She kept counting the seconds, minutes, and days for the most beautiful moment of her life, so that she could adorn herself and beautify herself on her wedding night. It was not like any other night for Afaf, who had prepared herself to leave her father's house and be escorted to her husband's house. She made sure to take her aunt, her companion on her journey, who was fond of fashion and the variety of hairstyles, with her after she had arranged with a beauty salon. The bride, like the others, wanted to appear on this night in the most beautiful and elegant attire.

The bride surrendered to the hair and beauty salon to begin the first step in her journey to her marital home, as she was chatting with her aunt and the others in the beauty salon. A few seconds later, she looked in the mirror in front of her, her eyes bulged, and she shouted at the hair and beauty salon, "What have you done to my hair? It's falling out! It's falling out a lot!" The hair salon lowered her face to the ground in front of the bride's shouts, asking her: "Are you one of those who dye their hair a lot and use a hair dryer?"

She replied: All girls are keen on beautifying themselves, adorning themselves, and changing hair colors and hairstyles. This is my aunt in front of you, one of those who are fond of coloring their hair and follow fashion trends first and foremost.

Here the hairdresser surprised her, saying, “Bride, your hair has been damaged by dyes and hairstyles, including the African braids hairstyle which relies on pulling the hair from its roots.” She reassured her that she would treat her hair with a hairstyle in which no defect would appear, but she had to go to the specialist doctor.

Emotional shock!

Dr. Samir Zamo, a consultant dermatologist and cosmetologist, explained that the causes of hair loss are of three main types; the first is genetic, which begins in the twenties and continues throughout life, affecting both women and men, causing baldness, and is milder in women. Hair loss can be treated by transplanting it according to the case, or by using minoxidil or plasma injections.

The second type, as Zemo says, is alopecia, which is a non-contagious immune skin condition that causes hair loss and appears as circular or oval patches of hairless skin on the scalp. If the condition is mild, it can be treated with cortisone injections to suppress the immune system in the affected area, or with the use of immunosuppressive medical ointments. The third type appears when alopecia spreads throughout the entire body, and pills are given to suppress the body's immune system.

Dr. Samir Zamo believes that the most common type is telogen effluvium, which is due to several reasons. Telogen effluvium may result from immune disorders or diseases affecting the thyroid gland, which leads to hair follicles entering the resting phase early. Hair loss rates related to the thyroid gland reach 50% of the scalp. It may also result from poor nutrition, as a deficiency in nutrients such as iron, zinc, proteins, and vitamin B affects the proper growth of hair and leads to weakness in hair follicles, which causes them to enter the resting and shedding phase early in the hair's life cycle. This leads to more hair loss than usual. The psychological factor is one of the most important causes of telogen effluvium, as hair follicles begin to fall out three months after the occurrence of negative psychological factors, which include anxiety, severe stress, emotional traumas, or excessive thinking. These factors lead to hair follicles entering the early shedding phase.

Cosmetic consultant Zamo explained that telogen effluvium can also occur as a result of hormonal changes that occur in women three to six months after childbirth, as hormones during this period affect hair follicles, leading to the weakening of these follicles and their entry into a resting period. Hormonal changes that occur in women during pregnancy can affect scalp follicles, resulting in hair loss in large numbers.

Regarding the harms of using hair styling tools such as hair dryers or straighteners, the consultant dermatologist and cosmetologist confirmed that some hairstyles, such as African braids, which rely on pulling the hair, cause it to fall out in the long run.

Alopecia is an autoimmune disease

Dermatologist Dr. Dina El-Deeb believes it is essential to consult a specialist to determine the cause of hair loss. It may be hereditary, due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, or a result of psychological stress. If the hair loss is hereditary, it may be noticeable at the front or sides of the scalp. Treatment can involve medications for hereditary hair loss and minoxidil, which cannot be stopped abruptly but must be gradually reduced. Hormonal hair loss or hair loss resulting from vitamin and mineral deficiencies requires blood tests for thyroid function, vitamin D, zinc, and iron stores to determine the appropriate treatment. This treatment often lasts up to three months and may include vitamins and stem cell therapy. Dr. El-Deeb explained that another cause of hair loss is alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease primarily caused by severe psychological stress or underlying medical conditions such as vision problems and chronic ear and throat infections. Treatment for alopecia areata involves immunosuppressants, with a focus on addressing the underlying cause, whether psychological or physical.

Falling once

Dr. Amir Ghazal, Senior Consultant in Family Medicine, stated that hereditary baldness preceded by hair loss is the most common type of hair loss among both men and women. He added that some medications can cause hair loss as a side effect, such as cancer treatments, certain high blood pressure medications, some antidepressants, and skin infections. Dr. Ghazal explained that hair growth occurs in three phases: Anagen, during which hair grows actively; Catagen, a short transitional phase in which hair prepares to stop growing; and Telogen, a resting phase in which hair stops growing and prepares to fall out. He noted that in telogen effluvium, the number of hairs entering the resting phase increases suddenly due to physical or psychological stress, leading to the loss of a large number of hairs all at once several months after the triggering event.

Hey bald guy... accept reality

On the psychological side, Dr. Yasser Sindi, a consultant in cognitive behavior and human development, said: “We live in a life filled with various pressures, including familial, academic, and professional ones, not to mention the occurrence of what are called sudden psychological shocks that affect a person with varying degrees of impact, which in turn stir up negative emotions and affect behavioral reactions such as anger and sadness. These emotions, in turn, directly affect physical aspects, causing the individual to completely withdraw from society due to severe depression and intense repression, or to experience episodes of negative emotional outbursts such as screaming and crying.” Sindi points out that if a person cannot get rid of and release their negative emotions, it will affect one of their physical components, namely the vagus nerve, sometimes called the tenth nerve, which seeks out the nearest and weakest part of the body structure, namely the hair. This causes it to change color to white, and sometimes to become thin, brittle, and gradually lose. In some cases, total hair loss accelerates, and it often affects men more than women. He explained that alopecia areata causes multiple circular bald patches on the head due to the stress and psychological impact that attacks the immune system. Men are affected in two areas: the hair on the head and the beard, while most women suffer from heavy hair loss and clear patchy bald patches on the hair on the head. Those who are affected are advised to accept their reality and go to specialists to find the appropriate treatment.

Hair expert Rania Al-Sulaimani believes that hair loss is a common problem that can be caused by several factors, including nutrition and stress. The most dangerous is the use of chemical products. Hair dyes and straightening treatments can damage the hair and contribute to its weakness, loss, and scalp inflammation. Treatments that improve hair health and enhance its strength and thickness include: nutritional supplements rich in vitamins and minerals, natural hair oils, masks, laser treatment techniques, and hair transplantation.

Reduce the use of hot combs

The Ministry of Health clarified that there is no 100% effective treatment, and most cases of hair loss do not require treatment, as they are temporary and regrowth is a natural part of aging. Hair loss caused by a medical condition usually stops or grows back once the condition is resolved. The Ministry explained on its website that some cases require prescription medication, immunotherapy (applying a chemical to the bald patches), ultraviolet light therapy, or hair transplantation (removing hair from the back of the head and transplanting it to the bald patches). The Ministry of Health advised those experiencing hair loss to consult a dermatologist, wash and condition their hair gently using a mild shampoo, apply a moisturizing conditioner after each shampoo, wrap their hair in a microfiber towel to help it dry faster, and avoid hot oil treatments. These treatments heat the hair, which leads to further damage to fragile hair. Stop coloring, perming, and chemical straightening. Reduce the use of curling irons, straighteners, and hot combs, and use them only on special occasions, as these heat the hair, which may weaken it. Use the lowest heat setting on your hair dryer, and it is preferable to let the hair dry naturally instead of using a hair dryer. Stop combing the hair in a tight manner, and avoid wrapping or pulling the hair around your fingers. Brush the hair gently, as pulling while brushing leads to hair loss. Quit smoking, as it causes inflammation throughout the body, which may exacerbate hair loss. Eat a healthy diet that contains iron or protein, and before taking a hair growth supplement, you should have a blood test.