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At A Loss

by Gerrie E. Summers

Stranded: How many hairs did you lose today?

Unwanted hair loss can shatter confidence and trigger mental and emotional distress. Real Health gets to the, er, root causes of this “silent epidemic”—and the reasons blacks are at higher risk.

Our hair is a large part of our self-image—it’s often called a “woman’s crowning glory.” That’s why alopecia, the technical term for hair loss, can be embarrassing and even traumatic for both women and men.

Our hair also reflects the physical and emotional health of our bodies. So if you’re dealing with hair loss, get a medical diagnosis right away. It may point to an underlying health issue. In addition, many treatments and solutions fight baldness—but the key is to start them early.

“Covering an area of hair loss can be [a quick fix] but may not be the best course of action in the long run,” says dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon Seymour Weaver III, MD, of the aesthetic treatment center Celestial Skin International in Katy, Texas. “I see so many ladies who come in with hair loss when they are beyond the benefit of medical treatment, so I want to help increase awareness of this silent epidemic taking place in our community.”

But what causes hair to thin, shed and create balding scalps in the first place? The answer is, a variety of factors, such as health, diet, lifestyle and genetics. Here is more about these common culprits.

Medical Disorders. Hair loss can result from a variety of diseases and illnesses, such as thyroid disease, discoid lupus, lichen planus and sarcoidosis, as well as bacterial or fungal infections. “While medical disorders of the scalp occur in all ethnic groups, a more severe type of hair loss called central centrifugal scarring alopecia (CCSA) occurs disproportionately more often in African Americans,” Weaver says. “The exact reason for this is not known, but there is reason to suspect that it might be related to grooming or styling practices.”

Stressful Events. Excessive shedding of hair can also take place two to four months after a major, stressful event. Weaver explains that this type of hair loss—called telogen effluvium—frequently occurs after childbirth, operations or illnesses with high fever.

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