Hair thinning and baldness can cause feelings of embarrassment and helplessness. But it can be particularly distressing when hair loss occurs suddenly and rapidly. Prompt action is especially essential if your rapid hair loss results from a stressful life event, illness, or any other cause. Here are four steps to take immediately if you begin losing hair rapidly.
Step 1: Get a Prescription for a Hair Regrowth Treatment
Of all the treatments available for rapid hair thinning, minoxidil is one of the most highly acclaimed. It is a topical hair restoration medication originally formulated to treat high blood pressure. While it is still prescribed for this purpose, topical forms of minoxidil are available without a prescription to treat hair loss-related conditions. The treatment stimulates hair growth by dilating the blood vessels. This allows the blood vessels to carry more nutrient-containing blood to your follicles.
It’s important to understand that minoxidil can temporarily cause the hair to fall out even faster. Don’t be alarmed by this. The medication causes the scalp to shed hair in the telogen stage rapidly. This is the final stage of the hair’s cycle. But in the hair growth phase (the anagen phase), the hair should come back thicker and stronger than before.
After your telogen-phase hairs are shed, the anagen-phase hairs should begin to appear after about a month. During this time, continue using minoxidil as directed to ensure the new hair is nice and thick. Most people must use the product for a few months to experience a noticeable difference. Minoxidil is most effective for people under 40 with recent hair loss, so it’s important to begin using it as soon as possible.
Step 2: Reduce Stress
If you asked a room full of random people how many have never been stressed before, you probably wouldn’t see any raised hands. For most people, periods of stress are a normal part of life. Chronic stress, however, is not normal or healthy. It has been linked to a variety of health conditions, such as anxiety, sleep problems, digestive problems, and heart disease. Acute stress is similarly damaging to a person’s health. Severe and sudden stress can cause rapidly developing symptoms such as high blood pressure, headaches, muscle tension, and hair loss.
Telogen effluvium is a common type of rapid hair loss that occurs due to a distressing emotional or physical event. Symptoms of this condition include rapidly increased hair loss, dry hairs that easily fall out, and thinning on your scalp. Common triggers include psychological distress, high fever, severe infections, and major surgery. The condition usually lasts fewer than six months. However, some forms of telogen effluvium last longer than six months and may not have an easily identifiable cause.
For the sake of your hair and health, minimize stress when experiencing telogen effluvium. You can tame stress by meditating, exercising daily, eating a nutritious diet, and connecting regularly with others. Some people may also find certain activities highly relaxing, such as yoga, horseback riding, swimming, or playing a musical instrument. It may take some time to figure out what works best for you. But discovering your favorite stress-busting activities is well worth the effort.
Step 3: Change the Way You Treat Your Hair
Hair product companies aren’t crazy enough to put chemicals in their formulas that could lead to hair loss. At least, that’s what most people think. The truth is, there are some “hair care” products like dyes and chemical straighteners that can damage your hair strands and follicles. In some cases, repeated and frequent exposure to these chemicals can lead to rapid loss of your beautiful locks.
Some bleaches and hair dyes can weaken hair strands and contribute to noticeable thinning or baldness. The chemicals in cheap hair dyes can also lead to scalp inflammation and irritation. The health of your scalp is very important to the health of your follicles and strands. Therefore, it’s best to have your hair dyed by a professional with high-quality products instead of at home with cheap drugstore products.
Very tight and restrictive hairstyles can cause permanent hair loss called traction alopecia. This occurs when strands fall out or break off due to extreme hairstyle tension. Some hairstyles associated with traction alopecia include tight buns and ponytails, dreadlocks, cornrows, and tightly braided hair. Wearing these styles occasionally shouldn’t cause any harm. However, wearing them every day could increase your risk of hair loss.
Step 4: Take Hair-Promoting Supplements
Rapid hair loss could occur because of an untreated nutrient deficiency. Many people think of nutrient deficiencies as a thing of the past (scurvy, anyone?). But they are quite common today, as well. People who eat many processed, nutrient-poor foods will likely experience at least one nutrient deficiency at some point.
The most common nutrient deficiencies linked to hair loss include iron, biotin, and vitamins D, C, A, and B12. These nutrients are important in scalp health, hair growth, and blood and oxygen delivery to the follicles. If you aren’t getting enough of them in your diet, the thickness and quality of your hair could suffer. A blood test can help confirm whether you’re experiencing any nutrient deficiencies that could be causing rapid hair loss.
Ideally, it would help if you increase your intake of hair-promoting nutrients by consuming more healthy foods. But in cases of rapid hair loss, supplementation can help you address nutrient deficiencies more quickly. Look for supplements that contain a combination of the above nutrients. A hair, skin, and nail product is also a great option to help boost hair fullness.
Losing hair rapidly can be alarming. But don’t let your fear keep you from taking quick action. Follow the steps above to stop hair loss and get your beautiful locks back.