Hair loss can be temporary or permanent. Either way, it can greatly affect the quality of your life. Whether it is due to a medical condition or is caused by hormonal imbalance, the end result is the same- losing hair on your head. If you are in a position where this is permanent and you want to do something about it, then it is worth researching the best age to get a hair transplantand researching whether it is for you.
So, what do you know about baldness? Here are 10 telling signs of going bald:
Your hair is falling out
This is pretty self-explanatory. The excessive shedding of hair is always the first and most common sign of balding. Unfortunately, hair shedding is easy to overlook as a sign of balding because we lose hair in common, daily situations like combing, or holding a tight ponytail. There is also natural hair shedding that occurs when the hair enters its final stages of the growth cycle. Due to this, finding a couple of hair strands on your hairbrush or on the floor does not mean that you are going bald. On the other hand, if the hair is too much that it can fill your shower drain, then it could be one of many hair loss symptoms.
You notice a receding hairline
This is a classic sign of male pattern baldness. Unfortunately, many men may ignore this sign until it gets severe. Most of them do not notice the hairline developing and only begin to see it when hairstyles expose more of their forehead. Sometimes, you may spot an “M-shape” when washing your hair.
A visible hairline
If you once had a head full of thick hair and can suddenly notice your scalp then the only logical explanation is that you are losing hair. Balding can cause even the thickest hair to thin out. The more you lose hair, the more visible your scalp will be.
Random bald spots
As aforementioned, male pattern baldness causes a bald spot on the crown- this is the area at the top of the head. This is often due to alopecia areata; an autoimmune hair loss disorder that straps certain areas of the scalp. The good news is that the hair is bound to grow back after treatment.
Hair takes longer to grow
According to scientific research, the hair on the scalp grows about six inches on a yearly basis. This means that you gain about an inch of hair every few months. Since baldness can affect your hair count, you will find that the hair will take longer to grow. You may also discover that your hair is no longer as thick as it used to be.
Itchy or flaky scalp
An itching scalp does not necessarily mean that you are going through hair loss. The reality is that conditions that cause your scalp to itch may also be related to hair loss. For instance, if you are suffering from a condition called capitis, then you will experience hair loss alongside the itching of your scalp. This can become uncomfortable over time. If you scratch your scalp too hard and suffer from seborrheic dermatitis then you may experience hair loss.
No change to the hair on the sides or back of your head
If you have thicker hair on your head, but you keep losing it only from the top, this is a classic sign of male pattern baldness. This happens most especially when the hair on the sides or the back of your head remains intact and hair loss only happens from the back.
Full-body hair loss
There are conditions like cancer that need treatments like chemotherapy that can result in hair loss all over the body. Therefore, when you lose hair at once and are undergoing a specific type of treatment, then your doctor will advise you on the best way forward in terms of hair growth.
Patches of scaling that spread over the scalp
Usually, these patches and scaling are often accompanied by redness or swelling. In severe cases, oozing is involved and ultimately causes hair loss.
Sudden loosening of hair
The physical or emotional shock causes the loosening of hair during combing or even after gentle tugging. This results in overall thinning of the hair.
The Bottom Line
Going bald is not something that happens in one night. It is a progressive process that happens gradually through the years, and in some cases over decades. Your hair will steadily recede and eventually, the hair on your scalp will get thinner. Depending on your sensitivity, your hair may shed rapidly, or steadily. Regardless of how quick or slow the hair loss process is, you should treat it as quickly as possible so that you can prevent the condition from worsening.