Generally, hair loss is the loss of hair from the scalp (on our head) or other body parts. Hair loss can include excessive shedding, hair thinning, receding hairline, patchy bald spots, or excessively oily or dry scalp. Hair loss differs between men and women, and can also be different according to region and race (a topic still under research!).
Age is certainly a factor, though not the ultimate one. Hair loss is more likely to affect males, elder people, and highly stressed individual. Fewer than 45% of women go through their lives without any hair loss problem at all, while 50% of men have been found to have mild hair loss, and 75% with moderate to severe hair loss.
Hair loss in men is more of an expectancy compared to that for women. By the age of 80 years, 80% of men are affected by hair loss. Besides, 25% of men start showing hair loss signs as early as in their 20s!
For women, about ⅓ of women experience hair loss at some point in their lives, and ⅔ women experience hair loss after menopause. However, hair fall is actually extremely normal for both women and man. Losing up to 250 strands of hair when you shampoo is normal for women with long hair!
Aging is no doubt the most common cause of hair loss. However, did you know that you aren’t actually ‘losing hair’, but more on reduced hair growth during old age? On average, our hair grows up to 1.5 inches every month. The process of aging slows down the hair growth (which is unavoidable). So when your hair growth is slower than your hair fall, you start to notice less hair on your head.
However, you may want to see a specialist when you experience the following conditions:
Rapid hair loss
Hair loss accompanied by itching, skin irritation, pain etc.
Hair loss happens after consuming certain foods or medication
Hair loss is a common longstanding problem for both men and women, albeit in different forms across gender. Hair loss can be caused by aging, genetics, diet, hormones, or skin infections and medications.
There are several types of hair loss treatment that can be done for you to regain a head full of hair, including Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) treatment, mesotherapy, hair regrowth injections, and others.
Discuss with your doctor to see which treatment suits your condition best to help you achieve your desired results.
If you have no more hair follicles on your scalp, it means that you have scarring alopecia, or also known as a stable alopecia.
In this case, medications or other external treatments wouldn't be effective as it be able to stimulate anymore hair growth our of the hair follicles which aren't present anymore.
So hair transplant may be needed, where the cosmetic surgeon takes the hair roots from other parts of your body (without hair loss problems) and transplant them onto your scalp.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP Therapy) is a popular medical treatment for hair loss. PRP is made up of blood plasma that is highly rich of platelets. This is injected into our hair scalp where hair loss problems are present to promote hair growth and prevent hair loss. The blood plasma in PRP treatments is made from the patient’s own blood, so side effects are unlikely.
