Home Care in Leesburg VA

Hair loss can happen to both men and women at any age. However, hair begins to thin much more prominently after the age of 50. In fact, over 60 percent of women over the age of 70 suffer from some degree of hair loss. This type of condition is also known as alopecia.

Alopecia alone is not harmful to the elder’s health, but may not be the reason behind your aging mother’s hair loss. When the hair begins to noticeably become thinner, the senior should discuss it with her doctor to make sure it is not the symptom of another health condition. While this condition can’t be completely prevented, there are ways your loved one can lower her risk of hair loss.

Prevention

Alopecia is not a disorder that elders should be concerned about, but may cause her to lose confidence in her appearance due to the thinning of hair. Women with this condition may not notice that their hair is thinning until they realize their ponytail is much smaller than it used to be or their part is wider. Once she begins to lose her hair, it is a permanent loss that she will never fully get back. However, doing the following can slow down the amount of hair your loved one loses.

• Wash your hair. Trying to avoid washing one’s hair or using a haircare regimen that the elder has used for years will not make you lose more hair. In fact, it is important they continue washing their hair as usual for hygienic reasons.
• Avoid teasing or brushing the hair. The more the hair is teased or brushed, the faster it will fall out. Instead, use a wide-toothed comb to gently brush the elder’s hair. If your elderly loved one finds it challenging to brush their own hair, a home care provider can do it for them. This professional can also take care of any daily tasks that have become too difficult for the elder to do alone.
• Try out a new hairstyle. This may not help with the amount of hair the senior loses, but it will make it less noticeable. Encourage your loved one to get a new haircut with added layers to make her hair look fuller.

Treatment

Her doctor may prescribe a topical treatment known as Minoxidil, also known as Rogaine. Using this treatment once a day has been proven to regrow hair in about 81 percent of women who have tried it. This treatment works by slowing down the growth of hair, allowing for more time for hair to grow to its full density. It can take up to three or four months before she may notice the results, so it is important she remain patient and continue taking the treatment each day.
Hair loss can be a stressful and embarrassing condition for anyone to go through, but especially for women. If your loved one notices their hair is thinner than normal, encourage her to discuss it with her doctor to find out if there is any health condition that could be causing the hair to fall out.

Source:
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/features/fighting-hair-loss-in-women

If you or an aging loved one are considering in-home care in Leesburg, VA please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands today. (703) 982-0050