Diabetes And Hair Loss
Posted on October 13, 2007 - Filed Under Miscellaneous Hairloss Problems
The use with hair is of questionable importance, but its aesthetic value is definite. Our hair, which is distinct helps us to be different from those around us and adds variety to our wardrobe.
Our hair is made up of a type of protein called keratin. A strand of hair consists of a hair shaft (the part that is seen outside), a root below the skin, and a follicle. The hair root grows from the root. At the lower end of the follicle is the hair bulb, where the color pigment called melanin is produced. As it is people lose hair everyday. Most of the hair is replaced by growing back from the same follicle. If you are losing more than 50-100 hairs a day then something may be wrong. The medical term for loss of hair is alopecia. Each individual hair survives on an average for 4 1/2 years and in that period it grows about half an inch every month. Generally in the fifth year, it falls out and is replaced in a matter of 6 months by a new hair.
If your hair loss is unusual and you are not sure why it is falling, it is good to see your doctor. The doctor can determine the reason for the loss of hair and recommend suitable remedy and correct underlying problems as necessary. Endocrine (hormonal) conditions like uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid can interrupt hair production and result in hair loss. The hormone imbalance that occurs in polycystic ovary syndrome can also leads to hair falling out in girls in their teens and also adults.
Some medications like isotretinoin used in the treatment of acne, lithium used in the treatment of bipolar disorder may lead to loss of hair. Chemotherapy drugs also cause hair loss. In the case of some cancers like leukemia and lymphoma can cause loss of hair even before the treatment starts.
Alopecia areata: This is a skin disease and this causes hair loss on the scalp and at times also from other parts of the body. Alopecia areata is considered to be an autoimmune disease where the follicles of hair are damaged by an individual’s own immune system. Though not always, the hair generally grows again in 6 months to 2 years.
Diabetes may result in loss of hair for a number of reasons. People with diabetes are quite vulnerable to skin problems that generally lead to hair loss. Some of the problems of the skin like bacterial and fungal infections cause problem to many people and diabetes causes them more easily and also more often. Other skin problems like diabetic dermopatrhy, necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum, and eruptive xanthoamtosis are the problems that affect diabetic patients basically and they affect hair also.
Poor blood circulation in diabetics causes injuries, cuts and scrapes to heal slowly and create scars. Diabetes can also lead to many other problems like hormonal imbalances, kidney problems and weight loss which also cause hair loss.
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