TYPES AND CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS, BALDNESS
TEMPORARY HAIR LOSS
It can be: diffuse hair loss, total hair loss (loss of hair on the scalp, face, whole body), alopecia areata (patchy hair loss).
Hormonal changes
In women, pregnancy increases the levels of female sex hormones, which makes the hair thicker and less likely to fall out. After childbirth, the levels of these hormones decrease, causing hair to thin.
In women, menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, when female sex hormone levels fall and male sex hormone levels rise. This causes the hair follicles to atrophy, resulting in thinning hair.
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), endometriosis, thyroid disorders (under- or overactive) can also cause hair loss.
Other diseases and conditions that can cause hair loss are: diabetes, liver disease, malignant tumours, anaemia, iron deficiency.
Inflammations
Crohn’s disease, infectious nodules (bad dentition), chronic tonsillitis, gall bladder, ovarian inflammation, fungal infection.
Drug side effects
cytostatic, chemotherapeutic agents, certain antidepressants, steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Causes due to inadequate nutrition
drastic dieting, insufficient vitamin and protein intake, alcoholism.
Improper hair care habits
chemicals in hair dyes (ammonia, hydrogen peroxide), use of curling irons and hair straighteners.
Stress
Excessive stress affects the immune system and can easily disrupt the hair’s active and resting phases.
Hypertension
PERMANENT, IRREVERSIBLE HAIR LOSS
Hormonal effects
The main cause of hair loss in men is due to hormonal effects. This is called androgenetic alopecia, i.e. hair loss caused by male sex hormones, which is the cause of hair loss in men in almost 80% of cases. Testosterone is converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. In androgenetic alopecia, increased production of DHT or increased hypersensitivity to DHT of receptors in the hair follicles, caused by a genetic predisposition, is responsible for the loss of hair on the temples and scalp. The nape of the neck is not affected by this biochemical process.
Male pattern baldness is classified according to the Norwood-Hamilton scale.
In women, hair thinning is mostly observed in the weaning area.
Female pattern baldness is classified according to the Ludwig scale.
Scarring alopecia
In this case, the hair follicles become inflamed and destroyed and the scalp becomes scarred.
Atrophic alopecia
Most common in women aged 30-55 years, hair follicles die due to atrophy caused by a skin disease.
CONGENITAL BALDNESS
In this rare disorder, hair follicles are absent from the scalp.
