What is the normal cycle of hair growth and hair loss?

The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 3 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the hair on your scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase. After 3 to 4 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place.

It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children.

What causes excessive hair loss?

A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary.

Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or under active, your hair may fall out. This hair loss usually can be helped by treatment thyroid disease. Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.

Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they've had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.

Some medicines can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking the medicine. Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, high blood pressure or heart problems, vitamin A (if too much is taken), birth control pills and antidepressants.

Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. The infection is easily treated with anti fungal medicines.

Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that it can be treated.

Can certain hairstyles or treatments cause hair loss?

Yes. If you wear pigtails or cornrows or use tight hair rollers, the pull on your hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia (say: al-oh-pee-sha). If the pulling is stopped before scarring of the scalp develops, your hair will grow back normally. However, scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used in permanents (also called "perms") may cause inflammation (swelling) of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss.

Male pattern baldness:

Male pattern baldness is a type of hair loss in men. It is also called androgenetic alopecia. Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness.

Medical Research has revealed that androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness) is due to the presence of a substance called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a by-product of the hormone testosterone. Even though all men have DHT, only men with hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT develop male pattern baldness. The exposure of their hair follicles to DHT causes their hair loss. This is why some men continue to have no problems with their hair, while others notice thinning of their hair over a period of time or develop permanent hair loss, like a bald spot.

Hair loss in men usually happens at the temples or the crown of the head or both. Hair loss can also start in other areas of the scalp. See our chart below.

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Female pattern baldness:

Women may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, the hair can become thin over the entire scalp.

Dandruff:

Dandruff has also been known to be a common cause of hair loss. Dandruff must be treated before any sort of hair loss treatment is attempted.

Some Causes of hair loss:

• Stress of an Illness
• Hormonal problems
• Overactive or underactive Thyroid Gland
• Pregnancy
• Drug interactions and some medicines
• Fungal infections of the scalp
• Underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes.
• Unhealthy lifestyle
• Smoking
• Drinking
• Lack of a balanced diet

Can Sacramento Hair Doctor do something about your hair loss?

Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available. Nalini G Prasad, MD will probably ask you some questions about your diet, any medicines you're taking, whether you've had a recent illness and how you take care of your hair. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, Dr. Prasad may be able to advise you about a different medicine. Recognizing and treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss. If you're a woman, Dr. Prasad may ask questions about your menstrual cycle, pregnancies and menopause. Dr. Prasad may want to do a physical exam to look for other causes of hair loss. Finally, blood tests or a biopsy (taking a small sample of cells to examine under a microscope) of your scalp may be needed.

Sacramento Hair Doctor has two options for the treatment of hair loss.

Laser Hair Rejuvenation

Revage 670 Laser Hair Therapy, from Sacramento Hair Doctor, is the revolutionary new non-invasive technology for men and women suffering from hair loss. It utilizes a patented state-of-the-art laser in the fight against thinning hair. Using powerful, yet low level laser energy, the laser stimulates the follicles in the scalp helping to increase energy production and reduce the effects of certain enzymes, thereby promoting thickness and density.

The patented process enables coverage of the entire scalp through the use of 30 rotating diodes which precisely deliver consistent laser light throughout the treatment process. There are no drugs to take, no down-time, no interruption of your life style with the Revage 670, only pure laser light that stimulates your body naturally to rejuvenate your hair to the way it used to be.

If you experiencing hair loss from menopause,  male pattern baldness or alopecia areata? Then you are a candidate for the Revage 670 Therapy. It is an alternative to transplants.

NeoGraft Automated Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Implantation Hair Transplant System

There's no doubt that hair loss or extreme thinning can make you very self-conscious, but it doesn't mean that you have to hide under bad hairstyles or hats. Thanks to a new procedure called NeoGraft, a full head of hair could be yours before you know it. Sacramento Hair Doctor believes that men and women suffering from hair loss worldwide deserve this much more desirable, “minimally invasive,” option than the other long time hair transplant methods and treatments.

NeoGraft hair restoration promises the types of results that you have probably only dreamed of before. As the first minimally invasive, FDA-approved hair transplant process, the NeoGraft hair restoration procedure requires no scalpel incision, no sutures, and no direct scars. This system harvests, collects, and implants individual follicular grafts using one user friendly platform.

With this technology, Sacramento Hair Doctor, can restore large areas of your hairline in a single session. Furthermore, with NeoGraft, your recovery will be faster, and the process will be less disruptive to your routine.