Do you often find strands of hair on your clothing or around your home? It’s common to lose up to 50-100 hairs every day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Any amount larger than that could mean you’re losing more hair than you should be.
Fortunately, thinning hair and hair loss tend to happen gradually, giving you time to pinpoint the cause(s) and seek treatment – and that’s where The Derm comes in. Most people think of dermatologists as skin doctors, but the experts at The Derm can also diagnose and treat many types of hair loss.
Common causes of hair loss
There’s no need to split hairs – before we can successfully treat thinning hair, we must identify what’s causing it. Hair loss occurs when the 50-100 hairs that fall off your head each day are no longer being replaced by new ones.
Some of the most common causes of hair loss include:
- Overtreating or over-styling your hair – Things like color or hot oil treatments, perms, and extreme-hold sprays and gels help your hair look great, but they can damage it over time. The same is true for curling irons, straighteners, and hair dryers, especially if you use hotter settings. Styles that pinch and pull your hair tight, such as braids or cornrows, can also harm your hair.
- Family history – Female-pattern baldness and male-pattern baldness are hereditary conditions that happen with aging. Women typically experience thinning hair along the crown of their scalp, while men develop a receding hairline and/or bald spots.
- Diet – Iron, zinc, folic acid, and other minerals help your follicles produce hair naturally. If you don’t get enough of these nutrients in your diet, you could begin to lose your hair.
- Medical conditions – Medical conditions that often result in hair loss include alopecia, trichotillomania (a hair-pulling disorder), scalp infections (such as ringworm), and autoimmune diseases. Losing a significant amount of weight in a short period of time can also cause hair loss.
- Medications – Hair loss is a potential side effect of certain medications used to treat cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, gout, depression, and more.
- Hormonal changes – For women, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause can cause temporary or permanent hair loss. Their hair may also fall out if they recently stopped taking birth control pills.
- Chronic stress – A surge in stress hormones, such as cortisol, can trigger temporary hair loss. Some people lose their hair for weeks or months after an extremely stressful event.
How we diagnose hair loss
To pinpoint the cause of your hair loss, one of our board-certified dermatologists will carefully examine your scalp and any other parts of your body with thinning hair. We may also perform one or more of the following tests:
Pull test
Gently pulling on your hair can reveal a lot about how it grows and sheds and if it’s prone to breakage.
Blood test
A blood test can determine if you have a medical condition that potentially causes hair loss.
Scalp biopsy
Your dermatologist plucks a few hairs from your scalp and/or scrapes samples from your skin to examine them under a microscope. Both can help determine if an infection is responsible for your hair loss.
At-home treatments for hair loss
Once your hair loss mystery is solved, it’s time to find the most effective treatment for you. Possible at-home treatments include:
Better care for your hair
For some, it’s as simple as changing your hairstyle and/or hair care routine. Free-flowing hair, a buzz cut or pixie cut, or even wearing a headband can all help protect your precious strands. Don’t chemically treat or bleach your hair, and avoid using high-heat styling tools.
The Derm recommends using a soft brush made from natural fibers and a mild or anti-thinning shampoo. We also offer Nutrafol hair growth supplements to improve your hair’s strength and thickness.
Diet and vitamins
To grow healthier hair, your body needs to be healthy as well. If your diet is low in the nutrients listed above (such as iron, zinc, and folic acid), taking supplements and/or a daily multivitamin could help.
Minoxidil
Best known by its brand name (Rogaine), minoxidil is FDA-approved and available over the counter. Depending on your preference, you can purchase Minoxidil as a liquid, foam, or oral prescription.
Applying minoxidil directly to your scalp twice a day should gradually thicken your hair in balding spots, although it can take up to 16 weeks to see visible results.
In-office treatments for hair loss
Not up for tackling your thinning hair at home? The Derm offers multiple in-office treatments for hair loss, including:
Light or low-level laser therapy
Multiple studies show that light or low-level laser therapy can help fight hereditary hair loss, hair loss after chemotherapy, alopecia, and more.
This therapy involves directing medical-grade lights at your scalp for a short period of time, stimulating the follicles to help regrow your hair. Light or low-level laser treatments are safe and painless, but it could take several sessions to see results.
Hair transplant
If you have thinning hair due to female-pattern or male-pattern baldness, we may suggest a hair transplant as a more permanent solution. To be considered for this procedure, you will need enough healthy hair on your scalp to be transplanted, as well as the ability to grow hair on the thinning area(s). During your consultation, we can verify if you have both.
When to visit The Derm
Are you losing more than 100 hairs per day? Did your hair loss come on suddenly? Is it not stopping? If so, it’s time to schedule an appointment at The Derm.
While your hair may regrow on its own, your dermatologist may recommend treatment to help it grow more quickly. In some cases, treatment is essential to prevent further hair loss.
Hair today, gone tomorrow?
Not if we can help it! To learn more about how The Derm diagnoses and treats many types of hair loss, schedule an appointment today.
