TREATING HAIR LOSS
What are the best ways to prevent hair loss or to regrow hair? I want to try hair-growth shampoos but have heard that you must use them for life or your hair will fall out at an even faster rate. Is this true? Are there better ways to regrow hair?
Hair loss can occur for a number of reasons. Most often, it's caused by a combination of heredity and aging. Treatments are available that may slow that type of hair loss and help regrow hair, including over-the-counter therapies like shampoos.
Most people lose about 50 to 100 hairs every day. This hair loss usually doesn't cause noticeable thinning of scalp hair because new hair grows in at the same time. The cycle of hair growth, shedding and regrowth can be disrupted, however, due to several factors, such as family history, hormonal changes, medical conditions and medication. Physical and emotional stress may also lead to hair loss.
Family history typically has an impact on pattern balding. This kind of hair loss usually happens slowly and in predictable patterns: a receding hairline and bald spots in men, and thinning hair along the crown of the scalp in women. If your hair loss follows these patterns, it's likely a result of heredity. In that case, trying over-the-counter remedies is a reasonable first step.
The most common hair loss treatment you can buy without a prescription is a medication called minoxidil (brand name Rogaine). It comes in liquid, foam and shampoo forms. To be most effective, you need to apply it to your scalp twice a day. For many people, it maintains the hair they still have, and it can regrow up to about 10 percent of lost hair.
I usually recommend the extra-strength liquid form of this medication for my patients with pattern baldness. Although it's typically marketed for men, both men and women can use it. The liquid is preferable because it's easier to apply directly to the scalp than the foam, which often gets absorbed by the hair. The shampoo isn't ideal because many people don't have time to shampoo twice a day, and the force of shampooing can stress the hair, causing additional hair loss.
You do need to keep using this medication to retain the benefits. If you stop using it, the hair you've regrown may fall out, and you're likely to return to the rate at which you were losing hair before you began treatment.
Another way to help reduce hair loss is to be very gentle with your hair. Decrease shampooing to two or three times a week. Use a light touch when brushing and combing, especially when your hair is wet. A wide-toothed comb may help prevent pulling out hair. Avoid tight hairstyles, such as braids, buns or ponytails. Try not to twist, pull or rub your hair. Avoid harsh treatments such as curling irons, straightening irons, hot rollers and hot-oil treatments.
Prescription treatments also are available for pattern balding hair loss. The medication finasteride has been shown to be effective for hair loss and regrowth in men. For women, hormone therapies that help balance the levels of estrogen and testosterone can often help maintain hair and decrease loss.
If over-the-counter remedies and self-care steps aren't enough to decrease your hair loss, or if you're concerned that your hair loss may be the result of a different underlying problem, such as a medication you take, talk to your doctor or make an appointment to see a dermatologist.
Dawn Davis, M.D., Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
SYMPTOMS MAY BE IBS
For the past year or so, I feel like I'm often either constipated or I have diarrhea, with only a few "normal" days here and there. I have a friend with irritable bowel syndrome who suggested I be tested for this. Would you suggest I see a doctor about my symptoms?
Irritable bowel syndrome can cause the symptoms you describe, but other medical conditions can trigger them, too. It would be a good idea to see your doctor and talk to him or her about your symptoms. Although no specific test to diagnose IBS exists at this time, your doctor can decide whether additional tests are needed to rule out other disorders.
IBS is a disorder that affects the intestines. It's not clear what causes IBS, but several factors seem to play a role in its development. The walls of the intestines are lined with layers of muscle that contract and relax in a coordinated rhythm as they move food, which later becomes waste, from your stomach through your intestinal tract to your rectum.
If you have IBS, the contractions may be stronger and last longer than normal. That can lead to abdominal pain or discomfort as food, gas or stool passes through the GI tract. IBS also is associated with bowel irregularity. Common associated symptoms can include gas and bloating.
Both adults and children can get IBS, but the condition often begins in the early 20s, and it tends to affect women slightly more often than men. The exact symptoms and severity of those symptoms can vary from person to person. Although symptoms may come and go, for most people diagnosed with IBS, it's a chronic, lifelong condition. Estimates suggest that 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. population has IBS.
An evaluation for IBS typically involves a comprehensive assessment of your symptoms and medical history, along with a thorough physical exam. No other testing usually is necessary beyond this if your symptoms are typical of IBS. Depending on your situation, your doctor may recommend additional tests to rule out other causes for your symptoms, since other conditions can cause pain, diarrhea and constipation. This may happen if your symptoms are severe, if there's a family history of a GI condition, or if you're experiencing other symptoms not typical of IBS (for example, bleeding).
If you do have IBS, treatment typically focuses on controlling the symptoms. For people with mild to moderate IBS, diet changes can often make a big difference. The specific changes needed depend on whether you're dealing with diarrhea, constipation or both. Some people with IBS find it helpful to work with a dietitian to identify healthy food choices that won't trigger symptoms. For more severe forms of IBS, a number of over-the-counter and prescription medications are available to help reduce symptoms.
If symptoms are interfering with your daily life, make an appointment with your doctor to review your condition and decide on the next steps. If you are diagnosed with IBS, it's likely there are therapies that can relieve your discomfort and help you feel better.
Yuri Saito, M.D., M.P.H., Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn't replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org. © 2015 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Source: Mayo Clinic Q&A: hair loss, irritable bowel syndrome
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