Losing Hair: What Can You Do?

By Darla Ferrara

Losing hair can be a frightening concept. On average, a person will lose 50 to 100 hair strands a day. This is the normal process of loss and regeneration; it is not a sign that you are going bald. Your scalp can hold about 100,000 hairs, so in the grand scheme, 100 strands does not have a huge effect. Hair loss is a gradual process. True balding is not about losing hair, it is about failing to regrow it.

Hair Regeneration Cycle

Each healthy hair stays put for several years. Eventually, hair always falls out and the follicle usually begins to produce a new one. For some people, the hair cycle changes. Hair grows, but once it falls out, new strands may not appear. This is the beginning of baldness.

Causes of Hair Loss

The most common reason you may begin losing hair is genetics. Pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is an inherited trait that kicks in as you age. The normal hair cycle is disrupted, and hair starts to fall out sooner. New hair strands grow back weaker, and thinning becomes apparent. Eventually, hair regeneration stops completely. If there is a history of baldness in your family, then there is a chance that you have this genetic trait. Gender is not necessarily a factor; pattern baldness can occur in both men and women.

Physical trauma and illness can affect hair growth as well. is scarring of hair follicles. The tissue becomes inflamed and becomes damaged to the point that hair can no longer grow. This trauma is often a sign of chronic illness such as lupus. Another form of hair loss occurs due to emotional trauma. This is often temporary and tends to correct itself over time.

Poor nutrition can make you bald. Fad diets, fasting, and sudden weight loss all contribute to the problem. The yo-yo diet syndrome is hard on your body and your hair.

Medication can trigger the change too. Drugs for cancer, birth control, high blood pressure, heart disease, and gout alter hair growth patterns.

What Can You Do to Stop Losing Hair?

If the loss is genetic, your options are limited. A dermatologist can point to the right treatment for you. Over-the-counter or prescription products containing minoxidil have shown some promise in triggering new growth. The key is not to treat the hair loss, but to find a way to encourage regrowth in the hair that remains.

A healthy lifestyle will go a long way to improving your situation.

• Eat a balanced diet. If you want to lose weight, do it by cutting portions and exercising. Fad diets and detoxifying programs are hair killers.
• Take good care of your hair. Cut back on processing such as coloring. Let hair air dry whenever possible. Do what you can to preserve the life span of the hair strands.
• See a hair stylist for advice on the best way to utilize the hair you have to cover up thinning spots. Choose a proactive style. Genetic hair loss is not likely to reverse itself. Start looking for fashionable ways to improve your look, such as a new cut or even a wig.