You’re not alone if you’ve been picking at the little details about losing your hair.
Alopecia, sometimes known as hair loss, is a widespread condition that affects more than 80 million Americans.
So how can you tell if you’re losing more hair than usual?
Most adults lose roughly 100 hair strands every day on average. Most people won’t notice a difference because new strands are forming to replace the ones that have fallen out.
However, alopecia may be present if fewer or no hairs reappear and you start to see a receding hairline or thinning regions.
Dr. Galope discusses how to stop hair loss, its potential causes, and whether it can be stopped or reversed.
How to halt hair thinning
Losing your hair can have an impact on your confidence and emotions in addition to how you look. However, there are a few things you may do to assist in halting hair loss.
Consume more protein.
Your daily protein intake may be insufficient, which can slow the growth of your hair.
You might need to increase your protein intake, particularly if you’re vegan or vegetarian.
You require 40 to 60 grams per day, according to Dr. Galope. You don’t have to consume protein in the form of food; you can drink it.
Other options for meeting your daily protein needs include Greek yogurt, eggs, beans, and lentils.
Consume vitamins
To determine whether you are vitamin deficient, your doctor might run a number of tests on you. Your hair development may be impacted by a number of vitamins and minerals, including zinc, iron, and vitamins A, B, C, D, and E.
The supplement biotin forte with zinc, which supports the maintenance of healthy hair, skin, and muscular tissue, has proven to be effective when prescribed by Dr. Galope.
According to Dr. Galope, “there are new ones that include saw palmetto, calcium, and selenium.” “These are all good. Simply check for those that are manufactured by a respected manufacturer.
Consume a Mediterranean-style diet.
In comparison to other popular diets, eating fruits, vegetables, and protein—the major components of the Mediterranean diet—can be beneficial.
When you follow these stringent diets, you might lose weight, but Dr. Galope predicts that you won’t be able to keep it off. And they frequently lack a component that your hair follicles want.
Utilize over-the-counter medications for hair loss
The over-the-counter drug minoxidil, which aids in preventing hair loss, may be familiar to you.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug in a 5% strength, and it can be administered to your scalp as a solution or foam.
Dr. Galope states, “We’ve been thinking about employing low-dose oral minoxidil as a treatment.” A few research have demonstrated how beneficial and secure it is.
Consider low-level laser therapy.
This latest method of promoting hair growth has FDA approval.
However, low-level laser light therapy equipment, such as wands and helmets, can take a lot of time and be quite expensive, with solutions costing anywhere between $200 and $1,000.
According to Dr. Galope, it can stop skin inflammation and start hair growth. “It should be obvious. There are no medication interactions with you. There is no intolerance in you. The worst that can happen is a tiny bit of sunburn on your scalp, which can be treated with a simple lotion or even by shortening your exposure period.
Maintain appropriate scalp and hair care
Do not subject your hair to severe procedures like bleaching, hair color, or heating tools. Your hair may also be affected by hairstyles like braids or tight ponytails. Washing your hair and scalp frequently will help keep your scalp healthy.
The hair development cycle will be impacted by any scalp inflammation, according to Dr. Galope.
Why are you losing hair?
Due to the following, you can start noticing greater hair loss than usual:
- Genetics.
- Stress.
- pregnancy or menopause, which both cause hormonal shifts.
- certain hairstyles.
- damaging hair treatments such as bleaching or perms.
- drugs used in chemotherapy.
- issues including thyroid illness or fungus infections.
You can start figuring out what might be causing your hair loss by consulting a dermatologist. Your doctor will enquire about your general health, prescription drugs, and family history.
Dr. Galope advises his patients to keep track of any events that are uncommon for them, such as heavy menstruation. So we’ll know something about it when we go back to hunt for triggers.
To determine if you are experiencing hair loss, your doctor will also examine other parts of your body, such as your legs, arms, underarms, pubic area, and eyebrows, lashes, and underarms.
Hair loss frequently signals the presence of a more serious problem.
According to Dr. Galope, hair loss, especially shedding, is just a symptom that something has happened to the body. “Among your body’s three cell types with the fastest turnover rates is the hair follicle. Those systems are impacted by anything that changes your body or throws it out of equilibrium. Therefore, hair loss is a sign that something is amiss.
Can you stop losing your hair?
No, and yes. Depending on the type of hair loss you’re dealing with.
Some varieties, such as cicatricial alopecia, are permanent, although others that may be brought on by stress or a health issue are transient. Once the root of the problem has been found and removed, your hair should begin to regrow.
“Generally speaking, the hair will recover over a period of four to six months to a year if the trigger goes away or whatever caused the injury to the hair follicle,” explains Dr. Galope.
