The Importance Of Hair

Throughout history, hair has served to build not only significant parts of culture but also religions. Historically, hair is associated with femininity and beauty in women and virility and youth in men. They are indicators of social and professional status, and they are used in different ways to represent cultures and religions. This historical importance of hair makes hair loss embarrassing and difficult to overcome for both men and women.

What is the difference in hair loss For Men & Women

Hair loss is far from being an exclusively male problem. According to a study conducted at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada), hair loss can affect up to 70% of men and 40% of women at some point in life. It can be classified into three groups: hereditary and constitutional, metabolic, and hormonal. In men, the most common cause of hair loss is hereditary. On the other hand, hair loss is rarely hereditary in women, and most of them notice hair loss after menopause. Almost all women experience occasional spikes in stressful situations, after pregnancy, due to hormonal, thyroid disorders, and during the so-called seasonal fall period.

Hair Loss In Men

The first thing you should know is that falling hair is perfectly normal. Hair strands also have a life cycle – now they are growing, now at rest, they fall so that new strands are born in their place. Thus, they are continually renewing themselves. An adult person has, on average, between 90 thousand and 140 thousand hairs and, due to hair renewal, we lose between 50 and 100 hairs per day. Therefore, for each hair that falls, another one will be born in that same follicle. The concern comes when the fall becomes more pronounced than normal.

The main cause of hair loss in men is androgenetic alopecia, motivated by testosterone’s action that atrophies the follicle. According to the American Hair Loss Association estimates, by age 35, about 50% of men will have lost hair. There is also alopecia areata, motivated by an autoimmune reaction or genetic predisposition that can be triggered by stress, for example, characterized by the skin’s appearance on one or several points of the head.

Hair Loss In Women

In general, the hair has a growth, stabilization, and fall cycle that lasts from 10 to 18 months. The speed of growth and hair thickness depends on individual genetics and the influence of race, age, and food type. But in fact, the number of women suffering from hair loss is constantly increasing. Daily stress and tensions, environmental pollution, and the wrong cosmetic treatments are some of the causes. In women, hair loss can have important psychological consequences, not only because the hair influences the aesthetic pleasantness of the face but also because losing it means compromising one’s femininity.

Hair loss can be acute or chronic. The causes are diverse (infectious diseases; postpartum phase; poor diet and drastic diets; thyroid disorders; surgery and anesthesia; stress, anxiety, and depression; medication). However, there are predisposing and hereditary factors and specific periods of life, such as menopause.

In general, hair loss in women is transient, and with the correct diagnosis and adequate therapy, hair regrowth is ensured. Excluding cases of exclusive medical competence, it is possible to improve the scalp’s habitat: cleaning, sebum control, and dandruff should be the first things to do to give a new breath to the piliferous bulbs. Hair must be treated with all the respect we give to any other part of the body. When we take little care of them, they suffer when we stress them with excessive treatments such as permanents, paintings, or sunbathing, when we do not eat properly or walk anxiously.

How To Prevent Hair Loss?

Hair does not just mark our image. It also reflects on our lifestyle – stress, food choices, hair treatments. Although some causes are not easy to control, some attitudes can help prevent or decrease hair loss. Meet some:

• Do not smoke or drink alcohol too much;
• Have a balanced diet;
• Regular exercise;
• Sleep well;
• Drink lots of water always to be hydrated;
• Invest in leisure time to reduce stress;
• Avoid sleeping with wet hair;
• Avoid very tight hairstyles;
• Avoid using hot appliances, such as straightening irons;
• Avoid doing too many chemical treatments, such as coloring and straightening.

Treatments

There are several treatments for hair loss, but to be truly effective, they must be indicated according to the problem encountered and started as soon as possible. Therapy may include oral medication, topical application of drugs, corticosteroids, or laser treatments. It may also involve surgical procedures, such as hair transplantation. In any case, doubt homemade recipes and never use self-medication to recover lost hair. Talk to a dermatologist, preferably a hair specialist, to find the best treatment for you.

Choose The Best Hairdresser

Having dry and damaged strands after a visit to the hairdresser? With a step cut that doesn’t favor you? With colored streaks instead of pale streaks? Having trouble hiding your badly cut bangs? Hmm… who has never left a hair salon dissatisfied with the result, raise your hand! No hands in the air? A sign that readers need to know some tips to choose the Best Hairdresser in The Algarve.