Understanding Hair Loss

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Understanding Hair Loss With Dr. Malhotra

How much do you know about hair loss?

Many of our hair loss patients have seen relatives and friends with thinning hair and bald spots for as long as they can remember. Although hair loss is a widespread phenomenon, you may not understand why it happens or how to treat it.

Understanding what’s happening on your head is the first step to finding solutions for your hair loss. When you understand why you’re losing your hair, you can regain control as you seek effective treatment options at Balance Hair Restoration.

Watch: Hair Restoration Graft Quality and Preservation

Hair Loss: What It Is and Why It Happens

Humans and all other mammals grow hair all over their bodies. Hair is a thin shaft of keratin that grows out of hair follicles, a specialized organ found within the skin. As your hair follicles produce new cells, hair grows.

When people talk about hair loss, they are typically referring to a reduction of thickness or quantity in the hair on the head. Hair loss is often a progressive condition, gradually getting more obvious over time.

What Causes Hair Loss?

There are many causes of hair loss. While some are within your control, others are unavoidable. If you’re experiencing hair loss, a dermatologist may help you pinpoint the cause and potentially reverse it. Dr. Malhotra recommends that all female patients experiencing hair loss consult with a dermatologist before considering hair restoration. Common causes of hair loss include the following:

Genetics

Hair loss tends to run in families. If your relatives have a history of hair loss, you are more likely to experience it, too. Hair loss results both from your maternal and paternal side.

Hormones

Hormonal changes or imbalances can contribute to hair loss. Many women experience hair thinning during or after pregnancy and around menopause. Men can experience hormonal thinning or balding, too.

Medical conditions

Some medical conditions linked to hair loss include thyroid disorders, diabetes, and lupus.

Medications

Many medications change the hair. Chemotherapy is one of the best-known medications to cause hair loss, but other drugs may also accelerate thinning and balding, including antibiotics, cholesterol medications, and antidepressants.

Hairstyle

Tight hairstyles, including ponytails and cornrows, can pull on the hair, causing breakage and thinning.

Age

As you get older, hair loss and thinning become more common.

Hair Loss Solutions
Tailored To You

Balance Hair Restoration is the leading hair restoration center in Michigan. With advanced hair restoration techniques and a double board-certified plastic surgeon, Balance Hair Restoration has a reputation for creating some of the most natural-looking results in the state. Discover why men and women from across Michigan choose us for hair transplantation by scheduling a consultation.

Hair Loss in Men: Understanding Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness is a prevalent type of hair loss in men. This type of hair loss creates a telltale shape that begins with thinning at the temples and progresses to significant baldness at the top and front of the head. The sides and the back of the head are unaffected and typically remain thick and full into middle age. We call this maintaining a “horse-shoe” of permanent hair.

Male pattern baldness occurs when genetics cause some hairs to be more vulnerable to a hormone called DHT. High levels of DHT or increased sensitivity to DHT impact the hair growth cycle. Over time, hair becomes thin and brittle, eventually falling out. Over time, significant hair loss can occur.

Male pattern baldness can begin at an early age, with some men showing signs of hair loss in their late teens or early 20s. Male pattern baldness is not the only cause of hair loss in men, but it is one of the most widespread causes. Luckily, male pattern baldness is highly treatable, and responds very well to hair restoration treatments like FUE hair transplantation.

Hair Loss in Women: What Is Female Pattern Baldness?

Treating hair loss in women can be complex to treat. While male hair loss is often due to genetics and hormones, female hair loss can have various causes. Female pattern baldness manifests differently than male pattern baldness. It typically begins with a widening of the part. Over time, this spread can become pronounced. Women also tend to experience more diffuse hair loss than men. Some women have always had weak hair in their frontal hairlines and temples.

Approximately half of all women over 50 have experienced some degree of hair thinning or loss. The treatment of hair loss in women requires a team approach. Most patients will see a dermatologist first. Laboratory studies and sometimes a scalp biopsy are performed to determine if a reversible cause of hair loss exists. If a female patient is not a candidate for medical therapy, they will meet with Dr. Malhotra regarding hair restoration options in Michigan.

When Should I Seek Treatment for Hair Loss?

If you’ve noticed thinning hair, it is time to start thinking about hair restoration. Treatments for hair loss work best when you start early.

However, because it takes time for hair loss patterns to reveal themselves, Dr. Malhotra doesn’t recommend hair transplantation before age 25 or 26. Ideally, we can analyze emerging patterns to predict future hair loss and select donor areas that are less likely to experience thinning. Most patients have about 100,000 hairs on their head. Hair loss is often not even evident until half the hairs are lost.

If you’re starting to see signs of hair loss, contact your dermatologist and Balance Hair Restoration to explore your options for treatment.

What Hair Loss Treatments Are Available in Ann Arbor?

There are many treatment options for hair loss, including medications and non-surgical treatment options. Some of the best-known are Hims, Rogaine, Nutrafol, Laser Cap, and Propecia.

While there are many medical and non-surgical treatments for hair loss, surgery remains one of the most effective treatment options for hair loss and thinning. Hair transplantation can permanently address hair loss. Balance Hair Restoration offers FUE, a highly effective type of hair transplant that creates individual follicle grafts. FUE does not leave a long scar and is less invasive than many types of hair transplantation.

Which hair loss solution is best for you? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Malhotra to receive personalized treatment recommendations and advice from our double board-certified plastic surgeon.

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Take Control of Your Hair Loss at Balance Hair Restoration

When you’re ready to stop hair loss and restore a full and healthy head of hair, it is time to visit Balance Hair Restoration. Schedule a consultation with our double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Pramit Malhotra by calling (734) 913-5100 or reach out online to get started.

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