Alopecia can affect the entire body or simply the scalp, and it can be temporary or permanent. It could be hereditary, or caused by hormonal changes, medical issues, or purely ageing. Men are more likely than women to lose hair on their heads.

Excessive hair loss from the scalp is commonly referred to as baldness. The most prevalent cause of baldness is hereditary hair loss as people become older. Some people may rather leave their hair loss untreated and unnoticed. Hairstyles, cosmetics, hats, and scarves may be used to conceal it. Others choose one of the available treatments to prevent additional hair loss or to restore hair growth.

Symptoms

Hair loss can manifest itself in a variety of ways, depending on the cause. It might strike abruptly or gradually, and it can affect your entire body or just the scalp.

The following are some of the signs and symptoms of hair loss:

• On top of the head, there is a gradual thinning

This is the most prevalent type of hair loss, which occurs as people become older. Hair begins to recede near the hairline on the forehead in men. In most cases, women’s hair has a broadening of the part. A receding hairline is an increasingly common hair loss noticed in older women (frontal fibrosing alopecia).

• Bald areas that are round or patchy

On the scalp, beard, and brows, some people lose hair in circular or spotty bald areas. Before the hair falls out, a patient’s skin may become uncomfortable or unpleasant.

• Sudden hair loss

Hair might loosen as a result of a physical or mental trauma. When combing or washing hair, or even after light tugging, a few strands of hair may fall out. Hair thinning is common with this form of hair loss, although it is often only temporary.

• Hair loss all over the body

Hair loss can occur as a result of some medical diseases and treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer. Hair normally regrows on its own in these cases.

• Scaling patches that extend throughout the scalp

This is likely a ringworm symptom. Broken hair, redness, swelling, and leaking are all possible symptoms.

Hair treatment

Whilst hair loss can be debilitating for individuals, there are some treatment options and medications which can help, such as:

1. Minoxidil – This drug is applied to the scalp as foam or a liquid. It is available without a prescription over the counter. It may take several months for hair to thicken after using it. If individuals stop using minoxidil, they’ll often start losing their hair again.
2. Finasteride – This prescription drug is in the form of a tablet that is taken by mouth. Patients may need to take finasteride for months to see benefits, and if they stop taking it, they will lose new hair.
3. Microneedling – Microneedling is a procedure that involves using a skin roller with small needles to injure the skin. Microneedling, which is commonly used to treat skin for anti-ageing, may also be used to treat hair loss. There’s even evidence that it can help with alopecia areata, a particular kind of hair loss.
4. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) PRP for hair loss – A dermatologist will take a sample of the patient’s blood, in a specific medical device and place it in a machine that will separate the plasma from the blood. The plasma is then injected into the areas of the scalp where they are losing hair. The entire procedure takes about 10-20 minutes. The treatment is usually given once a month for three months, with a follow-up treatment every three to six months, if required. It is worth noting that PRP injections are non-invasive and require little to no downtime. 
5. Hair transplant – This form of surgery has the potential to provide long-term or permanent results. Individual hairs—or a strip of skin with hairs—are removed from one portion of the scalp and transplanted to thinning or balding areas by a surgeon. The procedure takes 4 to 8 hours. 

Hair loss can be caused by a variety of factors, including heredity, skin conditions, and scalp diseases. While it is not always possible to prevent hair loss, using medications as well as treatments such as PRP, can help to delay or stop additional hair loss.

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