Hair is among our most defining characteristics. It's probably one of the first things you notice when you meet someone. We can spend a lot of time thinking about our hair. What if you think you don't have enough hair? How about too much? What's "normal?"
Hair Loss
Your hair normally goes through cycles of growth and arrest. The length of each cycle varies from person to person, but the growth phase generally lasts two to three years and the resting phase typically lasts three to four months. At the end of this resting phase, hair strands fall out and new ones begin to grow in their place, initiating the growth cycle.
People generally shed about 100 strands of hair per day. That may sound like a lot, but with 100,000 strands on your head, it doesn't make a visible difference. You may notice a difference, however, if the rate of shedding exceeds the growth rate, if new hair is increasingly thinner or if hair comes out in clumps.
The medical term for excessive hair loss is alopecia. Pattern baldness is the most common type of alopecia, affecting about one in three men and one in three women. In pattern baldness, the growth cycle shortens, hair becomes thin and less sturdy and strands become rooted more superficially, which makes them fall out more easily. Heredity is thought to play a big role in pattern baldness. If either side of your family has a history of baldness, it increases your chances of balding and also affects the age at which you begin to lose your hair, the rate at which you lose it and the pattern and extent of your hair loss.
So what are some things you can do to slow down the process? Minoxidil (Rogaine) and Finasteride (Propecia) are both Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs used to treat alopecia. Minoxidil prolongs the growth phase of hair and transforms fine hair into coarse hair. Finasteride blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, decreasing the hormonal effects seen in male-pattern hair loss.
There are also many other causes of hair loss: poor nutrition, medications and underlying medical conditions, just to name a few. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you notice increasing, sudden or patchy hair loss as well as before using any medications to treat it.
Hair Excess
Approximately 20 million American women remove facial hair at least once a week, according to research conducted by the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers. Are you one of them? Don't fret.\nAn increase in facial hair can mean various things. Hormonal changes during puberty can transform fine, "vellus," hair into coarse, "terminal," hair. During menopause, the ratio of male hormones to female hormones increases, which may increase facial hair in some women. Heredity also plays a role, and the degree of hair growth may vary with ethnicity.
Take solace in knowing that excessive hair growth is usually not an indication of a true medical disorder. If you're experiencing excessive hair growth in conjunction with irregular menstruation cycles, deepening of voice and balding, you could have hirsutism, a condition that causes women to grow hair in locations that are more typical of male hair patterns (mustache, beard, central chest, shoulders, lower abdomen, back, inner thigh, etc.). This condition is caused by several disorders, most commonly polycystic ovarian syndrome. If you notice any of these symptoms, see your doctor for an evaluation and discuss possible treatment plans.
If you're experiencing unwanted hair growth without any other symptoms, chances are you're in the clear. Try bleaching, shaving, plucking or waxing for a temporary fix. If you're looking for something more permanent, electrolysis hair removal, performed by a certified physician, can safely remove unwanted hair. Again, be sure to speak with a professional before starting any type of treatment.
Kira Blair Mayo is a University Medical student. She can be reached at k.mayo@cavalierdaily.com.
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