As spring returns, the inevitable sniffling and coughing from allergies begins. When most people think of allergies they think of pollen, but many people face allergies year-round, and their allergic reactions can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including hair loss. Any object can possibly be an allergen, depending on the body’s reaction to coming into contact with the substance. If you experience hair thinning or hair loss due to unknown reasons, a Trichologist (a person who specializes in hair) may be able to help.
Latex, metals and plastics may cause allergies and rashes that can lead to hair loss. Dust and pet dander that ride the wind can cause a variety of symptoms from a stuffy nose to watery eyes. They can also cause hives or a rash on the skin, including the head. If scratched, the hair around the rash may fall out, but should regrow once the rash is gone. Women who wear lots of hair spray, mousse or other hair care products may find their hair falling out if they are allergic to any of the ingredients in the products. In this case, the hair follicles may actually be dying because of the contact with the allergen. Hair loss caused by food allergies is most commonly associated with dogs and cats, but humans can also have this symptom. It is related to an outside rash caused by the ingestion of the food or even just contact with the skin. Hair products may contain natural ingredients such as lavender or fruit extract to make the product smell better or for its rejuvenation of hair. People with certain food allergies should be aware of this and make sure to examine the ingredients before they accidentally expose their hair to possible allergens. Being around any substance that you’re allergic to for long enough can make you lose hair.
If you live in a house with a mold, an allergic reaction can lead to hair loss. When you breathe in mold spores they trigger allergic reactions in your body. During these allergic reactions your immune system creates a chemical called histamine. The histamine causes inflammation which disrupts the blood flow in the capillaries that nourish the roots of your hair. This can lead to hairs not getting enough blood and eventually your hair can start to fall out.
If you don’t take care of the mold problems, eventually mold allergies can lead to baldness. Hair loss from allergies will usually be in a diffuse pattern, meaning no particular pattern on the head however normally all over the head.
Besides mold spores, some other common indoor allergens that can cause hair loss are dust mite excretion, chemicals in laundry powder and biological enzymes in laundry powder.
If you think you’ve lost hair from being around mold then the first step is to remove any mold problems in your home. You should thoroughly inspect your home for mold. If it’s practical, consider having your home mold tested to be sure.
If you do find any mold in your home then you should begin taking steps to remove it. Regularly HEPA vacuuming your home also helps to reduce mold allergies by minimizing mold spores.
Hair loss caused by mold exposure can help be reversed with laser therapy MHR hair restoration products. In most cases the hair will grow back once a person is no longer exposed to mold.
Hair follicles which are dormant because of mold exposure can be nourished and regrown with MHR vitamin supplements, however, once a hair follicle dies you cannot get the hair back.
Hair loss can also be caused by mold-like fungal infections such as ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis). These fungal infections are caused by parasitic fungi called dermatophytes which infect the outer layer of a person’s skin.
Fungal infections result in patchy hair loss, unlike hair loss caused by mold allergies which would generally be diffuse. The patches begin as a pimple or small sore, before turning into a red, itchy and flaky patch where the hair breaks or falls out. The scalp can become inflamed and tender and the skin might peel or scale. A rash might also develop.
These fungal infections are very contagious between people. Those people with weak immune systems are more at risk of being infected and it is also often the cause of hair loss in children. Fungal infections can also be caused from being around mold and exposure to mold spores.
MHR offers a variety of scalp therapies and hair nutrition vitamins. Our office works with physicians Dr. S. Michael Fuhrman, D.O.-Medical Director, Dr. Santiago Alvarez, N.M.D., and Dr. Michael S. Albert, M.D. to ensure quality therapy. Treatment is most successful with early detection. Your hair loss is highly unlikely to restore itself. Allow MHR to help provide the proper environment to help regrow your hair.
Read more: Can Allergies Cause Hair Loss? | eHow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/facts_5010078_can-allergies-cause-hair-loss.html#ixzz1hZVQhLB9
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Submitted by Donyelle McBride, Trichologist. For more information, visit www.mcbridehair.com or call 860-985-2081.