Hair loss

You have about 100,000 hairs on your head. They grow about a centimeter a month. Hair growth cycle is between two to six years. The hairs go through three phases: the growth phase, the transition phase and the resting phase. During the growth phase, which lasts for at least three years, 85% of the hair follicles are active while 15% are resting. The transition phase comes after the growth phase and lasts a few weeks. Then comes a three-month period called the rest phase. After the rest phase we start to lose our hair and can find them on our hairbrush or in the shower. It is quite normal to lose about 100 hairs a day. But if we lose much more hair it can be a sign of hair loss. 

There are various causes of hair loss. Internal factors cannot be influenced by you. External factors include lifestyle and illnesses that you can influence. Here are the most common causes of hair loss.

Internal factors

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that produces bald patches on the head.

Alopecia totalis is also an autoimmune disease. It causes loss of all hair on your head. 

Hormones also affect your hair. After giving birth it is natural to have more hair than usual for a few months. Women who reach menopause often may have thinner hair. Sometimes hair loss can also be a sign of thyroid disease.

Heredity is the most common cause of hair loss and affects more men than women. About 40% of men have so-called hereditary-pattern baldness. In some men, hair begins to become thinner by the age of twenty.

For women who start losing their hair during menopause, it can be difficult to know if it is caused by menopause, hereditary or other causes.

External factors

Losing weight through nutrient-poor diets as well as intense dieting can make you lose more hair than usual.

Lack of vitamins and minerals also affects your hair.

Infections can lead to hair loss for a period of three to four months after you become ill.

Medicines can cause hair loss. For example, certain drugs that regulate blood pressure and pulse (so-called beta-blockers), birth control pills, antidepressants and Lithium.

Stress and mental illness can adversely affect hair growth. However, hair often grows again when you start to feel better.

Scalp eczema affects the amount of hair you lose.

Men who suffer from hair loss often see first a receding hairline above the temples. In women, hair loss is not so visible, but the hair gradually becomes thinner.

If you think your hair loss is caused by stress or poor diet, you can try to reduce stress and have a more balanced diet. Vitamin supplements may be helpful. You can also find non-prescription medicines for hair loss at pharmacies.

Talk to your doctor if you think that either medicines or illness may be causing your hair loss. There are also prescription drugs for hair loss that may be given after individual assessment by a doctor. Since hair is often a significant part of our appearance, it can be stressful when we notice that we start to lose hair. Talk therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT, gives you tools to deal with the hair loss and to feel better. Private clinics offer different treatments for hair loss, such as hair transplants. 

You should consult a doctor if you get bald spots or have lost most of your hair, or:

• if you have hair loss together with other symptoms that may indicate illness
• if you have lost your hair and it does not grow again after six months
• if you are a woman, have hair loss and increased hair growth on the body at the same time
• if you think your hair loss may be caused by medicines
• if the scalp is red, sore or irritated.

APPOTEK can help you with hair loss. A nurse or a doctor will make an individual assessment based on your symptoms during the consultation. You may then be prescribed medication or referred for further treatment.