Q&A: Hair Loss Awareness Month opportunity to educate on causes, misconceptions
August has been designated as National Hair Loss Awareness Month in order to uplift the voices of those affected by hair loss and give them the opportunity to educate and connect with others.
Healio spoke with Alexander Dane, DO, a board-certified dermatologist based in Florida, about common misconceptions, current treatments and the impact of stigmas.
Dane specializes in skin cancer prevention, treatment and surgery, laser surgery, general medical dermatology and cosmetic surgery. A member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American Academy of Dermatology, Dane encourages those experiencing any type of hair loss to speak with their doctor or dermatologist to explore possible treatment options.
Healio: What are some of the causes of hair loss?
Dane: There are several causes of hair loss in men and women. It is actually normal for people to lose 50 to 100 hairs a day, but by far the most common cause of hair loss is hereditary hair loss or androgenetic alopecia. Other causes include hormonal changes such as thyroid conditions, nutritional deficiencies, menopause and pregnancy.
Autoimmune conditions such as alopecia areata, scleroderma and lupus can also cause hair loss, as well as infections such as ring worm on the scalp, medications, radiation treatment and inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis.
Individuals with trichotillomania pull their hair out, while certain hairstyles that pull the hair tight, such as tight ponytails or hair braids, can also cause hair loss.
Major physical and emotional stressors such as weight loss or death in the family can lead to a shedding phase of hair called telogen effluvium.
Healio: How can hair loss affect one’s day-to-day life?
Dane: Depending on the cause of the hair loss, it may or may not be able to regrow and can be devastating to one’s self esteem, their emotional health and confidence. It undeniably can affect their quality of life.
Healio: Are there any common misconceptions about hair loss or what causes it?
Dane: A common misconception about hair loss is that there is a simple treatment for it, or a one-size-fits-all approach. Given the numerous causes of hair loss, there are different treatments for each type, so seeing your dermatologist can help you delineate what may be causing your hair loss and what specific treatments can help.
Other misconceptions include thinking that using topical treatments, such as minoxidil, will cause you to lose all your hair if you stop using it. In reality, your hair loss will slowly return to the same level of shedding as prior to topical treatment use.
Wearing hats and excessive shampooing of your hair also do not cause hair loss. Normal day-to-day stressors are not the likely culprit for hair loss; however, major stressful events, such as a death in the family or rapid weight loss, can cause hair loss.
Healio: What are some of the treatment options?
Dane: For the most common cause of hair loss, which is male and female pattern hair loss, oral medications such as finasteride, minoxidil and spironolactone, and topical medications such as minoxidil and finasteride, can help to slow the progression of hair loss and in many cases, regrow hair. Procedures such as platelet rich plasma and platelet rich fibrin injected into the scalp have also shown benefits in growing hair. In cases where the above have failed, hair transplantation, such as follicular unit extraction or follicular unit transplantation, work exceptionally well in restoring hair growth.
Healio: Are there any natural remedies that are significantly effective?
Dane: Although there is no robust scientific evidence in randomized clinical trials of natural remedies to prevent hair loss or stimulate hair growth, there are several reports of some natural ways to help hair health. Some examples include apple cider vinegar, rice water and eggs. These can help balance the natural pH of the scalp and hair, and are filled with vitamins, minerals and keratin, which can be healthy for the hair follicles.
Healio: What significance does National Hair Loss Awareness Month hold for those affected?
Dane: National Hair Loss Awareness Month can be a significant way for those affected to help bring awareness to the many causes of hair loss. It can impact not only the person involved, but also their loved ones.
Healio: Can you describe the relationship between COVID-19 and hair loss?
Dane: As with any systemic illness in your body where you get fever and inflammation, hair loss in the form of shedding is not uncommon. This type of hair loss, called telogen effluvium, is a response to this major physical stressor on your body and is, fortunately, not permanent.
Healio: Why is hair loss awareness so important now?
Dane: We are starting to notice hair loss being reported in people younger and younger throughout the last 20 years, and stress may be playing a role in this. COVID-19 has shown that it isn’t going away anytime soon and has caused extreme stress not only in adults, but also in children and teens. This could be a possible explanation of premature hair loss. In addition, certain newer hair practices, such as bleaching and dying hair, which are damaging to the hair follicles, can lead to hair loss.