Intro:
Baldness or hair loss is typically something only adults need to worry about. But in a few cases, teens lose their hair, too — and it may be a sign that something's going on. Hair loss during adolescence can mean a person's sick or maybe just not eating right. Some medications or medical treatments, like chemotherapy treatment for cancer, also cause people to lose their hair. And people can even lose their hair if they wear a hairstyle that pulls on their hair for a long time, such as braids.
Losing hair can be stressful during a time when appearance really matters, but the good news is that hair loss that happens during the teen years is often temporary. Once the problem that causes it is corrected, the hair usually grows back.
Hair Basics:
Our hair is made of a type of protein called keratin. A single hair consists of a hair shaft (the part that shows), a root below the skin, and a follicle, from which the hair root grows. At the lower end of the follicle is the hair bulb, where the hair's color pigment, or melanin, is produced.
Most people lose about 50 to 100 head hairs a day. These hairs are replaced — they grow back in the same follicle on your head. This amount of hair loss is totally normal and no cause for worry. If you're losing more than that, though, something may be wrong. The medical term for hair loss — losing enough hair that a person has visibly thin or balding patches — is alopeciaalopecia.
If you have unusual hair loss and don't know what's causing it, it's a good idea to see your doctor. A doctor can determine why the hair is falling out and suggest a treatment that will correct the underlying problem, if necessary.
What Causes Hair Loss?
Here are some of the things that can cause hair loss in teens:
Illnesses or medical conditions. Endocrine (hormonal) conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease, can interfere with hair production and cause hair loss. People with kidney and liver diseases and lupus can also lose hair. The hormone imbalance that occurs in polycystic ovary syndrome can cause hair loss in teen girls as well as adult women.
Medications: Some medications that have hair loss as a side effect may be prescribed for teens. These include acne medicines like isotretinoin, and lithium, which is used to treat bipolar disorder. Diet pills that contain amphetamines can also cause hair loss. Chemotherapy drugs for cancer are probably the most well-known medications that cause hair loss, but some cancers including leukemia and lymphoma can cause hair loss even before treatment begins.
Hair treatments and styling: Having your hair chemically treated, such as getting your hair colored, bleached, straightened, or permed, can cause damage that may make the hair break off or fall out temporarily. Another type of baldness that results from hair styling can actually be permanent: If a person wears his or her hair pulled so tightly that it places tension on the scalp, it can result in a condition called traction alopecia. Traction alopecia can be permanent if the style is worn for a long enough time that it damages the hair follicles.
Poor nutrition: Poor eating can contribute to hair loss. This is why some people with eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia lose their hair: The body isn't getting enough protein, vitamins, and minerals to sustain hair growth. Some teens who are vegetarians also lose their hair if they don't get enough protein from non-meat sources. And some athletes are at higher risk for hair loss because they may be more likely to develop iron-deficiency anemia.
Disruption of the hair growth cycle: Some major events can alter the hair's growth cycle temporarily. For example, delivering a baby, having surgery, or getting anesthesia can temporarily stop the hair growth cycle. (Because the hair we see on our heads has actually taken months to grow, a person may not notice any disruptions of the hair growth cycle until months after the event that caused it.) This type of hair loss corrects itself.
Male-pattern baldness: Among adults, particularly men, the most common cause of hair loss is androgenetic (pronounced: an-druh-juh-neh-tik) alopecia, also called male-pattern baldness. This condition is caused by a combination of factors, including hormones called androgens and genetics. In some males, the hair loss can start as early as the mid-teen years. It can also occur in guys who take steroids like testosterone to build their bodies.
Catastrophic Hair Loss: Hair loss can be the first outward sign that a person is sick, so it may feel scary. Teens who have cancer and lose their hair because of chemotherapy treatments go through a difficult time, especially girls.
It can help to feel like you have some control over your appearance when you're losing your hair. Try some of the many options for disguising hair loss — such as wearing wigs, hair wraps, hats, and baseball caps. For most teens who lose their hair, the hair does return — including after chemotherapy. And hair loss during chemotherapy is usually a sign that the treatment is working to destroy the cancer cells because you can see how it's working on the good cells (your hair!).
Taking Care of Your Hair
Long Hair needs much more attention and care than short hair or normal length hair. Taking care of curly hair as well as long hair is of equal importance. Just keeping long hair clean by regular washing and drying it properly can itself be a tedious job. The main problem with Long Hair is its breakage and split ends. Here are a few Long Hair Care Tips that will help you manage your long hair and keep it healthy and beautiful.
Do not sleep with tightly plaited hair or hair in a tight ponytail. The excessive stress can cause hair breakage and/or hair loss.
1.Make sure not to make it too tight whenever you are tying your hair in a plait or pony tail, or it could cause breakage and/or hair loss.
2.If your hair is braided or you have a ponytail, use a specially treated hair band or scrunchie. Scrunchie is more like a grip that holds your hair together without the tightness of an usual rubber band. This prevents breakage of your hair.
3.Even though you intend on growing your hair length further you should trim your hair once every 3 months. If this is not done split ends will appear which will cause your hair to break off and hence your hair will begin to lose its health and beauty.
4.Use of a brush to detangle your hair can cause it to break off easily. Use your fingers instead. Alternatively you can also use a wide-toothed comb to detabgle your hair. This too will prevent your hair from breaking off. While detangling, divide your hair into two different sections. First center part your hair, from your forehead, to the nape of your neck, then bring the hair forward and brush each section at a time thoroughly in a downward direction to ensure that there are no tangles. Remember to be gentle to your hair while detangling. If you pull down on your hair too hard it is likely to cause breakage.
5.Washing long hair should also be done carefully to avoid any hair breakage and hair loss. Detangle your dry hair before washing it. This can be done with the help of fingers or wide toothed comb in the manner discussed previously. Doing so will make it easier to dry and style as well as decrease the knots and tangles after washing your hair. Whether under a tap or a shower, let the water drip easily through your hair, and in the meantime you can smooth each section of your hair using your hands. While shampooing, do not be vigorous with your hair or turn it topsy turvy. Instead, apply shampoo on your scalp and work a top down approach to prevent post shampoo tangles and breakage.
6.Do not rub your hair with a towel to dry it. Instead simply blot the water out of your hair with a towel. This you can do by tying your hair with a towel for few minutes after wash, and the towel will soak the excess water from your hair. Later you can simply remove it avoiding any rubbing with the towel.
7.If you keep tossing and turning a lot during sleep, a cotton pillowcase can tend to break off your hair. Use a satin or silk pillowcase so that your hair easily slides off the pillowcase without getting caught. Alternatively you can loosely tie your hair in a ponytail with a specially treated rubber band or scrunchie, while sleeping.
8.While stepping out in the sun in summer (link to SUMMER HAIR CARE TIPS) or in the chill wind of winter (link to WINTER HAIR CARE TIPS), remember to tie a scarf on your hair to prevent it from environmental damages.
9.Brushing your hair helps spread the oils out across the length of your hair. Use long strokes starting from the roots of your hair to the bottom in a downward direction, when brushing. Stroke your hand over your hair after you are done with brushing your hair, to avoid of static. Long hair is more versatile than short hair as they offer a variety of looks. By paying proper attention to your nutrition and the above-mentioned tips, you can make your long hair shine with all its health. Once your learn to keep your long hair manageable and healthy, you will surely love and enjoy it.
