Spotting The Early Signs Of Hair Loss
According to The American Academy of Dermatology Association, it is normal to lose 50-100 strands of hair every day (1). But, according to anecdotal reports, there are a few warning signs you should look out for if you suspect you are losing more hair than usual:
Sudden Or Excessive Hair Loss
If you notice excess hair on your brush or clogging the drain regularly, it is recommended to consult a doctor. This early diagnosis can help in preventing or slowing down further hair loss.
Receding Hairline
Loss of hair along the hairline in men is an early sign of alopecia. Just pull your hair back from the forehead to check your hairline. If it looks further back than usual along the front or around the temples, it means your hairline is receding.
Hair Thinning
Hair thinning is another sign of alopecia. If you notice sparse hair on the top of your head or circular patches of thinning hair, it could be the start of alopecia.
Thinning Ponytail
Sudden or excessive hair loss usually results in loss of hair volume. Women experience hair loss all over the scalp. So if your ponytail is looking thinner than usual, or you can see your scalp through your hair, it is time to see a healthcare provider.
Bald Patches
If you are losing patches of hair suddenly accompanied by itching or a burning sensation, you need immediate medical attention. Scalp tenderness or losing clumps of hair can indicate an underlying infection. For instance, in a ringworm infection, you will experience patchy scales on your scalp along with redness, swelling, and hair loss. Hannah, a blogger, writes about her battle with chronic illness, alopecia, and her life in her blog. She shares her experience in her post for alopecia awareness month. She wrote, “My relationship with alopecia began when I was twenty and found a small coin shaped patch at the back of my head. At that point I wasn’t too worried and after being reassured by the doctor that it would go away, I began to forget about it. However, it didn’t go away (i).”
Patchy Beard
Men with one or more bald patches in their beard area can be at risk for alopecia.
Sparse Eyebrows And Eyelashes
Losing hair from the eyebrows , eyelashes, pubic area, beard, and other parts of the body is also considered an early sign of alopecia. Such full body hair loss is known as alopecia universal is. This can also happen due to cancer treatments such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Brittle Or Red Nails
If your nails have pits, craters, or small white spots or lines, it could be an early sign of alopecia. Red nails or brittle nails can also be a warning sign for hair loss. These are a few tell-tale signs of alopecia. Spotting them on time can help you treat them quickly. Scroll down to learn more about this condition.
Do I Have Alopecia?
If you noticed two or more of the above signs, you must consult a dermatologist for a proper diagnosis. Physical examination, laboratory tests, and biopsy will determine if you have alopecia. There are different types of hair loss, depending on your:
Age Sex Genetic factors Nutritional deficiencies Hormonal imbalance Autoimmune reaction
The treatment will differ from one type of alopecia to another. Find out what causes this condition in the next section.
What Causes Alopecia?
Alopecia is often triggered by an autoimmune response where the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles. This can be influenced by genetics and environmental triggers such as stress, viral infections, and certain medications. When the immune system attacks the hair follicles, the confusion activates natural killer cells and releases certain proteins. These proteins cause inflammation and affect the normal hair growth cycle. The combination of these factors may increase the risk of developing alopecia areata (2). Knowing the cause behind hair loss can help determine the treatment. Find out the different treatment options available for alopecia in the section below.
How To Deal With It?
There are different ways to deal with hair loss. Is alopecia caused by stress? Yes, alopecia may be caused by severe stress as research has established links between stress, hair loss, and autoimmune diseases (4), (5). Can alopecia just be one spot? Yes, alopecia may present as one balding spot on the scalp, eyebrow, or beard. Is alopecia life-threatening? While alopecia in itself is not a life-threatening disease, it may lead to severe psychological issues. Studies have shown an increased risk of death by self-harm, smoking-related diseases, and psychiatric diseases (6). Watch the following video to explore the causes, symptoms, and treatments for alopecia. The video will help you gain insights into this condition affecting hair loss and share potential solutions to manage the condition.
