All posts by miriam

Trichotillomania, the compulsive hair-pulling disorder, is not a condition that is talked of much in the public sphere. This is mainly because sufferers are embarrassed to admit to pulling their own hair out, and so many conditions go undiagnosed.

Once this hair loss condition has been diagnosed, however, it’s time to think about treatment. Even though research into trichotillomania has advanced a great deal over the last few years, there is no one definitive treatment known to ‘cure’ all sufferers.

However, there are numerous treatment offers you can try, some of which have been successful at improving the condition. These include:

• Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy – This is a type of therapy that aims to change behaviour by pinpointing exactly what causes a person to pull their hair. The patient will learn new responses to identified triggers, helped by a psychologist.

• Medications – Drug therapy has not proved to be very successful for trichotillomania patients, although it does work for some. Seek advice from your doctor if you are considering medication.

• Alternative Therapies – Some people choose to try herbal remedies, yoga, dietary changes, hypnosis, meditation and prayer.

• Support Groups – As with any female hair loss condition, talking about how trichotillomania affects you with other sufferers can be really helpful.

Most people are aware that chemotherapy treatment for cancer causes hair loss, but the side effects of other cancer treatments such as radiotherapy are not well known or often discussed.

Although both treatments are used to eradicate cancer cells, radiotherapy differs from chemotherapy in that it is generally a more localised treatment. Whereas chemotherapy floods the body with cancer-killing chemicals, radiotherapy focuses solely on the cancerous area. However, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are often used together in conjunction with other treatments to give the patient the best chance of defeating their illness.

Similarly to chemotherapy, one of the most noticeable side effects of radiotherapy is hair loss. However, patients undergoing radiotherapy may experience hair loss (medically known as epilation) some months after their treatment has finished. This differs to chemotherapy, where hair loss is often evident after just two courses of treatment.

In line with the way in which the treatment works, hair loss after radiotherapy is generally localised, occurring in hair bearing skin within the radiation field. Hair loss after cancer treatment is not usually permanent, but it does occur in some cases where radiotherapy doses are very strong.

If you have decided to choose a wig as a way to manage your hair loss, you are likely to be faced with a lot of decisions before you find the right one for you. Wigs have moved on a great deal in the last few years, meaning that it is no longer a case of ‘one type suits all’.

You can now find wigs in a wide range of different styles, colours and materials, so there should be something available to suit you. Even better, you can get wigs that are personally tailored to you, so they look completely natural right from the start.

The first choice you will have to make when choosing a wig is between synthetic and human hair wigs. To help you choose, here are the pros and cons of each:

Human hair wigs

Pros: They look very natural, can be styled just as you like, and you can generally use them for up to a year.

Cons: Human hair wigs are more expensive than other varieties (due to how natural they look) and it can sometimes be tricky to get the hang of styling them yourself.

Synthetic wigs

Pros: They are less expensive than other varieties, are colour-fast, and come pre-styled. This means you don’t have to style them yourself, as they stay in shape even after washing.

Cons: You can’t change the colour or style of synthetic wigs, they sometimes look false or over-shiny, they can be damaged by heat and they don’t last very long.

Hair loss conditions can sometimes be difficult to diagnose, mainly because there are many different contributing factors and causes. The exact causes of hair loss vary from person to person, and in some people are never pinpointed.

Proper diagnosis of hair loss is made even more difficult when the condition is rare. One of these conditions is tufted folliculitis, an uncommon disorder which can cause hair loss and scarring of the scalp.

Symptoms

People with tufted folliculitis often have patches of scarring alopecia accompanied by something known as doll’s hair-like bundling of follicles. This means that multiple hairs emerge through expanded follicular orifices. This causes the ‘tufting’ effect, along with the retention of telogen hairs in the follicles and a fibrosing process.

Associated conditions

Tufted folliculitis is a symptom of a number of scarring diseases and conditions, including:

• Graham-Little syndrome
• Chronic lupus erythematosus
• Folliculitis decalvans
• Chronic staphylococcal infection
• Acne keloidalis nuchae
• Dissecting cellulitis
• Lichen planopilaris
• Immunobullous disorders

Treatment

At present, no definitive curing treatment for tufted folliculitis has been found, although there are measures sufferers can take to reduce discomfort and improve the appearance of the scalp.

Female hair loss can be extremely difficult to come to terms with, as it represents a drastic change to your body and your appearance. Losing your hair can play havoc with your self-esteem and your confidence in dealing with the world.

The psychological and emotional effects of hair loss make many women feel desperate for their hair to grow back, something that can sometimes take a long time. It can often feel like you’re putting your life on hold whilst you wait for normal hair growth to start again.

To help you counter the feelings of frustration and impatience whilst waiting for hair to grow back, it is worth considering hair replacement systems. There are many advanced options available for hair loss sufferers these days, all designed to cover and disguise hair thinning or loss and make you feel like yourself again.

Hair replacement treatments such as the Intralace system or Medi Connections involve the use of natural-looking hair extensions tailored to your hair, which are integrated into any remaining hair so seamlessly that no one would even guess that they aren’t real. As well as being able to wash and style your hair as normal, you can sleep, exercise and even dance in these extensions with complete confidence.

Most hair loss conditions have a number of causes and contributing factors, some of which are unavoidable, like genetics. If you have a hereditary condition (i.e. it runs in the family), you may not be able to stop it in its tracks, but you can limit its effects through medical treatment, hair loss management and a good diet.

This last measure, good nutrition, is very important. Ensuring you get the right vitamins and minerals, and that you eat the right kinds of foods, can prevent your hair falling out or thinning in the first place. It can also contribute to the regrowth of hair that has fallen out, as well as improving the healthiness, strength and general appearance of hair.

There are no ‘superfoods’ that will make your hair grow back if you have a condition, but you do need to ensure that you get enough:

• Protein – Hair is made up of protein, so you need to ensure you get enough from both animal and vegetable sources. Good sources of protein include poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, beans, nuts and seeds.
• Silica – This is a structural component of hair, and you need it in order to strengthen hair. You can find it in the outer skin of vegetables such as cucumber, red peppers and potatoes.
• Zinc
• B vitamins
• Iron