HealthyLife Articles

Tag: scalp

Disappearing Hair: Know About Alopecia

SELF-CARE CORNER

Hair loss is a normal part of life and aging. The average person loses 100 strands of hair from their scalp every day. Usually, these hairs grow back as part of a hair follicle’s lifecycle.

However, as people get older, hair loss usually outpaces hair regrowth. In addition, some people may be susceptible to losing their hair early in life.

Alopecia, another name for hair loss, can be frustrating, embarrassing, and tough to manage. But, there may be options available to slow, halt, or reduce the appearance of thinning hair.

Causes of alopecia

There are many different types of alopecia, each with a different cause.

For example, androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as pattern baldness, is linked to your genetics. If your dad or mom experienced pattern baldness, the likelihood is you will too.

Other causes include:

* Aging

* Genetics

* Hormones

* Stress

* Thyroid dysfunction

* Medications

* Chemical hair treatments

* Autoimmune reactions

Treatment options

The best way to manage hair loss depends on the cause. While some forms of alopecia may be slowed or halted, others are irreversible. Your medical doctor or dermatologist is your best resource when exploring treatments for alopecia.

Options may include:

* Topical medications or shampoos

* Oral medications

* Corticosteroid injections

* Hair transplant

* Wigs or hairpieces

Caring for your hair

How you treat your hair may contribute to alopecia in some cases. The better care you take of the hair you have, the healthier it will be.

* Use a gentle shampoo that won’t remove moisture from your hair.

* Apply conditioner after every shampoo.

* Limit how long and how often you blow-dry your hair.

* Avoid wearing your hair in a tight bun, ponytail, or braid.

* Brush or comb your hair gently. Avoid tugging.

If you are dealing with alopecia, talk to your doctor to find out the cause and discuss the best treatment options for you.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
The Link Between Stress & Hair Loss

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

It’s normal for a person to lose up to 100 hairs every day. Hairs grow for a while and then enter a resting phase. During this resting phase, the hair falls out and a new one grows in its place.

Sometimes, however, stress can change this normal pattern of rest. Stress can force too many hairs into their resting phase all at once. This is called telogen effluvium.

What to look for

Telogen effluvium is not dangerous. But it can be bothersome and may even lead to having more stress.

The main sign of telogen effluvium is losing a large amount of hair all at once. The hair may come out in clumps or handfuls. Telogen effluvium doesn’t happen right after you have stress. It happens about two months after high stress or shock.

Why hair falls out

Telogen effluvium may happen after certain stressful events. Sometimes it can be caused by:

* Severe emotional stress, like a death in the family

* A high fever

* Childbirth

* Severe illnesses or infections

* Major surgery

* A crash diet with a lack of protein

Certain medications can also cause telogen effluvium. If you notice hair loss two months after starting a medication, talk with your doctor about it. Don’t stop taking your medications without asking your doctor first.

Ruling out health issues

Sometimes hair loss is a sign of a health problem. Having low iron levels or low thyroid hormone may cause it.

A condition known as alopecia areata can also cause hair loss. It happens when the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles. Experts think it can be caused by stress in some cases.

See your doctor if you notice any unusual hair loss. They can help you find the cause.

Recovering from hair loss

If you’ve experienced hair loss from stress or an illness, there is hope. Usually, hair will start to thicken up again within a few weeks or months.

Source: American Osteopathic College of Dermatology

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Daily Defense Against Dandruff

Skin Conditions

Dandruff is harmless. But it can be annoying to have white flecks accumulate on the clothes on your back and shoulders.

Dandruff (or seborrheic dermatitis, in medical terms) affects the scalp and eyebrows – areas of the skin where oil glands are most active – leaving them oily and flaky. Unchecked, dandruff can collect around your ears and cascade down your neck and back.

While dandruff seems to run in families, no one knows exactly what causes it. Possible contributing factors include:

* Stress.

* Infrequent shampooing.

* Oily skin in general.

* Extremes in weather (hot and humid or cold and dry conditions).

Whatever the cause of your dandruff, thorough, daily shampooing is the most successful home treatment. To make shampooing more effective:

* Wash your hair thoroughly to loosen scaly skin, but be gentle, taking care not to scratch or irritate the scalp and increase the risk of infection. Change shampoos if the one you’re using isn’t helping or stops working after you’ve used it awhile.

* Use an antidandruff shampoo. Over-the-counter shampoos with selenium sulfide are often effective for mild cases. More severe dandruff may require a prescription medication containing coal tar or a scalp lotion with cortisone, which is rubbed into the scalp.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Hair Loss

Skin Conditions

Most men have some degree of baldness by age 60. After age 60, 50% of women do.

Signs & Symptoms

* Thinning of hair on the temples and crown.

* Receding hair line.

* Bald spot on back of head.

* Areas of patchy hair loss.

Causes

* Normal aging. Family history of hair loss. Hormonal changes, such as with menopause.

* A side effect of some medicines, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Crash dieting.

* A prolonged or serious illness. Major surgery. Thyroid disease.

* Areata. This causes areas of patchy hair loss. It improves quickly when treated, but can go away within 18 months without treatment.

Treatment

* Medications. These include over-the- counter Rogaine and prescribed ones.

* Hair transplant with surgery.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

* Try the over-the-counter medication, Rogaine.

* Avoid (or don’t use often) hair care practices of bleaching, braiding, cornrowing, dyeing, perming, etc. Avoid hot curling irons and/or hot rollers. Use gentle hair care products.

* Air dry or towel dry your hair. If you use a hairdryer, set it on low.

* Keep your hair cut short. It will look fuller.

* Don’t be taken in by claims for products that promise to cure baldness.

Resources

American Academy of Dermatology

866.503.SKIN (503.7546)

www.aad.org

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Sure-Fire Ways To Prevent Hair Loss

SELF-CARE CORNER

You can head off hair loss by changing the way you care for your hair, say the experts from the American Academy of Dermatology.

* Do you vigorously towel dry your hair? Instead of rubbing wet hair, which is more elastic and vulnerable to breaking, wrap your hair in a towel to absorb the water or let it air dry.

* Do you brush or comb your hair when it is wet? If you have straight hair and are of Caucasian or Asian descent, try to comb and brush your hair only when it is dry. Otherwise, you can stretch the strands and cause them to break. People who have tightly curled or textured hair or are of African descent should comb or brush their hair when it is wet. Doing so decreases the chance of hair breakage.

* Do you use a blow dryer or curling iron? The high heat from a blow dryer can actually boil the water in the hair shaft leaving the hair brittle. Let your hair partially air dry before you style or comb it.

* Do you use styling products that promise a long-lasting hold? While these products may give your hair unbeatable hold, using a comb to style your hair after you apply the product often causes the hair to break. Over time, this can lead to major hair loss. Reduce the use of these products to lessen hair loss.

* Do you try to fit in 100 brush strokes per day? It is a myth that 100 strokes a day promotes healthy hair. Vigorous brushing can strip the ends of the hair, causing split ends.

* Do you color, perm, or relax your hair? All processes damage the hair and can cause dry, brittle strands.

* Do you wear braids, a ponytail, or hair extensions? All of these styles pull on your hair and lead to breakage.

* Do you skip the conditioner? Use a conditioner after every shampoo. A conditioner cannot repair hair, but it can increase shine, decrease static electricity, improve strength, and offer some protection from harmful sun rays.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026