Common Baldness
Mary Brown
Male pattern baldness or permanent pattern baldness refers to
common baldness and is the type of hair loss that commonly
afflicts men. This is usually an inherited trait, passed from
father to son. Generally, the earlier a man starts losing his
hair, the more extensive the resulting hair loss. In
male-pattern baldness a man's hair line begins receding before
baldness appears at crown of the head. In both men as well as
women, common baldness accounts for 90% of hair loss. Though
the exact causes are uncertain, experts think heredity,
hormonal changes, and age are contributing factors. Unlike hair
loss as a result of medication, disease, or other non-hereditary
causes, common baldness is permanent. In women female-pattern
baldness causes thinning over then entire scalp. Hair
represents more than just hair. It is a conspicuous physical
characteristic. Hair has wide-ranging cultural associations, it
often represents youth, fashion, and sexuality. It is
unsurprising that hair loss can be psychologically devastating
to many people when it happens to them.
The average person loses between 50 to 100 strands of hair
daily. This typically has no effect on overall hair quantity
because new hairs replace those that have been shed. However,
as a person gets older, this changes as the natural re-growth
process slows down and ceases completely. It is then that
thinning and baldness become evident. It is always advisable to
speak to your physician about sudden hair loss to rule out
medical causes. Like the skin and nails, hair goes through rest
and growth cycles. If the cycle is disturbed by illness or
stress, hair loss can can result.
Certain types of hair loss may be treatable. To rule out any
medical causes, your doctor may ask you specific questions
concerning your diet, any medication you may be taking, and
whether or not you have suffered a recent illness. He or she
may also question you about the specifics of your hair care
routine. For women, menstrual cycle, menopause or pregnancies
may be considered. An examination will be necessary to attempt
to determine the cause of your hair. To further ascertain the
cause of your problem blood tests and biopsies of the scalp may
also be required.
Depending on what type of hair loss you have suffered, specific
treatments may be available. If your doctor believes your hair
loss is being caused by a medicine you are taking, a different
type of medication may be prescribed. Recognizing and treating
illness and infections can also put a cease to the hair loss.
Hair loss may be interrupted by correcting the body's hormonal
balance. Certain medications, such as Minoxidil, might be
prescribed to help slow the development of common baldness.
This medicine, applied to the scalp, is available over the
counter. It has been successful for both women and men.
Prescription-only Finasteride is available in pill form. It is
used only for men. In order to see results, it may take up to
to six months. If there is no available medication for your
type of hair, there are alternatives. You might experiment with
hair weaves, artificial hair replacement, different hairstyles,
wigs, or hairpieces. The current offerings are very natural
looking may effectively disguise your hair loss.
About The Author: Mary Brown contributes to several web sites,
most recently http://parip.com and http://fotid.com
Back To:
All Free Info about Natural Hair Care
Choose Natural Health Site Map
Find More Free Natural Health Information
