Alopecia is a common term used to describe hair loss. An average individual loses about 100 hair a day. The hair is actually dead keratin cells, produced by follicles. Each follicle has a different life cycle that may be influenced by several factors, including disease, age, etc. The most common type of baldness starts affecting males and females when they reach their 40s. Generally most hair loss is not due to any internal disease or illness. Genetic factors, ageing or family history may be linked to hair thinning. Often normal life variations, like hormonal changes, nutritional changes and severe stress may contribute to hair loss.
Alopecia is a common term used to describe hair loss. An average individual loses about 100 hair a day. The hair is actually dead keratin cells, produced by follicles. Each follicle has a different life cycle that may be influenced by several factors, including disease, age, etc. The most common type of baldness starts affecting males and females when they reach their 40s. Generally most hair loss is not due to any internal disease or illness. Genetic factors, ageing or family history may be linked to hair thinning. Often normal life variations, like hormonal changes, nutritional changes and severe stress may contribute to hair loss.
Symptoms and Causes
Experts link several health conditions, such as iron deficiency, thyroid, to hair loss.
- Hair thinning: If you are suffering from hair loss, check if your hair is thinning excessively.
- Hair fall: If your hair is shedding, you will find clumps of hair falling out.
- Baldness: You may notice hair loss all over your scalp or only in one area, known as focal hair loss.
With inherited hair loss in women, hair thinning is over the entire scalp, whereas in men, bald spots occur on top of the head or around the forehead.
Treatment
Increasing your intake of proteins can aid in hair growth. If your consumption of proteins is less, your body will use them for other essential functions. B complex vitamins can help promote healthy hair growth.
