Diffuse Hair Loss, Alopecia and Balding
Anyone can be affected by diffuse hair loss, alopecia or balding. Many assume there is only hair loss in men, but female hair loss is common and children can also be affected, although the physical manifestations seem to be more pronounced or noticeable in men. It can be quite depressing for anyone, to see strands of hair falling out, either in clumps or too many too regularly, in a comb or on a pillow.
You can arrest the problem if you take the right precautions. There are men that are very concerned about going bald. When they reach middle age, their hairline begins receding and it just gets higher and higher. Hair loss in women is also a sensitive subject and rightly so. No woman wants to lose her voluminous locks and watch them grow thinner and thinner. Although it may be difficult to prevent hair loss completely, there are things that you can do to minimize or delay it.
Different Types of Hair Loss
Before you find out about the various hair loss treatments, you should first determine if you are suffering from diffuse hair loss or alopecia. Many people don’t realize that there are actually different types and causes of hair loss. Here are a few explained:
- Diffuse Hair Loss – Also known as chronic telogen effluvium. It is characterized by thinning hair as you lose hair strands from all areas of the scalp. It is the imbalance resulting from the faster shedding of hair compared to the slower growth of new hair strands.
- Common Baldness – Male pattern baldness is also called androgenetic alopecia. It is the most common cause of hair loss in men and it is usually inherited. Female-pattern baldness, is referred to as alopecia or telogen effluvium.
- Alopecia is the appearance of bald spots in certain areas of the head. If bald spots are starting to appear in some parts of your head while the hair is as healthy and thick as before in other areas, then you are suffering from this type.
Causes of Hair Loss
Some people are sensitive about the way they look and the image that they convey and any kind of hair loss affects them greatly. Some of the typical causes of these hair loss issues are:
- Thyroid problems, iron deficiency, hormonal imbalance, infections, use of certain medications, and birth control pills.
There are some cases where diffuse hair loss and alopecia can have hereditary causes but studies show that environmental factors play a significant role as well. Furthermore, thanks to modern research, a person need not resign themself to a fate of balding, just because their parents gave them ‘bad genes.’ There are now several hair loss treatments that can be used to prevent and reverse the problem.
Hair Loss Treatments
Choosing the right treatment depends heavily on what has caused the hair loss in the first place. For example, if your diffuse hair loss is a side effect of a hormonal imbalance or a thyroid problem, then you should seek medical treatment for these health problems first. If the problem is something you can change in order for the hair loss issue to go away, then you may be able to prevent it with a few changes and special hair care treatments.
For most other causes, there are now many natural hair loss products that are available for you to choose from. Before picking out just any product, be sure to check the ingredients of the product, as well as the reputation of the manufacturer. There are hundreds of treatments today, all claiming to be the greatest hair loss cure invented. Finding the one that will help you, is the next step for overcoming your own issue with diffuse hair loss. It is still possible to reverse the problem and get your thick locks back but it can takes a few years of treatment. This is because of the hair growth cycle. You have to give it time.
