The condition affects about 1. The symptoms: Lupus often causes extreme fatigue, headaches, oral ulcers, and painful, swollen joints. Many people develop a butterfly-shaped rash across the bridge of the nose and become more sensitive to the sun. Other symptoms include fever; swelling in the feet and hands and around the eyes; chest pain; and anemia. Many people also experience hair loss, which may be mild and occur while shampooing or brushing your hair—or it may be more severe, coming out in patches and accompanied by a rash on the scalp, says Arthur Weinstein, MD, director of the division of rheumatology at the Washington Hospital Center.
Because these symptoms occur in many other conditions, lupus is often called the great imitator. The tests: A rheumatologist will examine joints and other tissues for signs of inflammation, such as heat, pain, swelling, and redness. A blood test to measure levels of anti-nuclear antibodies ANA may also indicate lupus. Rheumatologists will also determine if patients have four of 11 diagnostic criteria set by the American College of Rheumatology, though fewer criteria along with a skin biopsy may sometimes indicate lupus, Dr.
Weinstein says. What you can do: See a rheumatologist if your hair loss is accompanied by joint pain, fatigue, and other symptoms of lupus, which is treated with oral medications such as prednisone.
If you also have a rash on the scalp, you need to see a dermatologist, who is likely to prescribe a topical cream. Women who have heavy periods or don't eat enough iron-rich foods may be prone to iron deficiency, in which the blood doesn't have enough red blood cells. Red blood cells transport oxygen to cells throughout your body, giving you the energy you need. The symptoms: Iron deficiency anemia causes extreme fatigue, weakness, and pale skin. You may also notice headaches, difficulty concentrating, cold hands and feet, and hair loss.
Any type of exertion may leave you short of breath. The tests: A blood test to measure ferritin, the protein that stores iron in your body, is usually needed to diagnose iron-deficiency anemia.
Your doctor may also check your blood level of hematocrit, which gauges how much of your blood is made up of red blood cells. What you can do: Eat iron-rich foods such as beef, pork, fish, leafy greens, fortified cereals, and beans—preferably, along with foods rich in vitamin C, which enhances iron absorption.
Women need 18 mg of iron a day, 8 mg after menopause; ask your doctor if you should take an iron supplement. You can also find supplements specifically for hair loss, Dr. Fusco says. Key ingredients may include biotin, silica, and L-cysteine, in addition to iron. As many as five million women in the United States suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome. The condition, which can begin as early as age 11, is caused by a hormonal imbalance in which the ovaries produce too many male hormones.
PCOS often causes infertility. Read more about how testosterone affects your hair and how to prevent hair loss. Diabetes can lead to hair loss. Controlling your diabetes is an important first step in combating hair loss. Healthy hair is a sign of beauty and good overall health. Here are the top 5 best vitamins to grow your hair, along with 3 other nutrients. Healthline's picks for the best treatments for hair loss for men include Rogaine, Propecia, and more—how do they measure up?
Want to give your mane a boost? Try these products to get shiny, healthy locks. HairMax is a company that specializes in laser light therapy to target hair loss — but do the devices actually work? Propecia otherwise known as generic Finasteride is typically used to treat male pattern baldness—but does it actually work? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.
Hormonal changes. Thyroid disorders. Nutritional deficiencies. If the stressor stays with you, however, hair shedding can be long lived. People who are constantly under a lot of stress can have long-term excessive hair shedding. Hair loss occurs when something stops the hair from growing. The medical term for this condition is anagen effluvium.
The most common causes of hair loss include:. If you have hair loss, your hair will not grow until the cause stops. For example, people who undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatments often lose a lot of hair. When the treatment stops, their hair tends to regrow. If you suspect that a treatment or drug is causing your hair loss, talk with your doctor. Serious side effects can occur if you immediately stop a treatment or drug. Other causes of hair loss may require treatment.
Many people who have hereditary hair loss continue to lose hair without treatment. A woman who inherits the genes for hereditary hair loss may notice gradual thinning. Men who have hereditary hair loss tend to develop a receding hairline or bald patch that begins in the center of the scalp.
This means, when you go swimming, your hair isn't as likely to absorb per cent of the chlorinated water. Having regular trims will also keep your hair healthier in general as the longer you leave it between cuts the more likely it is to split and break, especially at the ends.
This can make fine hair appear even more so, while taming your ends through even an 'invisible haircut' can ensure your hair looks healthier.
CCCA or central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia is another type of hair loss, especially common in Afro Caribbean hair types, which tends to present as a gradual circular pattern of thinning on the crown of the head. This is what the actress Viola Davis sounds like she was describing when she spoke about her own hair loss struggles, describing to Vulture magazine about waking up to a "big splash of bald on the top of my head.
A genetic component is likely, but the predisposition is exacerbated by the traditional use of hot combs, chemical relaxers and excessive tensions from braids and extensions. CCCA can lead to permanent hair loss, due to scarring of the hair follicle, so needs treating and the reduction of such styling quickly once identified.
If you are struggling with very fine hair or areas of sparseness, how you wear your hair can help minimise its appearance. Instead, focus on creating layers within shorter styles, to get a bit more height. I wouldn't recommend really short layers though because they can highlight the fineness of the hair. Less is also more on fine hair. You might assume that using lots of volumising products will help but it can actually show how fine your hair is by lifting it up.
Instead, keep styling to a minimum and focus on adding moisture to your regime to maintain the elasticity of each hair. Plus, if you feel you've lost hair, try changing your parting, or use a tinted product, such as Color Wow's Root Cover Up , to fill in any gaps. Stress can have an impact on almost every aspect of your mental and physical wellbeing and your hair is no exception.
Stressful circumstances raise the levels of cortisol - the so-called stress hormone - in your body, which triggers your natural fight or flight response.
This, in turn, "negatively impacts your hair growth cycle", says Kingsley, by channelling your body's resources elsewhere to the muscles and brain for example and by "affecting nutrient absorption, messing with hormone levels and impacting the health of your scalp. Thin tresses may be a sign of Vitamin D and B12 deficiency or a lack of protein in your diet too.
The latter is especially noteworthy as the protein keratin provides the strength and structure of hair, which is why vegetarians and vegans may find their hair becomes less full and glossy after making the switch if they are not careful. Alongside recognising times of stress in your life, changing your diet to ensure it contains enough protein and iron can help both your health and your hair, as can adding more omega-3 oils found in oily fish like salmon and seeds including chia and flax into your meals.
Focus on getting these from your food first and foremost, but supplements can also be helpful, such as Viviscal's Hair Growth Supplements. It has allowed my clients to grow their hair to lengths they were unable to achieve.
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