Itchy Scalp Hair Loss

People around the world are plagued by the demoralizing problem of hair loss. Although men are more likely to be faced with the issue, many women are also susceptible. There are many factors that can cause itchy scalp hair loss. In order to properly treat your particular condition, you must first understand the root cause. To better understand the route cause we will first provide a brief overview of the hair growth cycle.

Hair Growth Cycle

Everyone’s hair goes through a cycle consisting of three stages. Collectively these stages are known as the hair growth cycle, and every particle of hair goes through it. The end of one cycle marks the beginning of another.

Stage 1: Anagen

This is the growth stage. The anagen phase usually lasts for about four years, but can vary based on hereditary factors. The rate at which your hair grows is also dependent on genetics, but the longer the anagen phase the longer your hair will grow. Most of your hair will be in this stage of the growth cycle.

Stage 2: Catagen

When the hair particle enters the catagen stage it stops growing. The hair follicle submerges into the scalp and nourishes itself. This phase usually lasts about 2 weeks, and only 1% of your hair is in this phase at any given moment.

Stage 3: Telogen

This is the dormancy stage. The hair follicles remain in place and keep the hair as is without the use of the body’s resources. This phase usually lasts a couple of months, and about 10% of your hair is in this phase at any given moment. At some point during telogen the hair will be shed, and the cycle renews.

The reason we gave you an overview of the hair growth cycle is so you can narrow down the cause of your itchy scalp hair loss. It is important to understand what phase of your hair growth cycle is being disrupted.

Common Reasons for Itchy Scalp Hair Loss

The reason for your condition can be as little as a nutritional deficiency. In such a case the solution to your problem would be pretty straightforward. In other cases, however, it not so simple. We have put together a list of possible causes for you to relate your case to.

Genetics

The most common reason for hair loss is that it is in your genes. This type of hair loss affects about two thirds of men and about a third of women. The technical term for it is androgenic alopecia.

Men experience a receding hair line at the temples and bald patches on the head. Researchers have been unable to discover the reason behind this, but say that a mix of hormones and genetics are most likely responsible.

Women don’t experience a change in their hair line, and rather experience thinning out. If women in your family went through this, then it is likely that you will to.

Millions of people around the world experience hair loss due to genetics. There are a number of steps you can take to remedy your situation. If you are positive that you have a case of androgenic alopecia, then scroll down to the next section where we provide a list of recommendations for what to do about it.

Physical Ailment

An illness can seriously put a tax on your body’s resources. In the process of recovery, your body begins to direct more efforts towards removing the illness. This can interrupt the hair growth cycle resulting in beyond normal amounts of hair shed. The amount of hair shed will depend largely on the severity of your illness. The effects of hair loss will usually be noticeable after a 3 month period. This type of hair loss is temporary and the hair growth cycle should go back to normal as your body reaches full recovery.

Pregnancy

Like a physical ailment, pregnancy puts a huge demand on your body’s resources (after all, there is another life growing inside of you). The effects of hair loss from pregnancy are most common after delivery. Hair loss after delivery is fairly common, and is not a reason for concern.

Nutrition

Rapid weight loss is commonly associated with hair loss. If you have lost up to fifteen pounds within the last few months, hair loss could be an expected side effect. There is no need for concern in this type of condition, since the hair regrowth cycle will go back to normal.

Consuming too much of a particular mineral can also lead to hair loss. The best way to see if your case of itchy scalp hair loss falls under this category is to do a vitamin/mineral test. Local clinics usually offer these facilities. A particular vitamin that you should check for is vitamin A.

Protein is a critical input in the hair regrowth cycle, and not getting enough of it can result in hair loss. When the body lacks sufficient protein, it conserves it and allocates it towards activities which it deems more important  than hair growth. Iron is another component that goes into the hair regrowth cycle.

Nutritional abnormalities can result in hair loss. But the point to be noted is that these effects can be reversed if you just start eating how you are supposed to.

Disorders

Hair loss can also be caused by disease. We will go through a number of hair disorders describing the particular symptoms for each one. If you relate to any of these symptoms, then it is best to seek medical consultation.

Alopecia areata is a condition in which your body attempts to get rid of its own hair. Hair begins to fall from all over your body, not only your head. A cause for alopecia areata has not been found, and people experiencing it are usually in good health. If you find hair falling from all over your body, it is best to seek the advice of a dermatologist.

Cicatricial alopecia is an extremely rare condition which specifically targets hair follicles. As the hair follicles are destroyed scars take their place, stopping the follicles from growing back. If you are experiencing this type of itchy scalp hair loss, medication is usually the way to go. Do not, however, be so sure of your self diagnosis. Do not attempt self treatment. Seek the advice of a specialist who can prescribe the best path to take.

Only about 5% of hair loss cases are associated with a disorder.

Diagnosis

If you can relate to one of the reversible cases above, then you have nothing to worry about. If not, then your best bet is to see a dermatologist. The dermatologist will ask you a series of questions, and may even go to the extent of performing a scalp examination.

The treatment of itchy scalp hair loss is dependent on the cause. If you want to effectively treat your case, then it is important to get an accurate diagnosis. There a vast number of different treatments for hair loss, and the last thing you want to do is begin an incorrect treatment. This could further worsen your case.

Treatment

It is best to start treatment early. If you can catch your hair loss in its beginning stages, you are more likely to stop your condition from worsening.

Non-Prescription

Minoxidil is a solution you can apply to your scalp to ignite hair regrowth. Minoxidil was the first FDA approved medication for the treatment of hair loss. The fact that it has stayed relevant since its introduction in the 80s speaks for itself. Even though minoxidil is available over the counter, precautions must be taken. Minoxidil is associated with a bunch of side effects including abnormal blood pressure, chest pain, and headaches. There is also a chance of you being allergic to some ingredient. Before taking minoxidil it is best to get a dermatologist’s consultation.

A concept that has picked up much hype over the past few years is Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT). The idea behind LLLT is that as the cells in the scalp absorb the laser’s light, it changes their chemistry. The change in chemistry results in a chemical reaction, and the chemical reaction results in hyperactivity of the hair follicles. The hyperactivity restarts the hair regrowth cycle causing the hair to grow back at a faster rate. Researchers studying LLLT first tested it on mice. Two groups of mice had their fur shaven off, and one group received LLLT while the other did not. The group that received the therapy grew back their fur faster. LLLT is said to be effective only against male hair loss. LLLT is still a new concept, and has not been proven to be a long term solution. Nonetheless, LLLT devices can be purchased over the counter and are worth a try.

Prescription

Finasteride is medication that comes in tablet form and is exclusive for male hair loss. The effects of finasteride have been tried and tested. If taken as prescribed, finasteride is seen to slow down hair loss for most men, and can ignite regrowth of hair for about two thirds of men. Finasteride works to alter hormone production (decreases the production of dihydrotestosterone). Given that this is a prescription medication, your doctor will provide further details on the specifics of how to take it.

Corticosteroid is a medication used for a number of conditions. Corticosteroid, when treating for hair loss, is usually injected into to the scalp. Corticosteroid is best used in response to itchy scalp hair loss caused by cicatricial alopecia. (As a reminder, cicatricial alopecia is an autoimmune disease in which your body begins to attack its own hair follicles). Corticosteroid mimics the body’s hormone production, and stops the body from attacking its own hair follicles. This is not a long term solution and injections will have to be carried out every 2-3 weeks.

Surgery

If medication has been without results, then surgery may be your last resort. What surgery is best for you will be determined by your dermatologist. We have put together a list of procedures so you can understand what each of them entails.

A common procedure that you have probably heard of is the hair transplant. The process involves removing hair from parts of your head that have it to parts of your head that don’t. The  procedure is fairly simple, but can end up being quite costly.

Another procedure to improve itchy scalp hair loss is called scalped reduction. Through this surgery bald scalp is scraped off and the hear bearing scalp is stretched out. This procedure can be performed in conjunction with a hair transplant.