My friends is 24 but she has problems with hair growth. Please help!?

Question

I'm writing this on behalf of my friend, because I really want to help her. Before she was 18, she had a mane of wavy hair, but then they suddenly started to fall out. She used some folk medicine and in two years stopped the process of hair loss. She's 24 now, but the hair she's lost wouldn't regrow and the rest of her hair grow really, really slow. She's tried lots of folk medicine things, but refuses to go to a normal doctor. Have any of you had a similar problem or know what could be a reason of this and what to do to help her. She thinks she's lost attractiveness with less hair on her head now. I really want to help. But don't know how. Any advice?
Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

It is called alopecia, my mum gets it when she is stressed.

'Alopecia' is the word used to describe any type of baldness/hair loss, on the scalp, or of other hairy regions of the body.

The word ‘alopecia’ may be coupled with another word to give a specific meaning. For instance: ‘alopecia areata’ meaning ‘hair loss in areas’.

Most hair loss is not a disease but a perfectly normal process of aging and/or hormone change and put aside by many general practitioners because it is ‘not life threatening’. However, the fine line between normal and excessive loss of hair causes great concern to many, therefore correct diagnosis and care can alleviate worries during phases of patchy hair loss, diffuse shedding and thinning/balding. Psychological effects are far reaching.

Very often the word alopecia is used to describe either, a ‘patchy’ loss of hair, as in alopecia areata, or, a ‘diffuse’ loss of hair, meaning general loss. The two are sometimes seen together and can be related to the same cause or separate conditions.

More often than not, alopecia areata resolves itself. For the cases that do not correct themselves there are therapies. However, applications, injections and electrotherapy can initiate growth but the patient must be aware of the variability of the results, if at all.

A brief History
of Alopecia Areata
As far back as 1760 the term alopecia areata was used and in those early years the condition had been considered to be, and still is in rare cases, related to a fungal or bacterial influence. When endocrinology, a specialism dealing with hormone patterns, came along in the late 19th century, the influence of the thyroid gland was noticed as being very relevant, as we know it is today. But, unfortunately, it is not the whole answer because other systems in the body are also working to balance and counterbalance changing levels. Then came the claims, recognised by many countries, that all alopecia areata could be put down to ‘focal sepsis’, and here I quote ‘usually of the teeth or upper respiratory tract, but occasionally gastrointestinal’, and this was said to be the cause in most cases.
Description
What exactly IS Alopecia?...



Alopecia areata
what is it?
This cannot be explained before looking at the growth cycle of the human hair follicle. There are different stages or phases of this cycle and these are commonly known as Anagen, growing phase, Catogen, the transitional phase, and Telogen, the resting phase.

Each phase has its period of time and whilst there are a small number of hairs in the resting phase, (approx. 5%) these are the hairs being shed on a daily basis, a few more are in the transitional phase (approx. 8%) and the main mass of our hair (approx. 87%) is in the anagen growing phase which can last from three to ten years. This is variable from country to country; very few adults grow hair to the floor with most populations growing hair to the shoulders or waist. Hair grows at different rates across the head, this tells us that each follicle is a separate unit and can act on its own or collectively, reflecting body changes.

During alopecia areata hairs fall out when they are in the anagen phase of the growth cycle, but the cycle is still on-going, and when the transition or catogen phase starts there is a response, and at this time interestingly the colour pigment production ceases. The telogen, resting phase, as always, allows the hair to fall, but once the anagen phase kicks in it goes no further and the follicle returns to the resting, telogen phase, hence no hair.

This seems to be the reason why the follicle is not destroyed and is ready to grow a hair when the right conditions prevail and allow the cycle to follow a ‘normal’ pattern once again. Although the person suffering from alopecia areata may not think there is anything happening, in the majority of cases, the follicle carries on completing its imperfect cycles until the trigger allows the system to start up the normal cycle again.

Alopecia Totalis
This term describes a condition when there is a total loss of scalp hair. However, mechanisms are still in place in the follicle for them to grow whenever the body decides to do so. Hair replacement in the form of a wig or hair piece is suggested until regrowth. Keeping the scalp cleansed and free from flaking/dry skin is necessary as build up of scale must be avoided. Fresh air and sunlight, not in excess, are of prime importance due to the therapeutic nature of both.

Alopecia Universalis
A term used when the hairs across the whole body have been shed. This includes eye lashes, eye brows and fine hairs throughout.

Symptoms
The tell-tale signs...

Appearance of alopecia areata
The hair loss is in sharply defined areas, usually of the scalp or beard. There can be slight to severe itching, prior to the hair fall, or no irritation at all. For some there are very sore spots before the hair fall with redness and eruption of a pimple. The hair will usually grow back within two to four months showing hairs (maybe white to start with) in the middle of the area and grows outward to fill the patch. It must be said that most people with alopecia areata are in good health and have no other associated diseases.

One of the characteristic signs of AA is the presence of exclamation mark hairs, these are tiny hairs that have broken off, at a weakened point of the hair shaft, and can be seen around the edge of a patch that is still active, meaning hairs still falling.

Affects Of Alopecia
What to expect...



Other temporary patchy losses of hair
Ringworm can show small round or oval patches of alopecia and be very similar to AA to look at. Traumatic hair loss, breakage and scaling can be brought on by itching of the scalp and/or hairdressing mishaps, both painful and distressing. Trichotillomania is a condition, not widely known, because those suffering would not wish the loss of hair and the sparse regrowth to be seen. It is a habitual pulling of hairs from the scalp that can be very distressing for the person themselves and the family around them.

Androgenetic Alopecia
or Male Pattern baldness (MPB)
Progressive thinning, giving the appearance of loss of follicles, to temples and crown areas but does not extend to the back and sides of the scalp. If hair is being readily lost then the differences between diffuse loss/patchy loss and MPB must first be identified. Apparently, the absence of 5-alpha reductase keeps the man from developing MPB, and Men with higher levels of 5-alpha reductase and dihydrotestosterone are the men losing their hair.

Treatment: Finasteride can be taken orally available by prescription only. A 5% minoxidil solution can be applied to the scalp, twice daily and hair restoration surgery can be considered that is proving to be very worthwhile for the 40+ patient.

Androgenetic Dependant Alopecia (ADA)
or Female Pattern Loss
Progressive thinning with loss of density showing in a triangular shape behind a well defined hair line, forehead to crown. It must be emphasised that most ladies do not lose follicles in the same manner as men the effect is more diffuse loss than balding. Treatment can be sought through an Endocrinologist as ADA can be alleviated by oral anti-androgens and, if indicated, a 2% preparation of minoxidil could be applied. A diffuse loss in addition to ADA must be differentiated and tested accordingly.

Diffuse Loss of Hair
Increased shedding that is noticeable by seeing more hairs in the basin after shampooing and in the brush or comb. Hair can be shed in this way for many reasons and the most well known is after having a baby. It does not happen to all and it does not happen to the same person after each pregnancy. Hairs throughout the pregnancy are held in the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle and the hairs that would have been shed throughout, plus those due to be shed naturally, all fall together within the first few months after the baby has been born. The situation takes time to get back to normal and if there is more excess shedding after six to nine months then it is wise to see the General Practitioner and have both thyroid and ferritin levels checked.

Telogen effluvium
The term used to describe large numbers of hairs going into the telogen phase and shedding two to four months later in a diffuse manner. TE is referred to as a reflective loss of hair and can be caused by thyroid disorder, low iron, diabetes, medications, and protein deficiency. This is not a definitive list as there are other causes, not least the effects of the sympathetic nervous system described generally as ‘stress’, to do with emotional upset.

Permanent Patchy Loss of Scalp Hair
Hair loss will happen in very small patches that grow very slowly, are hardly noticeable at their onset, but go through periods of time when they progress a little more, and in some cases stop altogether to leave small bald areas that grow no further than the size of a thumb nail. The causes are of unknown origin, although bacterial infection and auto-immune factors have been looked at during research into such cases. The follicles are replaced by scar tissue and different to all of the above conditions. In some cases hair can be transplanted and great success is achieved by scalp reduction for areas of scar tissue.
Treatments
What can be done?...



Treatments
The use of sensitizers to irritate the skin of the scalp and gain dermatitis has been well documented, including PUVA treatment, topical minoxidil and Cyclosporin A. Research is ongoing as no one thing proves to be the answer for all patients with A/A, A/T and AU.

Present research
alopecia areata, totalis and universalis
It is generally thought that both hereditary factors and a hypersensitivity to certain antigens influence a forecast of the probable course and outcome of alopecia areata but the triggering mechanisms remain, as yet, a mystery. However, recent research strongly supports the theory that T-lymphocytes as the causative agents are involved in the bringing about of AA, and maybe influence the duration of the alopecia A/T/U.

Unfortunately the development of A/A prior to puberty has a poorer outcome as it does for those with an atopic state ‘a state of hypersensitivity to certain antigens’

Answer 2

Without knowing what caused her hair to fall out in the first place, I really don't know what to advise.

There are doctors of alternative medicines who might be able to help. I do suggest that your friend get her thyroid checked, and that she get checked for diabetes. Both of those can cause hair loss.

Good luck!

Answer 3

if she goes to normal doctor then can get thyriods treated



its a common prob

Answer 4

go to the doer to day