Hair loss. A topic that concerns everyone, irrespective of age and gender. Losing up to 100 strands each day is regarded as normal; losing more than that can cause panic in many individuals. Male pattern baldness affects approximately 50% of men by their late 50s, while females are often burdened with thinning hair after reaching menopause.
Why does this happen? Is there a way to prevent it from occurring or cure the issue once it begins? We will take you on an amusing journey detailing everything related to massive hair loss.
First things first: Understanding Normal Hair Growth
You know what they say -- prevention is better than cure! So let's start by understanding how our hair grows naturally.
Anagen phase - The growing stage
This is generally known as the first stage of your hair growth cycle (and also is amusingly referred to as 'the blacksmith phase'). It lasts for around two to five years and represents about eighty-five percent of our head hairs at any given moment (impressive huh?)
Catagen Phase - Transition Stage
The second step marks a brief transition period lasting typically two weeks where the follicle closes up shop for maintenance work before going back into action.
Telogen phase - The resting phase
Now we enter 'the awkward teenager phase,' where your hair stops growing and rests awhile before either falling out or getting replaced by new, healthy strands. This stage lasts between three and six months.
But you didn't come here just for scientifically-backed facts, did you?
Root Causes Of Hair Loss
It's imperative we address potential root causes if we intend on cutting off this problem from its evil roots. There are numerous reasons behind why so much precious keratin ends up circling down our bathroom drains every day!
Genetics
Usually branded as the number one cause of hair loss amongst men especially, genetics play a significant role in pattern baldness. You can pick your nose, but not the genes you inherit!
Hormones
Pregnancy, menopause, hormonal imbalances such as hypothyroidism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), also result in hair loss.
Medication
Hair can be collateral damage when we take certain medications like antibiotics or blood thinners where shedding heaps might happen upon ceasing said medication.
Hair Damage
Asides from medical issues affecting hair health, poor treatment of our largest accessory will take its toll on it (the poor thing). Overbrushing our locks until strands break and avoiding consistent trimming to prevent split ends leads to continuous damage that accumulates eventually.
Uncovering The Myths And Misconceptions About Massive Hair Loss
And now for myths busted! There are quite several deceptions surrounding this matter which needs clearing up before moving forward:
Wearing Hats Will Cause Baldness
This is entirely false -- unless said hat has an attached razor blade concealed somewhere inside! Head accessories don't make us go bald contrary to old wive's tales.
Using Dry Shampoo Is Safe For Continuous Use
"Soak me more". Apparently not so fast. Excessive use of dry shampoo risks irritating the scalp by clogging pores with residue preventing regular oil production necessary for healthy hair growth.
There have been instances where consistent usage led to serious problems such as folliculitis - Inflammation caused by chemicals build-up leading to bacterial infection (yeah-can we go back using bars soap? Seems way safer) .
Fighting Back: Ways To Tackle Severe Hair Loss Like A Pro
Now that we're armed with some valuable knowledge about potential causes let's look at what can be done if you notice things heading southwards (hair-wise).
Medication
When diagnosed with pattern baldness, the first resort is medicinal treatment prescribed by physicians. FDA-approved minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia) are medication options available.
Hair Transplantation
And for those who want to wear their hairline like a crown until late into the twilight ages, Follicular Unit Extraction(FUE), or follicular unit transplantation (FUT) will fill in your gaps leaving you with glorious hair days ahead (can hear that shampoo commercial voiceover grin).
Lifestyle Changes For Self Care
So... less of squirting dry shampoo everywhere then? Eating well-balanced meals containing protein as found abundantly in fish, eggs mixed veggies goes a long way too! Exercising regularly also aids reduced stress levels which ultimately leads to improved hair growth cycles (no more troubling over whether they'll recognize us at our high school reunion) .
Conclusion
There you have it -- everything you need to know about massive hair loss! We unraveled significant myths regarding this topic while arming ourselves with knowledge on causes and practical ways we can tackle it head on!
We'll leave one final tidbit tip: There's no shame visiting dermatologists if things get out of hand. Remember - love them hard but let go when needed dear tresses!