Hormonal disorders, malnutrition, the use of certain drugs, stress - all this is the cause of excessive hair loss. Alopecia (complete or partial) is one of the most common reasons for the treatment of patients, especially women, to the dermatologist. Sometimes you can improve the situation using medical drugs, and sometimes only surgical hair transplant can help. So, hair loss: the causes and methods of treatment - the topic of discussion for today.
Often people do not assess the situation correctly. Having found some hair on the comb, they fall into a panic - this is the beginning of baldness. Meanwhile, partially losing hair every day - this is quite a normal process. It is important to know the line where the norm ends and pathology begins. Specialists claim that only a loss of more than 100 hair a day brings worrying symptoms.
Why do we lose our hair?
Various factors can cause hair loss. The mechanical cause of hair loss in an adult, especially a woman, can be an uncomfortable hairstyle. If the hair is tightly tied in the tail, tight braids or constantly under the handkerchief - they begin to weaken and fall out. In these cases it is recommended to just change the hair style. If it's done early enough, your hair will grow normally and their amount will fully recover. Too late an intervention can not help. Webbing will become irreversible due to loss of follicles - baldness will not be avoided, despite the various ways of treatment.
There are toxic causes of hair loss - this is mainly due to poisoning, for example, thallium, arsenic, mercury. In the case of thallium poisoning, characteristic changes in the structure of the hair appear. They are clearly visible on microscopic examination. Alopecia occurs approximately 2 weeks after the ingestion of the poison into the body. Hair loss almost ends in about 6-8 weeks. Inpatient treatment of poisoning first of all ensures the delivery of the antivenom to the body and saving the life of the patient.
Excessive hair loss during and after infectious diseases is due mainly to an increase in temperature. Also, the attendant causes are the ingestion of toxic substances into the body and the food deficit that occurs during illness. Increased hair loss usually occurs within 2-4 months after the onset of fever. Also, hair loss can occur during syphilis. Of course, syphilis requires special treatment, which usually speeds up the growth of hair. Some systemic diseases, such as lupus erythematosus, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, lead to alopecia. Treatment of such hair loss is achieved only by treatment of the underlying disease.
There is also such a thing as drug-induced baldness. Its causes are the administration of cytostatic and immunosuppressive drugs used for tumor diseases. In dermatology, for example, they are used in severe cases of psoriasis. Alopecia can begin after 3 weeks of treatment. Also, antithyroid drugs, anticoagulants or birth control pills can cause hair loss. Hair can fall out excessively during a skin or scalp disease. For example, hair loss in herpes zoster, as a rule, occurs in the form of flares. Treatment consists in long-term use of general and local antifungal drugs.
Hair loss in women
In women, hair loss is most often associated with hormonal disorders, especially during pregnancy and menopause. Androgenetic hair loss is caused by an increased level of androgens and genetic factors. Hair loss is especially evident behind the ears and on the top of the head. Often accompanied by excessive fatty scalp. In the case of hyperandrogenism, further diagnosis and treatment of the endocrine system is necessary.
In other cases, it is believed that the hair follicles are more sensitive to androgens contained in the body of a woman. This "sensitivity" can be genetically determined. You can use contraceptives with estrogen or anti-androgen content. Experts often recommend preparations with the addition of estrogen, which are now quite a lot in our market. They can be used for oral administration as well as for external use, but they can only be used under strict medical supervision. Some of these drugs in passing can reduce the production of sebum.
Hair loss can be a symptom of various diseases, such as lowering serum iron (sometimes without any symptoms of anemia), nervous, hormonal disorders. In women with a family predisposition to baldness, you need to use with caution any means for hair - shampoos, lacquers, paints, etc. This condition is often accompanied by a feeling of tension and irritation of the scalp.
Treatment of women with severe hair loss mainly begins with the exclusion of other diseases, which requires additional research. If you feel tension in the scalp, it is recommended the administration of large doses of vitamin E. Actually, with the irritation of the scalp, the use of steroids. In all such cases, it is not recommended to dye your hair and do chemical perm and rigid styling. For washing, you should use a mild shampoo without dyes and fragrances.
Each case of hair loss, the causes and methods of treatment which can be many, must be carefully studied by a dermatologist. Sometimes in collaboration with other professionals who can prescribe appropriate treatment. It should be remembered that in connection with the characteristic cycle of hair, hair growth even after successful treatment is restored not earlier than in 2-3 months from the beginning of treatment.
Postnatal hair loss
During pregnancy, secretion of estrogen increases, which suppresses hair loss. Sudden decrease in the level of these hormones after childbirth and causes intense hair loss. Diffuse thinning occurs between the 11th and 16th week after birth. Hair grow spontaneously, without treatment, for 6 months.
Other causes of hair damage
Hair loss can be caused by hormonal disorders of the adrenal cortex, thyroid gland, pituitary gland, gonads. Hair loss and thinning of hair can be caused by malnutrition, especially with protein deficiency, and also in the absence of some heavy metals (for example, iron or zinc). The role of eating disorders recently is very important in connection with the widespread tendency to reduce weight with the help of "miracle diets" without consulting a doctor.
Some types of baldness can aggravate or even provoke stress and psychological trauma. Radiation also has a harmful effect. Relatively high doses of radiation (about 350 roentgens) lead to hair loss after a few days. The hair grows again after 6 weeks. The dose that causes permanent hair loss is approximately 1500 x-rays.
Harmful external factors, such as hair colors, varnishes, lotions, etc., are usually not capable of damaging the hair follicle. But they can adversely affect the hair itself. They can partially or completely fall out, though then grow back again. These estimates were made during a microscopic study.
Focal hair loss
This occurs mainly in men and children, but also occurs in women. It occurs most often in the form of characteristic damage to the skin with complete hair loss. The cause of the disease has not been fully investigated. It probably has an autoimmune or genetic basis. Treatment of focal alopecia (hair loss), usually takes several months and should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Measures are applied locally under the action of drugs and generally promote the strengthening of hair follicles. In these preparations, it is necessary, for example, to contain trace elements.
Did you know?
Epilation (removal) of hair by mechanical and chemical means entails only a phase transition of the hair follicle from rest to growth phase.
Haircut and shave, a widely recognized way to combat hair growth, in fact, does not affect it in any way.
Trichotilomania - pulling by the hair is a reflex from the field of psychopathy. It occurs almost exclusively in children with neurosis.