Millions of people develop hair loss, and the signs can be subtle, appearing gradually. That means you could have early signs of hair loss for months or years before you notice it. However, there are several common signs it might be time to get help with your hair loss.
Excess Hair in Your Brush or Drain
Finding a few loose strands of hair in your hairbrush, on your clothes, pillow, or in the shower drain during your hair care routine is normal. The average person typically loses between 50 and 100 hairs every day as part of the normal hair growth cycle. Sudden hair loss or losing clumps of hair may be a warning sign of early hair loss or a severe medical condition.
A Wider Part or Receding Hairline
Genetics is the most common cause of thinning hair and hair loss for both men and women. Male and female pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, are naturally occurring conditions caused by genetics, hormone levels, and aging.
In men, hereditary hair loss typically begins above the temples, and over time the hairline starts to recede. Often, the hair at the crown begins to thin before disappearing entirely and causing the classic horseshoe pattern. Women rarely go bald from hereditary hair loss but, in the early stages, may notice that their part seems to be getting wider. Women may also see changes in the thickness and volume of their hair. An early warning sign of a potential issue is having to wrap a band around your ponytail more times than usual.
Tenderness or Sudden Patches of Hair Loss
Hair loss usually occurs gradually, but occasionally a person notices a bald patch that seems to appear overnight. In some cases, you may notice a burning or stinging sensation before the hair loss.
Itching, blistering, tenderness, and irritation may signify an infection or other medical condition. Whether you experience hair loss or not, a tender or itchy scalp should be addressed by a specialist. Sudden hair loss may signify a serious ailment such as thyroid disease or other medical conditions.
Thinning Eyebrows, Eyelashes, or Beard
Hair loss doesn't affect only your scalp. For instance, an autoimmune disease called alopecia areata causes the immune system to attack your hair follicles. While hair loss on the scalp is a common symptom of alopecia areata, the condition can cause hair loss anywhere on the body.
Alopecia areata often causes hair loss from the eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, and scalp. In some cases, the disease causes total baldness and may lead to hair loss over the entire body.
When Should You Get Help with Your Hair Loss?
Because hair loss is usually gradual, it often stays hidden until there is visible hair loss. While there are treatment options available for any type of hair loss, at any stage, the sooner you take action, the easier it will be to keep your hair.
The best time to schedule a consultation with a hair specialist is before you notice signs of thinning hair or hair loss and still have a full head of luscious thick hair. For instance, if hair loss runs in your family, early treatment before hair loss starts can keep your scalp and hair follicles in the best possible health.
If you've noticed signs of thinning hair or hair loss, the first step is to consult with a hair loss specialist. Our team of experts at Mane Image can help you determine the cause of your thinning hair or hair loss and create a customized plan that helps minimize future hair loss and enables you to keep your natural head of hair. To learn more about hair loss conditions and what you can do, contact us today and schedule your FREE initial consultation.
