People put so much importance on scalp hair that provides cranial padding and protection from sun’s rays. But more than because of its health and practical significance, the majority invests so much on their hair because of social and psychological reasons.
Scalp hair is said to be the crowning or kingly glory of every individual. The type of hair and how it is styled can be one’s personality statement as self-identity or image. Most people take care, fix, and style their hair according to how they want to impact others. It’s their way of expressing themselves and influencing how other people would perceive them.
Culture has dictated people’s viewpoint about scalp hair. Long and lush hair is oftentimes associated with beauty and youthfulness while gray thin hair or balding is associated with aging. Some associate the state of their hair- its condition and style- with productivity and efficiency; thus the term- ‘bad hair day’ for not feeling good and beautiful. Those with curly hair are said to be difficult. Men are deemed more decent with trimmed hair while women are deemed more girly with long hair.
Regardless of their beliefs, most people spend and take effort in taking care of their scalp hair. They try-out a number of products to get the best blend of shampoo or conditioner for their hair. Others go the extra mile by getting regular hair treatment. Those who get gray hair would resort to all sorts of hair color just to avoid being regarded as old. Those whose hair is getting thin use hair extensions. Those getting bald seek all forms of treatments to save their hair from hair fall or regrow them so as to preserve their self-esteem and avoid humiliation.
Hair Loss
Hair is made of a tough protein called keratin. It is anchored by the hair follicle onto the skin. The hair bulb forms the base of the hair follicle. In the hair bulb, living cells divide and grow to build the hair shaft. Blood vessels nourish the cells in the hair bulb, and deliver hormones that modify hair growth and structure at different times of life.
Hair growth is a 3-phase cycle, namely-
1) growth phase or anagen wherein hair grow at a certain period of time;
2) transitional phase or catagen wherein over a few weeks hair growth slows and the hair follicle shrinks;
3) resting phase or telogen wherein over months, hair growth stops and the old hair detaches from the hair follicle. A new hair begins the growth phase, pushing the old hair out.
Hair grows at different rates in different people; the average rate is around one-half inch per month. Hair color is created by pigment cells producing melanin in the hair follicle. With aging, pigment cells die, and hair turns gray.
Sporadic hair loss happens to everyone as part of the hair growth cycle. However, continuous hair loss resulting to balding may happen under the following factors:
- Aging – This is the most common cause of hair loss which naturally happens with aging. The condition is called androgenic alopecia wherein men get male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness. It usually occurs gradually and in predictable patterns — a receding hairline and bald spots in men and thinning hair along the crown of the scalp in women.
- Hormonal changes and medical conditions – A variety of conditions can cause permanent or temporary hair loss, including hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, thyroid problems. and many other auto-immune disorders. One of these medical conditions is alopecia areata, an auto-immune disorder that causes patchy hair loss. Another condition is trichotillomania characterized by hair-pulling disorder. Scalp infections such as ringworm can also cause hair loss.
- Medications and supplements – . Hair loss can be a side effect of certain drugs, such as those used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, gout and high blood pressure.
- Radiation therapy to the head – The hair may not grow back the same way as it was before after having been subjected to radiation therapy.
- Stress – Many people experience general thinning of hair several months after a physical or emotional shock. While this condition is temporary, it may still last long depending on the improvement of mental health of the patient.
- Hairstyles and treatments – . Excessive hairstyling or and treatment can cause hair loss so as certain hairstyles such us pigtails and cornrows wherein there is constant tightly pulling of hair. Hot-oil hair treatments and permanents also can cause hair to fall out.
- Scarring – Scarring on the scalp is usually very noticeable due to the lack of hair follicles in the scarred area.
- Hereditary – Many men suffer from hair loss, more specifically male pattern baldness. This is a hereditary condition that causes sudden hair loss which usually begins with receding from the hairline and thinning of the crown. Male pattern baldness is measured using the norwood scale to help identify the progression.
Effects of Hair Loss
Hair loss may lead to psychological disturbance and distress. Hair thinning and perceived hair loss has a negative impact on the psyche of the individual. The common emotional aspects associated with hair loss are self-consciousness, embarrassment, frustration, and jealousy.
Hair loss can cause emotional stress more especially on women than on men. It can be traumatic to one’s self-esteem and identity, especially to those who want to be noticed with their looks or with a strong concept of body image. Body image refers to one’s thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and behavioral changes related to one’s physical looks.
The emotions as a result of hair loss are sometimes so overwhelming that it starts affecting the patient’s daily routine life. It may lead to limiting social activities, avoiding family occasions, and spending enormous amounts of time and money on hair grooming. This behavioral impact is noticed not only in men but in women too. Studies by Hunt and McHale have shown that around 40% of women with alopecia have had marital problems and around 63% claimed to have career-related issues.
Solution: Scalp micropigmentation
Scalp micropigmentation entails implanting pigment into the scalp to create the illusion of hair follicles by hair loss solutions Gloucester. A full scalp treatment can give a man the look of a full head of cropped hair.
One of women’s greatest fears is losing their hair. They do not usually lose their hair the same way men do and full hair loss is not as common. Women tend to lose volume in a diffuse manner around the temples and crown of the head. With scalp micropigmentation by hair loss solutions Gloucester, replicated hair follicles can be deposited into the scalp between the hairs to reduce the contrast between the hair and the scalp. This will give the illusion of a full, thick head of hair, making the thinning completely unnoticeable. Scalp micropigmentation is not a cure for hair loss, rather it is the world’s leading solution that is giving people across the world confidence again.
Scarring on the scalp is usually very noticeable due to the lack of hair follicles in the scarred area. The majority of scars we see are from hair transplants whether it was follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or follicular unit extraction (FUE). Scalp micropigmentation by hair loss solutions Gloucester can conceal scalp scarring by replicating hair follicles in and around the scar to help the scar to blend in with the existing hair follicles, making the scar up to 90% camouflaged. The technique used for scalp micropigmentation can also help to revive health to the damaged skin.