If you’ve been noticing more hairs on your pillow or hairbrush than normal, you may worry that you have hair loss.
Photo via EndocrineWeb
Hair loss can affect just your scalp or your entire body and it can sometimes be temporary or permanent. There are many causes of hair loss ranging from lifestyle to genetic to medical conditions and even side effects of some prescription drugs.
According to the Mayo Clinic, signs and symptoms of hair loss may include:
Gradual thinning on top of head
This is the most common type of hair loss affecting people as they age. In men, hair often begins to recede at the hairline on the forehead. Women typically have a broadening of the part in their hair. An increasingly common hair loss pattern in older women is a receding hairline.
Circular or patchy bald spots
Some people lose hair in circular or patchy bald spots on the scalp, beard and eyebrows. Your skin may become itchy or painful before the hair falls out.
Sudden loosening of hair
A physical or emotional shock can cause hair to loosen. Handfuls of hair may come out when combing or washing your hair even after gentle tugging. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning but is temporary
Full body hair loss
Some conditions and medical treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer can result in the loss of hair all over your body, however, the hair will usually grow back!
Patches of scaling that spread over the scalp
This is a sign of a ringworm. It may be accompanied by broken hair, redness, swelling and at times, oozing.
Photo via Health Magazine
When to see a doctor?
Hair loss can sometimes be nothing, but do see your doctor if you are distressed by persistent hair loss. For women who are experiencing a receding hairline, talk with your doctor about early treatment to avoid significant permanent baldness.
According to Healthline, medical conditions that can cause hair loss include: thyroid disease, alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease that attacks hair follicles), scalp infections like ringworm.
So, please talk to your doctor if you notice sudden or patchy hair loss or more than usual hair loss when showering or combing as it can signal an underlying medical condition
Hope this helps!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
