UR Medicine's Thompson Health

WIN 2016

Spirit of Women magazine is a national publication presented to women by hospitals and their physicians. The magazine provides up-to-date, evidence-based healthcare information and promotes our hospitals as leaders in women's health excellence.

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3 0 S P I R I T O F W O M E N W I N T E R 2 016 w w w. s p i r i t o f w o m e n . c o m S H A R I N G H E A L T H S E C R E T S S h a r i n g Secrets HEALTH To send a health question to "Sharing Health Secrets," please email plawrence@spiritofwomen.com or write to Sharing Health Secrets, Spirit of Women, 2424 North Federal Highway, Suite 100, Boca Raton, FL 33431. If you're alarmed about the amount of hair in your brush or comb, remember that it's normal to lose 50 to 100 hairs a day. But if you're fnding that the hair on your head is suddenly noticeably thinner in patches or all over, there's probably an underlying medical cause, says Dr. Joyce Davis, a New York dermatologist and spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology. A more gradual thinning along the part in your hair, on the other hand, is usually a sign of hereditary female-pattern baldness. A: The real truth about what hair loss means Help! I'm losing my hair— what's going on? Q: A: Q: If my hair loss is from female- pattern baldness rather than a medical condition, is there anything I can do about it? The Food and Drug Administration has approved minoxidil (Rogaine) for men and women. It's an over-the-counter liquid or foam that can help you grow hair and keep you from losing more hair. Low-level laser therapy has also been cleared by the FDA as a treatment for pattern baldness, although research is ongoing about its long-term effect. A: Q: How can I keep my remaining and future hair on my head as long as possible? Start by eating a good, well-balanced diet with plenty of protein, says Dr. Davis. "If you're not getting enough protein, the body has to select what it's going to make, and hair is usually the frst thing the body eliminates," she says. You'll also want to avoid hairstyles that pull tightly at your hair, and frequent use of hot rollers and curling irons. If you're using elastic bands for ponytails or braids, make sure the bands are coated with fabric so they don't pull at your hair. And invest in a sturdy wide-tooth comb to help ease daily wear-and-tear on your hair. A: Q: But how do I stop my hair from falling out? The frst step is determining what's causing your hair loss. Start with a dermatologist, advises Dr. Davis, who will take a thorough medical history and screen for medical conditions such as thyroid disease, anemias and autoimmune disorders. "The good news is that when a cause is found, the [hair loss] is generally reversible when the underlying medical problem is treated," she says. SHUTTERSTOCK

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