Hair Loss ... common causes
Many people in today's world are faced with the devastating effect of hair loss. If you are amongst the 50% of men who have suffered before the age of 50, you will probably be feeling emotionally low and lacking in self confidence, it may even be affecting the way you work as a consequence of this.
Don't despair, if detected early steps can be taken towards a cure and to alleviate the symptoms.
Genetic Factors
In 2008, scientists discovered important genetic variations leading to hair loss. A gene variant was discovered which clearly occurs in men who are bald.
H+ genetic testing
Hair growth is triggered when testosterone, arrives at a hair receptor on the scalp. However if you have certain gene variants, these will program the receptor to function differently... this inhailing the hair growth on certain points of your head.
H+ Genetic Testing can detect these variants and so diagnose the risk of hair loss or thinning, even before any loss becomes visible. These results allow you to plan your hair restoration programme... this is crucial as you can lose 50% of your hair before hair thinning/hair loss/balding becomes noticeable.
H+ genetic Testing is conducted by leading specialists in the field. A report is produced with your tendency towards hair loss.
Hormonal causes
● Imbalances in the male and female hormones can lead to hair loss:
● Underactive and Overactive thyroid gland can lead to hair loss,
Ageing
Of also known medically as,.. Androgenic Alopecia or Male Pattern Baldness. This accounts for 95% of all hair loss. Male Pattern Baldness is characterised by a receding hair line and baldness on top of the head. It is eminently suitable for treatment by the H+ 2.0 FUE Hair Transplant Technique.
Stress
● Anxiety, stress can lead to temporary hair loss.
● Pregnancy, major surgery or worrying illness also leads to reversible hair loss.
Medical causes
Hair loss, or 'alopecia' if using the medical term can be part of the normal hair-growth cycle. However, there are other forms that can be related to genetic or other factors as outlined below:-
Physiologic alopecia – different hair follicles grow at different rates it is not uncommon to shed 50-100 hairs in a day that are at the end of their growth cycle. This is part of the normal hair growth cycle and should no give any cause for concern or worry.
Androgenetic alopecia – this is the most common form of hair loss, accounting for about 95% of cases in males and 75% of cases in women, it is sometimes referred to as Male Pattern Baldness. Generally hair thins in the front, upper and top area of the head, leaving the back and sides with good follicles that continue to produce hair.
This type of hair loss can be caused not only by ageing but also both the hereditary and genetic factors, but is detectable through H+ Genetic Testing. For suffererers of androgenetic alopecia, the most effective solution is hair transplantation, ideally a minimally-invasive technique such as the H+ 2.0 FUE Hair Transplant Procedure.
Alopecia areata – This can be very distressing due to the rapid form of hair loss, often this affects patches or one side of the scalp more than the others. As this can be caused by a disorder in the immune system and medical examination is recommended.
Anagen effluvium – This is a significant and rapid loss of hair during their active growing phase and is caused by the body being subject to possible chemical changes, it is not uncommon for chemotherapy drugs and some others to have this effect, as can radiotherapy, poor diet, seborrhoeic dermatitis and other dermatitis conditions, vitamin A poisoning, iron deficiency and chronic infection. Typically... once the cause has been removed the hair usually returns to it's normal growth pattern.
Telogen effluvium – hair shafts are shed from follicles which have prematurely entered the resting phase of their growth cycle. Losses can be swift and significant, reducing a full, healthy head of hair to 1-2cm of stubble within weeks. Causes include fever, severe infection (particularly blood poisoning), major surgery, childbirth (rarely) protein deficiencies due to unsupervised crash diets, some drugs including beta blockers and anti-depressants, and severe psychological stress. Usually, hair growth will return to normal in time.
Triangular alopecia – affects the areas above the temples and can begin as early as childhood. This can be complete loss of hair in these areas or a few fine hairs may remain. Medical or surgical treatment is possible.
Loose-anagen syndrome –. This condition occurs mainly in people with fair hair, especially in childhood, and may ease as the person ages. The hair sits loosely in scalp follicles and therefore is easily shed through combing or pulling.
Cicatricial alopecia – sometimes known as 'scarring alopecia', are a group of rare disorders that destroy the hair follicle and replace it with scar tissue , this results in permanent hair loss. Symptoms of severe burning and itching accompany the hair loss which can be can be very rapid or slow. Affected areas of the scalp may show little may display redness or little iflalammation, decreased pigmentation, or other abnormalities. Cicatricial alopecia occurs in otherwise healthy people of all ages, worldwide.
Trichotillomania – Hair loss of this nature is self induced as a result from continuously pulling or plucking one's hair, usually in selected areas of the scalp. Often this behaviour is due to an emotional or psychological causes which need to be addressed as the first step to a cure.
Traction alopecia – Hairstyles such as ponytails, buns, braiding and cornrows can put continual stress on the hair. If such pulling occurs long term, the hair loss may become permanent. Usually cured by changing to a more relaxed hairstyle.
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