Alopecia: Its Early Symptoms and What You Can Do About It
Each and every day, most people lose up to 100 hairs and don’t even notice. Hair loss is therefore a perfectly natural part of life. It isn’t painful or contagious, but it can sometimes become too severe, resulting in bald patches and even total baldness.
Around half of all men and a quarter of all women are affected by hair loss by the age of 50, and it can be a stressful thing to deal with. Nobody wants to look in the mirror and notice a receding hairline or bald patches, but there are ways you can fight back against alopecia.
Throughout history, even going all the way back to the days of the Roman Empire, people have tried to combat hair loss. Fortunately, we have more options than they did. There are plenty of ways to combat hair loss, and the first step knows how to spot it.
The Symptoms
There are several signs and symptoms you might want to look out for to spot alopecia early and take action before the problem becomes more severe:
A Receding Hairline
This is one of the common signs and symptoms of hair loss that is easy to spot and many men dread as they start to grow older. A receding hairline can develop very slowly and gradually over time, so it’s hard to notice any real difference from one day to the next.
Fortunately, it’s actually quite easy to spot a receding hairline simply by looking at old photographs of yourself and comparing them to what you see in the mirror. If you have that clear V-shape hairline, the process of hair loss has begun.
Hair Coming Out When Showering Or Combing
Many people lose a little hair while taking a shower or combing each day. Don’t forget that we all lose up to 100 hairs each and every day. However, if you notice quite a lot of hair appearing in your hands after shampooing or on your comb, you may have a problem.
If this just happens once or twice, it might not be anything to worry about. However, if you consistently notice that hair is coming out in little clumps while showering or brushing; it’s time to take action.
Thinning Of The Hair
One of the early signs of alopecia is simply a thinning of the hair. This is different from a receding hairline as it affects the whole scalp, essentially causing you to very slowly go bald all over your head, rather than simply losing hair from the front.
Again, you can use the photo technique to spot thinning, or you can simply run your hands through your hair and see how it feels. We can usually tell when our hair doesn’t quite feel as thick and full as it once did.
What Can You Do?
If you’ve spotted the signs of alopecia and want to fight back against baldness, here are a few possible courses of action you can take:
Laser Treatments
The latest technological breakthroughs in hair loss research show that laser treatment can actually counteract hair loss. At home laser treatments from Illumiflow.com actually promote hair growth, reversing the process of hair loss, and there’s a lot of research and data behind this form of treatment.
See A Doctor
Naturally, one of the best things to do when you notice the signs of hair loss is to speak to a doctor. They might be able to help you find the root of a problem. Lots of people assume that their loss is genetic and uncontrollable, but it might actually be a sign of a medical condition, too much stress, or even caused by some supplements or medications you’re taking.
Treat Your Hair With Care
Looking after your hair and helping it grow stronger is a great way to slow down the process of alopecia. Use a good quality shampoo and conditioner, keep your hair safe from sun damage by wearing hats, brush/comb your hair more carefully, and avoid any meds or supplements that could be contributing to hair loss.
Essential Oils
Many scientific studies have also shown that various natural essential oils can strengthen hair follicles. Applying oils and serums can therefore help fight hair loss and slow down the process. Plus, this option is totally natural, so it’s a good choice for those who don’t want to run any risks or use any chemical products on their hair.
Author: Anha Khalid is a passionate writer with donkey years of experience in the industry. She is a versatile freelance writer with having experience in writing content for health and beauty magazines and websites. With a background in journalism, she loves writing blogs and product reviews that provide valuable information to readers.