Skin Conditions

Hair Loss

Most men have some degree of baldness by age 60. After age 60, 50% of women do.

Signs & Symptoms

•  Thinning of hair on the temples and crown.

•  Receding hair line.

•  Bald spot on back of head.

•  Areas of patchy hair loss.

Causes

•  Normal aging. Family history of hair loss. Hormonal changes, such as with menopause.

•  A side effect of some medicines, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Crash dieting.

•  A prolonged or serious illness. Major surgery. Thyroid disease.

•  Areata. This causes areas of patchy hair loss. It improves quickly when treated, but can go away within 18 months without treatment.

Treatment

•  Medications. These include over-the- counter Rogaine and prescribed ones.

•  Hair transplant with surgery.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

•  Try the over-the-counter medication, Rogaine.

•  Avoid (or don’t use often) hair care practices of bleaching, braiding, cornrowing, dyeing, perming, etc. Avoid hot curling irons and/or hot rollers. Use gentle hair care products.

•  Air dry or towel dry your hair. If you use a hairdryer, set it on low.

•  Keep your hair cut short. It will look fuller.

•  Don’t be taken in by claims for products that promise to cure baldness.

Resources

American Academy of Dermatology

866.503.SKIN (503.7546)

www.aad.org

Download an offline pdf file.

Healthier at Home book by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. www.HealthyLife.com. All rights reserved.

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