Hair loss support in 2023: Hair loss is a sensitive subject, but what you may not know is that it happens to more of us than you might think. And although it is more commonly associated with men, women can experience it too.
Knowing how to identify the signs early and take action to reduce the impact is the first step towards dealing with it in a healthy way, whether that’s a trip to the GP or a change to your lifestyle.
How common is hair loss?
On average, people lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day – and often without noticing. Typically, the hair cycle means that new hair grows and replaces this lost hair without you noticing. However, if there is an underlying cause or condition influencing your hair loss, you could be losing significantly more.
What hair loss symptoms can you look out for?
- Widening parting: A widening part is where your middle parting exposes more and more skin as time goes on. This happens when your hair starts to diffuse all over your head.
- Receding hairline: This is where the front and top of the scalp begins to recede backwards over time. The area around your temple is particularly affected in this instance.
- Loose hair: If you’re finding that your hair comes out easily when you run your fingers through it, particularly when your hair is wet, this can often be linked to a form of hair loss
- Bald patches: Circular bald patches may be an indication of alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune condition that causes hair to fall out in a way that creates this pattern.
- Clogged drains: This refers to the drains in your bathroom becoming clogged with hair that has fallen out during a shower. If you lose a high volume of hair each time, this can be a tell-tale sign.
- Pain or itching: Sometimes, hair loss can be linked to scalp conditions. An unhealthy scalp can affect the hair follicle, so keeping an eye out for these additional symptoms can help you identify a possible course of treatment.
What are some possible causes of hair loss?
According to the NHS, common causes of hair loss include illness, stress, cancer treatment, weight loss or iron deficiency. In some cases, it may be that you have a form of alopecia, which can manifest in different ways and in turn, be treated in different ways.
When seeing a specialist about suspected hair loss, they may assess whether you have one of the following types of hair loss:
- Male or female-pattern baldness
- Alopecia areata
- Traction alopecia
- Frontal fibrosing alopecia
It is recommended that you see a GP if you have sudden hair loss, are developing bald patches or if your head itches or burns.
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