Hair Loss – what can & cannot be reversed? The good news is that just because you found some hair stuck to your pillow when you woke up in the morning or in your comb, does not mean you suffer from hair loss!
What is the real issue then? Permanent or Irreversible hair loss (a.k.a. Alopecia) occurs when the hair growth cycle is disrupted, resulting in hair shedding faster than usual, hair re-growing poorly, or not growing back at all. This hair loss cannot be reversed without medical help, for which hair transplant is the only viable solution. The other reason for hair loss, albeit more Temporary, is when hair health is affected due to a certain trigger. This hair loss is reversible and normal hair growth returns once the trigger is removed.
Permanent Hair Loss
Can you guess the biggest factor leading to hair loss? Yes, it is your genetics. At any age post-puberty, a man can start to lose hair, and surprising as it may sound, the exact starting point is pre-determined genetically, by age. This means you cannot prevent it from occurring, but only accelerate it and the way it happens can be different for everyone.
Once your body reaches a certain biological age, hair loss occurs in a distinctive pattern (known as Male Pattern Baldness or Female Pattern Thinning), the different stages of which are mentioned below
Norwood Scale for Men
Ludwig Scale for Women
Apart from Male Pattern Baldness and Female Pattern Thinning, there are several reasons for permanent hair loss and they are the following –
- Scarring alopecia or scalp infections, requiring careful dermatological management.
- Traction alopecia – Excessive tension on the hair scalp from wearing certain hairstyles, such as tight braiding.
- Trichotillomania – Hair-pulling disorder in which there is an irresistible urge to pull out hair.
- Alopecia Areata (and its different forms) – Immune system attacking hair follicles to cause patchy hair loss or even complete loss of all hair from the entire body.
Temporary or Reversible Hair Loss
Hair loss may also be a temporary reaction to a trigger, and once the trigger is removed hair growth returns to its normal pattern. The temporary increase in shedding occurs 2-4 months after the trigger event and may last for several months
Triggers of Temporary hair loss include:
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- Stress
- Dietary Disorders
- Smoking
- Hormonal Imbalances
- Diseases or infections
- Toxic Chemical Exposure
- Therefore, it’s so important to talk to a hair loss specialist about your situation. They’ll evaluate your medical history, as well as your hair loss, to ensure you get the right advice.
