Hair loss (alopecia) is a fairly common occurrence. While it is more prevalent in older adults, anyone can experience it, including children. It is typical to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). With about 100,000 hairs on your head, that small loss isn’t noticeable. New hair normally replaces the lost hair, but this doesn’t always happen, thus causing hair loss. You may need to visit a hair loss treatment center for proper diagnosis and examination to find the cause of your hair loss and get treatment.
Hair loss can develop gradually over years or happen abruptly. Depending on the underlying cause, it may be temporary or permanent. Trying to tell if you are actually losing hair or just experiencing some normal shedding? Unsure if it is time to see a doctor? Read on for more information about hair loss and how to manage it.
The main symptom of alopecia is losing more hair than usual, but this can be harder to identify than you might think.
The following symptoms can provide some clues:
Effective hair loss treatment begins with finding the cause. To get an accurate diagnosis, it helps to see a board-certified doctor. The doctor will examine your hair loss to find out its cause and may use a tool called a dermascope to get a closer look. These doctors have in-depth knowledge about the many causes of hair loss and experience treating the diverse causes.
To pinpoint the cause of your hair loss, a doctor begins by gathering information. Your physician will:
If your doctor suspects that the cause of your hair loss could be a disease, hormone imbalance, vitamin deficiency, or infection, you may need a blood test or scalp biopsy. These tests can be done at a hair loss treatment center. Once your doctor has this information, it is often possible to tell you what is causing your hair loss.
Sometimes, your doctor needs more information. This might be the case if someone has more than one cause. For example, a woman may have had a baby a few months ago, and this may be causing obvious hair shedding. She may also have an early hereditary loss, which isn’t so obvious.
Once your doctor finds the cause(s), he/she will tell you whether treatment is recommended. Sometimes, your hair will regrow on its own, making treatment unnecessary.
When Hair May Regrow On Its Own
Yes, your hair may regrow on its own. This can happen if you recently:
Your doctor can tell you whether your hair may start to grow again on its own. Sometimes to see regrowth, you need to make some changes.
Some hairstyles and hair care habits can damage hair, leading to hair loss. If your physician finds that this may be causing your hair loss, he/she can recommend changes that will help you stop damaging your hair.
While at-home treatments offer convenience, a procedure performed by a board-certified doctor tends to be more effective. For this reason, your doctor may include one of the following in your treatment plan.
To help your hair regrow, your doctor injects this medication into the bald (or thinning) areas. These injections are usually given every 4 to 8 weeks as needed, so you will need to return to your hair loss treatment center for treatment.
This is considered the most effective treatment for people who have a few patches of alopecia areata, a condition that causes hair loss. In one study of 127 patients with patchy alopecia areata, more than 80% who were treated with these injections had at least half of their hair regrow within 12 weeks.
If you have an area of thinning or balding due to male (or female) pattern baldness, your doctor may mention a hair transplant as an option. This can be an effective and permanent solution.
If using minoxidil every day or taking medication to treat hair loss seems unappealing to you, laser therapy may be an option. Also called low-level laser therapy, a few studies suggest that this may help:
Studies indicate that laser therapy is safe and painless but requires many treatment sessions. To see a bit of hair growth, you may need several treatments a week for many months.
Studies show that this can be a safe and effective hair loss treatment. PRP involves drawing a small amount of your blood, placing your blood into a machine that separates it into parts, and then injecting one part of your blood (the plasma) into the area with hair loss.
The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes and usually doesn’t require any downtime. You will need to return to a hair loss treatment center for repeat injections. Most patients return once a month for 3 months and then once every 3 to 6 months.
Within the first few months of treatment, you may notice that you’re losing less or minimal amounts of hair.
Another treatment option is to take prescription medication. The type of medication prescribed will depend on your:
With any medication, side effects are possible. Ask your doctor about possible side effects that you might experience while taking one of these medications to treat hair loss.
Other Treatments: If you have an infection or painful inflammation, your doctor can prescribe medication to treat these.
For example, if you have a type of hair loss called frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), which can cause painful inflammation, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic and antimalarial medication. Scalp ringworm, which is caused by a fungus, requires antifungal medication.
If your blood test reveals that you are not getting enough biotin, zinc, or iron, your doctor may recommend taking a supplement. If you are not getting enough protein, your doctor can tell you how to boost your intake.
You should only take biotin, iron, or zinc when your blood test shows that you have a deficiency. If your levels are normal, taking a supplement can be harmful. For example, if you take too much iron, you can develop iron poisoning. Early signs of this include stomach pain and vomiting.
Other supplements meant to help with hair loss tend to contain a lot of one nutrient. Because this can cause you to get too much of the nutrient, many doctors recommend taking a multivitamin instead.
With an accurate diagnosis, many people who have hair loss can see hair regrowth. If you need treatment for hair regrowth, the earlier you start, the more likely you are to see regrowth.
It is important to understand that:
Self-care also plays an essential role in preventing and treating hair loss.
You should visit a well-established and reputable hair loss treatment center, such as Advanced Health Solutions – GA Spine & Disc, for accurate diagnosis, examination, and treatment today. Call us now at (770) 212-3991 or fill out our online contact form to schedule an appointment.
Our medical clinic offers a wide range of services, including primary care, specialty care, preventive care, diagnostic testing, chiropractic, physical therapy, and more. We strive to provide comprehensive and personalized healthcare to our patients.
Our medical professionals are highly trained and experienced in their respective fields. We have a team of doctors, nurses, specialists, and support staff who are dedicated to providing quality care and ensuring the well-being of our patients.
Our clinic(s) are conveniently located in a central area, with easy access to public transportation and ample parking facilities. We understand the importance of accessibility and strive to make it convenient for our patients to reach us. See all locations
We take pride in our high patient satisfaction rates and positive outcomes. We regularly collect feedback from our patients to continuously improve our services and ensure we meet their expectations. Read Our Reviews
We strive to work with a wide range of insurance providers to ensure that our services are accessible to as many patients as possible. We also offer flexible payment options and financial assistance programs to make healthcare affordable for our patients.
The purpose of this visit is to assess your symptoms, diagnose any potential conditions, and provide appropriate treatment or recommendations. Your healthcare provider will outline the recommended treatment plan, which may include medications, lifestyle changes, therapies, or referrals to specialists, depending on your condition.
In addition to our core medical services, we may offer additional benefits such as extended hours, online appointment scheduling, electronic medical records, and patient education resources.
We are a Multidisciplinary Clinic with over 75 years of Combined Experience