Hair loss is something that affects most men and women at some stage in their life – and it can often be very difficult to come to terms with, and in turn, it can lead to stress and anxiety.
The good news is there are several things you can do to prevent losing your hair, and there are also treatment options that you can consider to reverse any hair loss that you’ve already sustained.
What Types of Hair Loss Are There?
Before running you through our tips to prevent hair loss, it’s important to first realize that there are several different types of hair loss. In fact, there are over a dozen types of hair loss affecting both men and women, but some of the most common include:
Androgenetic Alopecia
Commonly referred to as male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss, androgenetic alopecia is a hereditary condition that results in significant hair loss. It is by far the most common type of alopecia, with it affecting almost 100 million people in the US alone, but it can be managed with medication.
Anagen Effluvium
Anagen effluvium is an extreme form of hair loss which results in rapid hair shedding as a result of certain types of medical treatment, like chemotherapy.
Once the treatment is over, your hair will typically grow back by itself, but many people take medication to aid their hair’s regrowth.
Telogen Effluvium
Telogen effluvium is another type of hair loss that occurs when a large number of follicles on the scalp enter the resting phase of the hair growth cycle – the telogen phase – and the next phase of the cycle (a growth phase) doesn’t begin like normal.
As a result of this disruption to the hair’s growth cycle, hair falls out without new hairs growing, leading to a loss of volume and the formation of bald patches on the scalp.
Various health conditions or a medical event, like a thyroid condition, surgery or childbirth, can lead to telogen effluvium.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is a type of autoimmune condition which results in the body’s immune system attacking healthy tissues, such as hair follicles. This condition therefore typically causes hair loss and prevents new hair from growing, so it can lead to permanent hair loss (on your scalp and other parts of your body.)
Alopecia areata can affect men and women, and it can begin at any stage of one’s life without warning.
What Can I Do to Slow Down or Prevent Hair Loss?
For some of these types of hair loss, there’s not much you can do to prevent your hair from falling out, but you can take steps to help it grow back. For instance, in the case of anagen effluvium, you can take medication to help your hair grow back more quickly once your chemotherapy treatment is over.
For other conditions, such as male or female pattern baldness, it is primarily down to genetics, but looking after your hair can certainly help.
Here are a few ways you can take better care of your hair…
Don’t Use Products
Most hair products, like gel and hairspray, are bad for your hair and can lead to hair loss, especially if they hold your hair up in a position which places pressure on your scalp.
Don’t Wash it Too Often
Many of us are guilty of washing our hair too frequently without knowing it. This can dry out your scalp and lead to more shedding, and contribute to hair loss in the long run.
If you don’t like the idea of only washing your hair once every few days, you should consider using dry shampoo as an alternative.
Be Wary of Heat
Heat – from a blow dryer or the sun, for example – can damage your hair and contribute to hair loss. So, you should try to let your hair dry naturally and style it without the use of a blow dryer, and be sure to wear a hat when outside in sunny and hot weather.