prevent hair loss because it increases the blood flow in the body to the scalp and allows the hair follicles to receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood vessels, which allows the hair to grow.
  • Diet also plays a big part in preventing hair loss. Foods such as fruits and vegetables, nuts and those that contain protein can benefit hair growth as our body needs good nutrition and hydration, as well as a balanced diet for our hair to grow. Some food includes:
    • Eggs
    • Nuts
    • Fish
    • Sweet potato
    • Spinach
    • Broccoli

Conclusion

Hair loss can occur to anyone regardless of young or old. It is important to have a basic knowledge of what causes hair loss and the prevention of hair loss problems. Our daily lifestyle and diet affect our hair growth cycle, thus it is important to consume food that boosts hair reproduction and maintains a healthy lifestyle.

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