Hair Loss: When to Worry and How to Avoid It

Even though the term refers to something negative, causing many people to shiver, hair loss is not necessarily a problem. “Hair loss is the shedding of hair from the scalp,” explains Dr. Nilton de Ávila Reis, dermatologist at Clínica Doppio, specialized in hair care. “It’s part of the normal hair cycle, because like other animals, we also constantly change our strands/fur”, he adds.

The big problem and cause for concern is when this hair loss is beyond normal. “When the amount of hair that falls out is greater than expected, we have pathological hair loss, with several causes that need to be investigated. One of them is baldness”, says Nilton.

Are you worried about the wires that come falling in the shower or around the house? Keep reading this guide on the subject and put an end to your doubts.

Main causes of hair loss

When it comes to hair loss, it is common to think of baldness right away, but they are two different things. According to Nilton, the confusion occurs because of the feeling that many people have that when the hair falls out, it doesn’t come back, as in baldness. However, although baldness can affect up to 40% of women after menopause, according to the expert, there are other common causes for female hair loss. He lists the main ones below:

Deficiency of vitamins, proteins and minerals: even if we don’t remember this all the time, hair is part of our body and, like the rest of it, depends on adequate nutrients to stay healthy. Among them, the expert cites iron deficiency as one of the main reasons for hair loss.

Oral medications: several medications have hair loss as a side effect, including antidepressants, appetite suppressants, anabolics, anticonvulsants, antihypertensives, anticoagulants, anti-inflammatory drugs, among others.

Contraceptives: are linked to hair loss in women who are sensitive to hormonal variations, which may occur during use or months after discontinuation.

Postpartum: the fault, again, is the hormonal variation, which starts in pregnancy and alters the so-called hair cycle. The sharp drop can occur for up to 6 months after delivery.

Hormonal Disorders: Thyroid diseases, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, as well as diseases involving hormones such as cortisol are also linked to hair loss.

Systemic disorders and chronic diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis, syphilis, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, among others, may have hair loss as one of the symptoms.

Life habits: hair reflects a lot the balance or not of our body, so habits that cause hormonal changes or that make it difficult to absorb nutrients such as stress, sedentary lifestyle, smoking and poor diet can reflect on the problem.

Inadequate hair care: incorrect coloring, straightening and stretching practices lead to hair breakage, followed by hair loss. The same goes for an inadequate frequency of washing and use of products that contribute to excessive sebum production.

Scalp problems: for different reasons, diseases such as dermatitis, psoriasis, ringworm and others of the scalp weaken the wires and can result in hair loss.

Female androgenetic alopecia: also called female pattern baldness, it is a hereditary condition characterized by hair loss and not just hair loss. It is considered the main cause of hair loss in men and women.

As you may have noticed, it is not always easy to identify the reason for hair loss in women, as many factors often contribute to the problem. “Hair loss in women is usually multifactorial. Genetic factors, lifestyle habits and even hair care are usually involved”, explains Nilton. Therefore, it is essential to make a correct assessment in order to find an appropriate treatment.

How many hairs is it normal to lose per day?

According to Nilton, “up to 100 to 150 strands are expected to fall out every day.” However, the expert recognizes that this may not be the best answer to the question. “Despite being classically used as a reference, the number of strands that fall out per day is not a good parameter in practice, as it is not feasible to count the strands”, he adds.

Therefore, he draws attention to other indicators that serve as a warning for pathological hair loss. Among them, the specialist cites, for example, noticing a greater amount of hair strands on the bathroom floor, combing brush or after using a hairdryer, and the appearance of hair strands in unusual places, such as on the work table and in public places.

In addition to the loose strands, Nilton says that some changes felt when touching or looking in the mirror also reveal the problem. For example, when noticing greater difficulty in fixing the locks, decreased capillary volume and even changes in the shape and length of the wires, such as loss of curls and waves. In more severe cases, it is possible to notice, including the exposure of the scalp.

It is worth mentioning that there are times when hair can fall out more, such as after childbirth, during breastfeeding or in the period between the end of summer and autumn. “These are temporary falls that improve without the need for intervention. In people without baldness or other reasons for falling out, the hairs return normally,” he says.

How to prevent hair loss

Although some causes of hair loss are more difficult to control, small everyday attitudes can contribute to delay or reduce the risk of developing the problem. See some of them:

Scalp care: shine, restoration, definition of curls… You can see how we always go after just hair care. Identifying the need of the scalp and seeking suitable solutions is essential to prevent hair loss.

Have a balanced diet: as stated earlier, hair health depends on having adequate nutrients, with sufficient amount of vitamins, proteins and minerals.

Maintain healthy habits: like skin and nails, hair is a reflection of the good or bad functioning of the body, so practice exercises regularly and avoid cigarettes and the intake of alcoholic beverages.

Have a good night’s sleep: few hours of sleep or sleepless nights are responsible for hormonal imbalances in the body which, in turn, can cause hair loss.

Invest in leisure time: since stress is one of the factors that cause hair loss, relaxing is essential to avoid the problem.

Avoid home remedies or self-medication: even multivitamins, apparently harmless, can cause hair loss.

Reduce the use of chemicals or hair procedures: dyes, straightening, flat irons and babyliss change the structure of the wires, causing breakage. In cases of procedures that reach the scalp, they can stimulate hair loss by causing irritation.

What about washing frequency? Contrary to what common sense usually says, there is no rule. Nor is it true that it is best to wash your hair as few times as possible during the week, as oiliness only makes the situation worse. The recommendation, therefore, is, in case of suspicion of any problem in the highlights, always seek guidance from a dermatologist.

Watch out for these vitamins

A balanced diet is essential to maintain the health and balance of the body and, consequently, the highlights. In the case of vitamins, it is important to know them and where to find them, since our body is not able to synthesize these essential substances for capillary balance. “Both the deficiency and the excess of some vitamins can cause hair loss”, warns Nilton. Find out what these vitamins are below:

• Vitamin A: Also known as retinol, it is mostly found in colorful fruits and vegetables such as carrots, squash, broccoli and spinach. It assists in the hair reproduction process, is an antioxidant and helps in the maintenance of scalp oil. But be careful! Its excess is also associated with the fall.
• Vitamin D: Other names for it are ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol. It is the vitamin that the body produces when exposed to the sun, but you can also find it in salmon, sardines and tuna, especially. According to Nilton, it participates in the differentiation of follicular cells, which regulates the hair cycle.
• Vitamin B3: Also called niacin, it can be found in beef liver, fish, cereals and oilseeds such as peanuts and sesame. It improves blood circulation, which ends up nourishing the wires. In addition, niacin also aids in anti-inflammatory processes.
• Vitamin B7: another vitamin from the B complex, biotin has been shown to be effective in strengthening the hair, as well as fighting dryness and breakage. Its main sources are oilseeds.

Remembering that these are just the main vitamins whose deficiency is linked to hair loss. In addition to them, there are others like almost all the B vitamins, and vitamins C and E.

What are the treatments for hair loss?

If you identify with what has been said or suspect that you may have abnormal hair loss, the best solution is to look for a specialist in the subject, whether a dermatologist or a trichologist. That’s because the sooner you seek help, the more chances you have of reversing the condition, which also depends on finding the ideal treatment for each case. Below are the main treatment options currently available:

topical minoxidil

Used in hair loss and baldness treatments for both men and women, minoxidil should only be applied to the affected areas. Its use has been shown to be quite effective, with improvement in the condition within 6 to 8 weeks of use.

low power laser

Although it is not yet known exactly how the low power laser works in hair treatment, it is known that it helps in the growth, thickening and strengthening of the wires by stimulating cell activity, promoting, in addition to hair growth, tissue regeneration.

injectable corticosteroids

It is indicated for the treatment of scarring alopecia (when hair bulbs are replaced by scars), and alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease in which the body rejects hair. These remedies, applied to the affected sites with the help of an injection, have an effect similar to that of cortisol and help with anti-inflammatory action and suppressing the immune system.

nutritional supplements

Since hair health is related to the body’s nutrition, supplements can help treat hair loss as they correct deficiencies in certain vitamins, proteins and minerals. Its use, however, must be recommended by a doctor, after carrying out tests, since the excess of certain substances is also associated with the fall.

Although hair loss and baldness…