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Hair
Loss
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Hair Loss: Causes and Treatments
For most people, hair plays an important part of their overall
appearance.
All over the world, beautiful hair is admired and emulated. But for an
increasing number of people, unexpected hair loss can be devastating
and hard to treat if it is not properly diagnosed.
For people experiencing noticeable hair loss, the number one priority
is usually getting the problem solved. Many ignore the actual causes of
their hair loss, even though understanding them can be an important
first step in treatment.
Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. Nutritional deficiencies
can contribute to increased hair shedding by weakening hair shafts that
cause breakage to the hair and slow regrowth. Hair problems that are
caused by nutritional deficiencies can be corrected by a proper diet.
Principal nutrients that are involved include vitamin A, certain B
vitamins, the vitamin biotin, vitamin C, copper, iron, zinc, protein,
and water.
Hair Loss Treatment
There are several different types of hair loss that people may experience, and treatment depends on the correct diagnosis.
Typically, dermatologists diagnose hair disorders by a thorough history, examination, biopsy and categorization.
Alopecia areata is characterized by hair falling out, resulting in smooth, round patches on the scalp. In some cases, alopecia areata can cause the complete loss of scalp and body hair. The condition is most common in people under 30.
Another type of hair loss that is prevalent in more than 50 percent of patients over 40 is androgenetic alopecia. Commonly referred to as female or male-patterned baldness, androgenetic alopecia affects men and women differently.
In men, androgenetic alopecia is characterized by a receding frontal hairline and balding at the top of the scalp. In women, the frontal hairline is preserved and thinning over the front and top of the scalp is common. Androgenetic alopecia usually begins in women in their late 20s or early 30s. |
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