The normal hair growth cycle lasts for 2 to 6 years and during this phase each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter (less than half an inch) per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on the scalp keeps is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the hair is in resting phase. After 2 to 3 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place. It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss.
There are number of factors that can trigger hair loss. Like an illness or a major surgery can cause temporary hair loss. Hair loss may also occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. Even this type of hair loss can be stopped by treating thyroid disease. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children or adult. Antifungal medicines are required to treat the infection.
Certain medicines can also cause hair loss. Generally, hair loss improves when you stop taking the medicine. Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, medicines used in chemotherapy to treat cancer, vitamin A (if consumed in excessive quantity), birth control pills and antidepressants.
Male-pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head results because of male-pattern baldness. Women may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, the hair can become thin over the scalp.
Perhaps. Consult your doctor. He would probably examine your scalp and ask few questions about about your diet, any medicines you're taking, whether you've had a recent illness and how you take care of your hair. If you're a woman, your doctor may ask questions about your menstrual cycle, pregnancies and menopause.
Depending on your type of hair loss, drugs & medicines are available. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.
Medicines may also help slow or prevent the development of common baldness. Minoxidil (Brand: Rogaine), is available without a prescription. It is applied to the scalp and both men and women can use it. Another hair loss medicine, finasteride (Brand: Propecia) is available with a prescription. It comes in pills and is only for men. It may take up to 6 months before you can tell if any one of these medicines is working.< /p>
Minoxidil is in a class of drugs called hair growth stimulants. Minoxidil is used topically to treat the bald spot in male pattern baldness. In females, it is used to treat diffuse hair loss or thinning on the scalp in the frontal areas. Minoxidil (Rogaine) has to be applied on the scalp at least twice daily and for at least four months to see results.
Propecia (Finasteride) is the FDA-approved pill demonstrated to treat male pattern hair loss on the vertex (top of head) and anterior mid-scalp area (middle front) in men only. In FDA-reviewed clinical trials, 2 out of 3 men on generic Propecia (Finasteride) regrew hair, as measured by actual hair counts; whereas all the men in the study not taking generic Propecia (Finasteride) lost hair. The convenient, once-a-day pill works from Day 1 to lower the amount of DHT in your scalp.
Climbazole is a conazole fungicide. It is also used in shampoo and cleaner as an anti-dandruff and anti-bacteria agent. This drug provide effective treatment for hair loss due to fungal infections.
Ketoconazole is used for dandruff causing conditions like seborrhea, as well as for the treatment of psoriasis for and other skin problems. It is available in a shampoo form as well as tablet. Nizoral is the number one choice of doctors and pharmacists, who have recommended Nizoral to millions of dandruff sufferers all over the world. Nizoral shampoo is also unique because its effect is long-lasting. Even after rinsing, Nizoral carries on working for several days. This means that you don't need to use Nizoral every day making it extremely cost-effective. And unlike some other anti-dandruff treatments, Nizoral shampoo has a pleasant fragrance and is pH balanced leaving hair soft, healthy and clean.
Consult your doctor if you notice sudden or patchy hair loss or more than usual hair loss when combing or washing your hair. Sudden hair loss can signal an underlying medical condition and may require medical treatment. There may not be cure for certain types of hair loss, but there are drugs and medicines which can stop or control hair loss. Topical solutions like Minoxidil can also stimulate hair regrowth.
