Bald head: causes and treatment
Hair loss on the head occurs constantly, it is a natural cycle of their renewal. Old hair dies, instead of them grow new. But when they fall out with more intensity than they subsequently grow, we can talk about the initial stage of baldness, as a result of which a bald patch may appear on the head.
We will deal with the terminology of
Excessive hair loss, which leads to the appearance of areas without hair or complete loss of hair, in medicine is referred to as alopecia. Most often there is such a variety of this disease, as alopecia areata. At the same hair fall out in a certain place: on the crown, above the eyebrows. The area affected by alopecia gradually widens.
To date, medicine can not unequivocally determine what a bald patch appears on the head. Science knows only the factors that trigger the onset of the disease and enhance its course.
Alopecias are affected by men, women and even children. Sometimes hair loss can be a symptom of another disease, in other cases the problem is in the hairline itself. As soon as you start to worry about excessive hair loss or a bald patch on your head, you need to visit a doctor urgently. A specialist who deals with problems with hair and scalp is called trichologist.
Why do hair fall out?
The exact cause that affects the hair follicles and leads to hair loss has not yet been identified. Unequivocally, the appearance of baldness is played by the genetic factor: if one of your relatives has a bald head, then it is more likely that you will have it in the same place and at the same age. In addition, hereditary genetic diseases affecting the density and quality of hair are transmitted.
On the second place on the influence on the appearance of alopecia are endocrine disorders. Any diseases of the thyroid gland, as well as failures in the balance of the hormonal system can lead to focal hair loss and even complete baldness.
In addition, the state of the nervous system significantly affects the condition of the hair follicles. Severe nervous shocks and chronic stress often lead to chronic hair loss, which can result in a bald patch on the head. The causes of neurogenic and endocrine nature very often take place simultaneously, which only aggravates the course of alopecia.
Additional factors that can affect the density and growth of hair in a negative way are infectious diseases - acute and chronic, fungal skin diseases of the scalp, trauma of the skin surface on which the hair follicles are located, as well as local inflammatory processes in tissues and organs.
The peculiarities of baldness in different people
The bald spot on the head shows up in different ways, and it depends on various factors. There is a manifestation of alopecia due to gender, age and depending on localization. Alopecia is an unpleasant phenomenon that affects both men and women equally, and in rare cases can affect children.
The baldness on the head of men is not perceived by society as an extraordinary phenomenon, rather, it speaks of the age-related changes in the male body. This is not always the case: alopecia is a pathological condition, just not every man will decide to go to a doctor with a similar problem.
Men often have alopecia areata, when baldness begins gradually, increasing with time. The areas above the eyebrows( there are bald patches on the forehead), as well as the crown part of the head, are most susceptible to this phenomenon.
The baldness on the head of women causes much more frustration among its owners: the fair sex in modern society is unacceptable to walk with bald patches. Most often, female alopecia is manifested by excessive hair loss and a decrease in their total number, without the appearance of bald patches with clear boundaries. The most noticeable lack of hair in women in the temporal region and on the occiput.
The childish form of alopecia is a rare phenomenon, requiring urgent consultation of a doctor, as it may indicate the presence of a serious disease or disorders in the development of the child.
Is there a cure for alopecia?
Any competent trichologist can give a list of recommendations on how to treat bald patches on the head. But initially it is worth tune in to the fact that a magic pill that stops the process of hair loss, just does not exist.
The treatment of alopecia is a comprehensive examination and identification of possible causes of the disease. After that, the doctor selects appropriate therapy, which will necessarily include preparations for internal use and external use.
Do not trust advertising or sellers of "miracle tools" that promise instant results after applying shampoo. Hair loss is a problem that arises inside the body, which means that treatment should also start from the inside. Any means for external use that can be washed with a head, rubbed into hair or done with lotions, are no more than auxiliary, capable of helping with the temporary loss of a small amount of hair.
What does traditional medicine offer?
After determining the cause of hair loss, the doctor selects appropriate medication. The set of drugs will depend on the diagnosis that was established. If thyroid dysfunction or other endocrine disorders is detected, then hormone therapy is mandatory. To select it is categorically contraindicated: due to the high probability of side effects, the appointment of hormonal medications should only be handled by a specialist.
If the bald spot on the head appears due to skin disease( psoriasis, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis), then in addition to treating the disease from the inside, shampoos with a low content of hormones can be prescribed. Such drugs help to quickly remove inflammation and reduce the rate of cell death on the scalp. Thanks to these measures, metabolic processes in the skin are restored, and the process of hair loss is normalized.
Very often patients who are worried about hair loss are prescribed sedative therapy to calm the nervous system, as well as a course of taking multivitamins and micronutrients.
Hardware treatment of
In addition to medications, physiotherapy methods show high efficiency in improving the condition of the hair. Usually, a course consisting of 10-14 procedures is prescribed, which should be repeated after one and a half to two months.
Physiotherapeutic procedures are aimed at improving blood circulation in the scalp, acceleration of metabolic processes and nutrition in the hair follicles. The effect of using such treatment does not come very quickly, but it is more stable and natural.
Among the most popular means of physiotherapy for the treatment of alopecia, a special place is occupied by darsonval. Exposure to the scalp by high-frequency current pulses allows not only to improve blood circulation and stimulate metabolic processes in the hair follicles, but also favorably affect the state of nerve endings on the skin and the nervous system as a whole. Darsonvalization is a simple, affordable, inexpensive and effective method for the treatment of alopecia. By appointment of a doctor, a course of darsonvalization can be done at almost any polyclinic.
Laser therapy is also very effective in alopecia. It is carried out in cosmetology salons, the procedure is more expensive and has a number of contraindications, therefore it should be controlled by a doctor.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine offers a large number of recipes against alopecia. All of them are based on self-preparation masks or shampoos for washing the head. Such remedies can contain in their composition various broths of herbs, natural food and fresh juice from plants.
Most of these methods have a beneficial effect on the condition of the hair and scalp. But the volume in the case when there is a real baldness and intense hair loss is going on, home remedies will be ineffective, and consultation of a trichologist specialist for the selection of therapy is necessary.
General recommendations for hair loss
The state of hair and scalp is an indicator of the health of the whole body. Therefore, when the first symptoms of unhealthy hair need to revise their lifestyle and diet. Here are the main measures to be taken in case of increased hair loss:
- full night rest for 7-8 hours;
- refusal of alcohol and harmful food: roast, smoked, salted and fast food;
- to make a menu with an emphasis on fresh vegetables, fruits and greens, to exclude from the diet various sauces and food additives;
- to start taking multivitamins and microelements;
- drink a course of herbal sedatives or soothing herbal teas;
- remove from use aggressive means for washing and styling hair - they should be with the minimum amount of fragrances and dyes.
If, after a month of performing these recommendations, the situation with the hair is not normalized, it is necessary to visit a doctor for advice.
What if the treatment did not help?
It happens that due to various circumstances, medicine can not help, and hair continues to fall out. Despair is not necessary, because there are alternative methods for solving the problem of alopecia.
For women, it is possible to use a wig, which is now made of natural materials. Such products look very organic and do not cause discomfort when worn.
If there is a partial loss of hair, then hairdressers can offer a procedure for building: artificial strands are selected by color and texture and attached to their locks.
Men can also wear wigs or in accordance with the current fashion shave their heads head on. Also, gentlemen are offered a more radical solution to this problem - hair transplant.
The appearance of bald patches and hair loss is a serious phenomenon. You do not need to treat him negligently and be afraid of going to the doctor. An experienced specialist will be able to establish a diagnosis and select an appropriate treatment. Be attentive to the condition of your hair, and they will answer you with a healthy and brilliant appearance!