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Identifying the Cause of Your Hair Loss

Hair loss is very common and should not be a cause for concern, as there are many viable options for renewed hair growth. However, it is important that you try and discover the cause of your hair loss. This can be done through research or talking with your dermatologist. Keep reading to discover potential causes of your hair loss.

Stress

Stress can lead to a number of health issues including thinning of the hair. Don’t let this scare you! The most important thing to do if you are experiencing this, is to take care of yourself. Try taking supplements like biotin to strengthen hair and nails. Be sure to get plenty of sleep and be gentle with your hair.

Age

The truth is, as you age, your hair ages with you. Each day, you naturally lose hair and your body replaces it with new hair growth. However, during the aging process, this new growth occurs less and less. This quite common and depends heavily on your genetic and family history. Women experiencing menopause may also see changes in hair growth, quite severely. Hair thinning or loss normally occurs during these hormonal changes. As these changes start to balance out, your hair may return back to its original state.

Family History

Genetics play an incredibly strong role in determining female and male pattern hair loss. Pattern hair loss usually affects the hairline and top of the scalp in males, and general thinning of hair in females. If you have a family history of hair loss, you are much more prone to experiencing hair loss of a similar type. Prevention for losing hair is possible, so if you believe you are more prone to pattern hair loss, or hair loss of any kind, talk to your dermatologist as soon as possible.

Hairstyle

Do often wear your hair in a ponytail, bun, braids or cornrows? This may be cause for concern, as tight hairstyles like the ones mentioned can cause traction alopecia. This is where the hair becomes loosened and begins to fall out or break due to repeated stress. If you or your child often wears hairstyles that tightly pull at the hair, consider a looser style or even decide on rocking your natural hair!

Medical Condition or Side Effect

  • Medication: Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about the side effects of medications you have be prescribed. If you are seeing overactive hair loss due to medication, there may be a different medication you can try. If not, speak to your dermatologist about ways to prevent further hair loss.
  • Alopecia Areata: Alopecia areata is a condition in which the body starts to attack its own hair follicles, causing patchy hair loss. There are no cures, but treatment options are available. Your dermatologist may be able to prescribe different options such as topical medications, steroid injections and more.
  • Psoriasis: Psoriasis on the scalp can cause red, scaly patches and the inability to grow hair in affected areas. By treating the psoriasis itself, the skin can heal and begin growing new hair once more. By talking to your dermatologist, they can create a psoriasis treatment plan that may include options like phototherapy, biologics or topical treatments.
  • Chemotherapy: During chemotherapy treatments, which are used to treat diseases like lupus and cancer, your hair follicles are inadvertently targeted. Do not be alarmed by this. It is a completely normal side effect of chemotherapy. Once treatments have finished, your hair should begin to grow back. Again, talk to your doctor or oncologist about these side effects and to learn more about chemotherapy and hair loss.

There are many reasons you may be experiencing a loss of hair or lessened new hair growth. If this is the case for you, talk to your doctor or dermatologist and learn about ways that they can help. Always remember, however, hair loss is very common and nothing to be ashamed of. At Knoxville Dermatology Group, the experienced staff can help you determine the cause of your hair loss and help you with treatment. To make an appointment, visit our website or call us at (865) 690-9467.

Treating Alopecia Areata & Hair Loss

There is a condition that affects the immune system and results in hair loss on the scalp and body called alopecia areata. Alopecia areata affects millions of Americans and these numbers continue to rise. Our team of board certified dermatologists here at Knoxville Dermatology Group believes awareness and education about skin diseases such as alopecia areata are essential are not only to its proper management, but also to overall healthy skin.

About alopecia areata
According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, alopecia areata affects approximately two percent of the population, including more than 4.7 million people in the United States alone. Alopecia areata usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis) or complete body hair loss (alopecia universalis).This common skin disease is highly unpredictable and cyclical; hair can grow back in or fall out again at any time, as the disease course is different for each person.

How does alopecia areata occur?
Current evidence suggests that alopecia areata is caused by an abnormality in the immune system. This particular abnormality leads to autoimmunity. As a result, the immune system attacks certain tissues of the body such as the hair follicles, disrupting normal hair formation. Biopsies of affected skin show immune cells inside of the hair follicles where they are not normally present; however, what causes this is unknown.Sometimes alopecia areata can be found among family members, thus linking this condition to heredity.

Who is affected by alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata occurs most often in children, teens, and young adults. However, it can also affect older individuals and sometimes toddlers. This condition affects males and females equally.

Diagnosis and Treatment
The characteristic “exclamation point” hair signals presence of alopecia areata. Found in areas of hair loss and visible with a hand lens, these short, broken off hairs are narrower closer to the scalp (appearing like an exclamation point). A biopsy of the scalp is sometimes necessary for a diagnosis.

As with many chronic disorders for which there is no single treatment, a variety of remedies are promoted, but results vary by person. Furthermore, there is no known effective method of prevention, although the elimination of emotional stress is helpful. Research has not found any drugs or hair-care products associated with the onset of alopecia areata.

Flare-Ups in Existing Conditions
It has been observed by dermatologists that prolonged, intermittent direct pressure of the hair bearing areas causes patchy loss of alopecia, which mostly recovers when the continuous pressure source is removed. This can occur when wearing a tight-fitted helmet or resting the head/neck against something for long periods of time. The direct pressure is damaging the hair germinal cells and producing auto antibodies against them, which further aggravates the problem.

Evidently, mobile phones’ radio waves produce an inflammatory reaction in the skin and thus cause damage to the hair germs in the matrix. This triggers the auto immune mechanism that results in patchy hair loss.

What You Can Do

  • Do not apply contact irritants as this may cause further worsening, and, sometimes cause permanent scarring if the reaction is severe.
  • Find the cause (posture, stress, etc.) and remove it if possible.
  • Wear lotion and a high SPF sunscreen everyday to prevent exposure to unhealthy rays. Also wear hats and accessories for additional protection.
  • Keep educating yourself about this condition so you can manage it properly.

To best address the skin needs for those afflicted with alopecia areata, routine visits with a dermatologist is recommended. Not only will they assess the skin’s condition, but also are able to provide patients with advice for proper skin care. The board certified dermatologists of Knoxville Dermatology Group understand how challenging living with alopecia areata can be. However, their knowledge and attention to patient needs is conducive to proper management.

Schedule an appointment today with one of our board certified physicians to gain more knowledge about your skin so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential!