Hair loss, also called alopecia, is a disorder caused by a disruption in the hair production cycle in the body. This phenomenon mainly affects the scalp, although it can also indicate the disappearance of hair in some areas of the body. On average, the scalp has 100,000 hairs that go through periods of growth, rest, fall and regeneration. How the hair reproduction process works
Contents
- How the hair reproduction process works
- How important is genetics
- What are the causes
- Alopecia androgenetica
- Male hair loss
- Female hair loss
- Postpartum hair loss
- Telogen effluvium
- The cause
- It is a temporary or permanent phenomenon
- Anagen Effluvium
- Alopecia Areata
- tinea
- Cicatricial alopecia
A hair growth cycle consists of three phases. During the first, the hair grows actively. This phase can last for years. During the next stage, the hair stops growing and separates from its follicle, which is the structure under the skin that holds the hair in place. This phase lasts about 10 days. During the last stage, the follicle rests for two to three months, and then the hair falls out. The next stage begins when a new hair begins to grow in the same follicle. Most people lose 50 to 100 hairs a day as part of this natural cycle. How important is genetics
If this cycle we told you about is interrupted, or if a hair follicle is damaged, the hair can begin to fall out faster than it regenerates, leading to symptoms such as a widening hairline, or hair falling out. patchy or general thinning.
Hair loss can be linked to a person’s genetics, although many conditions and / or behaviors can interrupt the growth cycle and cause hair loss. What Causes Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss, affecting more than 50 million men and 30 million women. Commonly known as male hair loss or female hair loss, androgenetic alopecia is inherited but can be managed with medication or surgery. Male Hair Loss
In men, hair loss can begin at any time after puberty and progress over the course of years or decades. Start above the temples and continue along the perimeter and top of the head, often leaving a ring of hair along the bottom of the scalp. Many men go bald at the end of this process. Female hair loss
In women, the hair slowly thins all over the scalp, but the hairline does not usually shrink. Many women experience this type of hair loss as a natural part of aging, although hair loss can begin any time after puberty. Female hair loss can cause drastic hair thinning, but it only rarely leads to baldness. Postpartum Hair Loss
Women face another phenomenon known as postpartum hair loss. After pregnancy, in fact, due to hormone fluctuations, hair begins to fall out and this can last for a few months. In any case, it is a passing phenomenon, which disappears within a few months. Telogen effluvium
Telogen effluvium occurs when the follicles found on the scalp are in the resting phase; this phase should be followed by a regeneration phase, but in this case the hair remains in its resting phase.
If the regeneration phase does not exist, the hair will not grow back. Telogen effluvium usually does not lead to baldness, although the hair can be very thin, especially on the upper part of the head. The causes
This can be caused by various diseases, such as hormonal imbalances, or operations. Telogen effluvium can also be caused by poor nutrition, especially if there are deficiencies in certain nutrients, such as vitamins or minerals. For example, women who often have low iron can experience hair loss. It is a temporary or permanent phenomenon
. Telogen effluvium usually begins three months after an illness. If the triggering event is temporary, for example, if you recover from an illness or stop taking the drug that is causing your hair loss, hair can grow back after six months. Telogen effluvium is considered chronic if the hair loss lasts more than six months.
For reasons that are not clear to doctors, this type of hair loss can last for years. Anagen Effluvium Anagen
effluvium is rapid hair loss resulting from medical treatment, such as chemotherapy. These powerful, fast-acting drugs kill cancer cells, but they can also stop the production of hair follicles in the scalp and other parts of the body. After chemotherapy ends, hair usually grows back on its own. Dermatologists can offer medications to help hair grow back faster. Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition, which means that the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues, including hair follicles. This causes hair loss and prevents new hair from growing.
This disease can affect adults and children, and hair loss can begin suddenly and without warning. Scalp hair typically falls out in small patches and is not painful. This phenomenon of follicle death can also affect other areas of the body, including the eyebrows and eyelashes, which can fall out. Over time, this disease can lead to alopecia totalis, or complete hair loss.
Dermatologists treat alopecia areata with medications that can help hair grow back. Tinea capitis
Tinea capitis is a fungal infection of the scalp and mainly affects the very young. This disease manifests itself as hair loss in specific points, which can then spread to encompass the entire scalp. The affected areas often appear red or scaly. In this case, doctors can prescribe medicines to eliminate the problem. Scar
alopecia Scar alopecia is a rare type of hair loss in which inflammation destroys hair follicles and causes scar tissue to form in their place. After the scar tissue forms, the hair does not grow back.
Hair loss can start so slowly that symptoms are not noticed, or hair can start falling out all at once. Other symptoms include severe itching, swelling and lesions, and red or white patches on the scalp that may resemble a rash. This type of hair loss can occur at any age and affects both men and women.
