Hair Loss Guide

Hair loss men and women affects millions of them. For most of them it can be a difficult, emotional problem, but fortunately there are effective preventive measures if the condition is diagnosed early, and there are regenerative therapies, if hair loss has progressed. Most people simply lose their hair because they have inherited a genetic makeup predisposed to baldness, regardless of lifestyle. However, hair loss can also be caused by underlying medical conditions, medications, infections and many other factors.

The general physical problems that can cause diffuse hair loss can include the following:

• anemia 
• thyroid disease
• connective tissue diseases (such as lupus)
• severe nutritional deficiencies
• surgical procedures, general anesthesia
• severe emotional problems

In women, obstetric and gynecological conditions, such as postpartum and post-menopausal states, as well as ovarian tumors, can also cause hair loss. A relatively large number of medications can cause a temporary form of hair loss called "telogen effluvium", a condition that shifts the hair from its growth phase into a resting phase, after which it falls out within a few months. Fortunately, this shedding is reversible if the medication is discontinued.

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Medications that can cause diffuse hair loss include:

• blood thinners (anticoagulants)
• anti-seizure medications
• gout
• high blood pressure, thyroid diseases and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as prednisone
• medications that lower cholesterol and other lipids
• mood-altering substances
• chemotherapy
• oral contraceptives (especially those with high progestin levels) and diet pills
• a large dose of vitamin A
• certain "street" drugs (such as anabolic steroids and cocaine). 

Hair loss patterns and scarring

Although many dermatological conditions can cause hair loss, they produce a pattern that differs from hereditary hair loss or the diffuse forms of hair loss mentioned above. Hair loss can also be divided into scarring and non-scarring types. Alopecia Areata is a genetic, autoimmune disease that causes non-scarring characterizes. It presents as the sudden appearance of discrete, round patches of hair loss (although the condition can become permanent). In its mild form it can be treated with local steroid injections. Traction alopecia, hair loss caused by continuous pulling on the follicle (e.g. tightly braided hair or "cornrows"), is often reversible, but can become permanent if the habit persists for a long time. Treatment is only possible if the hair loss caused by pulling is not extensive and if the pulling habit stops. Scarring alopecia can be caused by conditions such as lupus, lichen planus, or radiation therapy. Hair loss can also be a consequence of cosmetic facial surgery, but fortunately this type of scalp is often suitable for hair transplantation. Radiation therapy can cause both scarring and non-scarring hair loss, and it can also be treated with surgical hair restoration if the area is localized.

Stress-Induced Hair Loss

When the body experiences a traumatic event, nutritional deficiency, or stress caused by illness, the rate of hair loss can increase. Women's hair appears to be more sensitive to the effects of stress than men's hair. This may be because women with a genetic predisposition to hair loss generally have a higher proportion of fragile, miniaturized hair. It is important to note that stress generally causes a rarer type of hair loss called telogen effluvium, which is entirely different from androgenetic alopecia. Telogen effluvium is the reversible shedding of hair in the resting phase, when the body senses that it needs to redirect its energy elsewhere. That is why stress temporarily changes the amount of hair loss, but the lost hair will likely grow back over time.

Solutions

Thanks to the huge advances in medical science, there is now an effective solution for most types of hair loss. The most common, of course, is the hair transplant, which in women can be performed on men as well, however there are scientifically based regenerative therapies that have proven effective among those struggling with hair loss. One such therapy is the deservedly famous Rigenera Activa for the treatment of male-pattern baldness, as well as the less well-known (though all the more effective) I-PRF Treatment. By clicking on the highlighted words you can learn more about our individual therapeutic treatments, and if you have a question or would like to book an assessment, you can easily get in touch with us by clicking the button below.

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