HAIR LOSS
HAIR LOSS IS A DIRECT REFLECTION OF YOUR OVERALL HEALTH.
There are many causes of hair loss. The primary cause is both male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness, affecting almost 50% of adult males and 25% of adult women. This cause of hair loss is directly related to changes in your hair’s nutrition, levels of DHT, and proper scalp hygiene.
COMMON CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS
Autoimmune diseases - an immune reaction attacks the hair at the root (or
follicle). Anti-bodies attack hair tissue as if they were foreign invaders.
Chemotherapy or Radiation exposure - Irradiation therapy or exposure to radiation from any source can cause localized or total hair loss, sometimes permanently.
Iron deficiency anemia - very common with women but also can affect men.
Hormonal changes - due to pregnancy, birth control pills, menopause and/or illnesses
Thyroid disease - either hypothyroid or hyperthyroid disease causes hair to become brittle and break resulting in localized or generalized loss. Correction of the thyroid condition usually causes hair to re-grow.
Excessive or lack of vitamins - too much vitamin A can cause hair loss. Medicines – some prescription and over the counter meds can foster side effects such as hair loss (see below). Usually, when the medication is discontinued, the hair re-grows.
Androgenic Alopecia – the body’s immune system is sensitized to increased levels of DHT in the scalp causing hair loss in these high concentrated DHT areas. (DHT, or Dihydrotestosterone, causes 95% of all hair loss.
Alopecia totalis/universalis – immune sensitivity to a substance other than DHT.
COMMON TYPES OF HAIR LOSS
Common Hair Loss causes include the following:
CCCA Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia- This group of hair loss conditions, unfortunately, involves the permanent loss of hair over a specific area of the scalp. Some of these conditions can also affect the eyebrows, eyelashes, and other hair-bearing areas of the body.
Alopecia Areata-This is a non-scaring condition, which presents as smooth patches of hair loss. The condition affects both men and women equally, with 60% of sufferers experiencing initial onset before the age of 20 . Alopecia Areata is caused by a malfunction of the immune system (auto-immune), where healthy tissue (in this case hair follicles) are mistakenly attacked by the cells of the immune system, causing inflammation and subsequent loss of hair. Inflammation only affects the base of the hair follicle and does not interfere with stem cell production, so the potential for hair growth remains.
Androgenetic Alopecia- More commonly known as Female/Male Patterned Hair Loss. Androgenetic alopecia is a genetically predisposed condition (from one or both parents) involving androgens (male hormones). The affected hair follicles become progressively thinner (miniaturized) and grow for a shorter length of time with each passing cycle. In women, the mechanisms involved are more complex than the male form, and the condition is often exacerbated by other underlying factors.
Telogen Effluvium- This is a condition of the hair cycle, associated with accelerated shedding of hair beyond what would otherwise be considered normal. Some factors can cause Anagen hairs to prematurely enter the Telogen phase, leading to an increase of hair leaving the scalp. These factors can include low iron/iron deficiency, low vitamin B12, poor/insufficient diets, crash dieting, medication, illness (particularly with high fever), significant emotional stressors, thyroid issues, hormonal imbalance (post pregnancy/menopause), and many other issues. Telogen effluvium can be resolved in the vast majority of cases. Identifying the cause is key to gaining the correct treatment, so an in-depth consultation and accurate diagnosis is essential.
Hormonal Hair loss
Traction/ Traumatic Alopecia
Lupus/Chemotherapy-induced
Cranial Surgery