Hair Affair: A Story Of Loss And Revival

Our hair distinguishes us from other people by giving our head and entire body a whole new personality. It gives a sense of individuality and makes every person unique. Each of us needs to take care of our hair not only for aesthetic reason, but more importantly, to maintain our head's protection from heat and rain. The hair basically lasts for two to six years, which is the normal cycle of hair growth. Each hair follicle grows approximately one centimeter per month, and almost all hair grows at the same time. The remaining hair which us usually about ten percent of our total hair, enters a resting phase which is a period of cessation of hair growth. After three months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place. It is considered normal to see some hair after you shower, since shedding is a part of the hair cycle. However, some people may experience excessive hair loss, whether it be a woman, man, or child.

Hair loss can be atirbuted to a number of reasons. Major medical treatments can make a person lose hair for as long as three to four months, a condition which occurs usually before and after surgery. Many cancer patients also lose hair due to the barrage of chemical and radiation treatments. Hair loss related to the stress of medical procedure and treatment are often temporary. Another reason for losing hair is due to hormonal problems. If the female or male hormones become unbalanced, hair loss starts to take place. This can also occur in new mothers, where hair loss is noticeable three months after giving birth. Medications can also help in having hair loss, including blood thinners, gout medications, chemotherapy drugs, too much Vitamin A, birth control pills and anti-depressants.

For women, hair loss medications may not be as effective as for men. However, a medication for this kind of hair condition called Finasteride can also improve the condition of women only if combined with birth control pills, according to the Archives of Dermatology. A doctor at the University of Bologna, Italy evaluated the effectiveness of 2.5 milligrams of Finasteride taken orally and combined with an oral contraceptive in 37 women aging from 19-50 years who consulted regarding their hair loss. Birth control pills were a necessary part of the research, since Finasteride is known to cause birth defects. Researchers selected a type of birth control pill that reduces the male hormone levels, since this can also contribute to the treatment of hair loss. They later assessed the women's hair density using a technique known as computerized light videodermoscopy at the start of the study and after two medications of the drug, all in twelve months.

After one year, the women patients rated as improved using the photographs taken. Most of the patients have increased their hair density, and a lot have reported that their condition was improved after twelve months. None of the patients had any adverse reactions to the treatment. This particular study shows that the use of said treatment is effective. By basing from this study, future work can be done by further studies in order to establish the correct dosage and mode of administration of Finasteride, especially in pre-menopausal women, as well as to evaluate the efficiency of this drug compared with other anti-androgens. The clinical results by use of global photography, hair density scores and patient self-assessment can provide the basis for future studies. This can be an effective way for women dealing with hair loss, all in due time.