Look Young Again!

Hair Loss in Men and Women

Hair loss is normal. Hair loss happens to everyone. We all lose approximately 100 hairs a day. As we age, the amount of normal hair we have decreases. After a while, healthy hair follicles produce hair that is thin, short and more brittle than normal hair In some people, this happens slowly, in others, it happens more quickly. When it happens quickly is when hair loss is most noticed.

Natural hair loss from aging hair follicles is called miniaturization. Eventually, these follicles begin to produce hair that is even finer and shorter, and very hard to see at all.  Actually some follicles die. We are born with the total number of hair follicles we shall ever have. It does not matter how much we exercise, or how well we eat, or anything else we do, we will never grow more hair follicles than we had at birth. The hair follicles we have are the only ones we have.

The three main causes of hair loss are linked to genes, hormones and age. This is true for both women and men.  Regardless of an immediate family history of baldness, some people may experience hair loss. While there are many types of hair loss, the most common is Male Pattern Baldness. The scientific language for this condition is Androgenetic alopecia.

Genes are important and interesting. Genes have an interesting role in the hair loss story.  However, the idea that baldness comes only from the mother's side of a person's family is simply an old wives tale.  The genes for hair loss can inherited from either parent. Baldness is linked to several genes. Current research on baldness shows it to be more complicated than originally thought. It is not yet possible to isolate which genes produce baldness.

Hormones are also contributors to the problem of hair loss. DHT is a hormone related to testosterone. Men who have a large amount of DHT seem to be more susceptible to pattern baldness. In women, hormones play a large part in hair loss as well. Nearly every woman experiences hair loss after pregnancy and during menopause. The amount of hair loss varies from woman to woman. The amount of hair and the health of their hair may determine if the hair thinning is perceived as a problem.

Age is another important factor in hair loss for both women and men. The truth is that as we age, the total hair volume of each person decreases. For some people this is dramatic and traumatic, for others it is not seen as a problem. The precise reasons for some people losing more hair than others as they age are unknown. We do know it is not related directly to the amount of hair at birth.

Hair loss is cyclical. Sometimes more hair is lost than at other times. Why this happens is not known for certain, except that it is normal to experience cycles of hair loss.  The main difference between hair loss in men and women is that men tend to have pattern baldness. This means they lose hair in certain areas. Men tend to develop receding hairlines. Women generally tend to lose hair all over and experience a thinning result yet they retain their hairlines.

What Causes Hair Loss?

Hair loss is quite common though there are actually many different kinds of hair loss.  Hair loss can occur from a variety of different sources and causes.

Some different types of hair loss include:

• Male Pattern Baldness(alopecia) is the most common and most lamented form of hair loss. This occurs in both men and women. It affects men and women differently.  Alopecia is the direct result of genes inherited from your parents, the hormones present in your body, and the ever-present aging process. Men tend to start balding in patterns, such as thinning at the hairline or at the crown.  With women this tends to be a more overall thinning process.

• Telogen effluvium, is a type of hair loss that occurs when someone has had a major stress such as surgery, a serious infection, or childbirth. This kind of hair loss usually occurs between six weeks and three months after the incident.

• Drug side effects may cause hair loss. Oral contraceptives, blood-thinners, cortisone, or amphetamines each can contribute to sudden hair loss. Chemotherapy drugs are well known for causing sudden hair loss.. 

• Hair loss is a symptom of many illnesses.  Patients with anemia, thyroid problems, some cancers, and connective tissue diseases like lupus, or with rapid weight loss, may notice that their hair is thinning.

• Women with heavy menstrual periods may notice excessive hair loss at that time.

• Tinea capitis is a nasty ringworm fungus infection that also causes hair loss. This fungus makes the scalp scaly and flaky, and  causes the hair  to break off at the surface of the scalp.

• Traumatic alopecia is the daily damage we do to our hair. This is especially common for people who use a variety of appliances on their hair. The heat of blow-dryers, curling irons, hot rollers, and straighteners can cause hair loss. Repeated pulling of hair into tight braids or cornrows may also cause hair to thin. Using harsh chemicals in hair colors or permanents may also lead to hair loss.

With so many different possible causes of hair loss, it is important to consider all of the things that may be contributing to your hair loss. It is important to determine the cause. The hair loss may be temporary or permanent. Take some time to assess what medications you are using, what hair products and appliances you use and whether you have other known medical problems as you strive to understand your own hair loss. Try to find out what causes it before you begin treatment. Hair loss may be a side effect of other medical  conditions.

Why am I Losing my Hair?

At the top of the list of causes of hair loss is heredity, which literally accounts for most hair loss. The numerous causes of hair loss vary by gender.  Male hair loss is more common than female. Nearly one in three women will experience some hair loss at some point in their lives. For men the ratio is higher - one in two. Most often when people discuss causes of hair loss the concern is with large or abnormal amounts.

Aging and growth is one normal cause of hair loss. Your hair strands begin, grow, age and die. They fall out.  You lose about ten percent of your hair every few months. This is usually replaced by new hair strands growing from the same hair follicles.  This type of hair loss is not a concern and is hardly noticeable. 

When hair loss is greater than ten percent (about 100 strands per day) or when hair is not re-growing naturally is the time to be concerned with possible causes.

• Major Surgery is one significant cause of hair loss. It may not happen until three or four months after your operation. Major surgery is stressful for our bodies. One reaction to this is the temporary loss of hair. Knowing this is the cause can be comforting because we can expect our body to recover and re-grow our hair.

• Hormonal changes are another cause of hair loss, for both men and women.
• Improper thyroid function can lead to hair loss whether it is overactive or under-active. This type of hair loss is treatable by medications to correct thyroid problems.
• The male hormone androgen can cause hair loss if it is not in balance.
• An imbalance of estrogen can cause hair loss for women.  Both can be treated with proper hormonal medication.

• Pregnancy is a significant cause of hair loss for women. This is also a hormonal issue. During pregnancy women develop greater amounts of several hormones and more hair falls out than usual at this time. This process reverses itself several months after the woman gives birth and hormonal levels return to their normal levels in her body.

• Medication may cause hair loss. Anticoagulants (blood thinners) can cause hair loss, as can medicines prescribed to treat gout and chemotherapy or radiation for the treatment of cancer. 

• Systemic infections may also cause hair loss. This is treatable by taking antibiotics under prescription to heal the infection.

• Too much vitamin A in your body is one of the causes of hair loss. This is also treatable. Just cut back on Vitamin A.  Vitamin A is not water soluble so it lingers in your system and can accumulate.

It is vital that you try to find the cause of your hair loss because it may be a symptom of something more serious like diabetes or lupus.   It may be something that can be treated and resolved. You will not know until you investigate and the longer you wait the more damage can be done.