Hair loss can be defined as “shedding more than 100 hairs a day.” In hair loss treatment, the type and severity of shedding are determined, the underlying causes identified, and a personalized treatment protocol created.
Hair contains a protein called keratin. The hair follicles in the skin are responsible for healthy hair growth. Hair grows on average 12 cm a year, as old hair cells are pushed out by new ones. An adult has on average 100,000-150,000 hairs and loses about 100 a day. At any time, about 90% of hair cells continue growing. Each follicle has its own phase: the first, anagen, is active growth lasting two to eight years; the second, catagen, a transition pause lasting two to three weeks; and the last, telogen, lasting about two to three months, during which hair sheds naturally.
Causes of Hair Loss
There are several types of hair loss depending on the cause. Also known as alopecia, hair loss can result from nutrition, genetics, hormones and chemical factors, as well as immune-system disorders, hair-growth disorders, psychological anxiety, medication use, stress and skin diseases.
Baldness can arise for various reasons. Usually caused by genetic predisposition, it is far more common in men and can begin in adolescence or later, with a receding hairline and gradual loss of the front hairline. Baldness in women is called female-pattern baldness, generally seen in middle-aged women without marked thinning.
Hair loss is not only an adult problem; it can occur in young people and children. Alopecia areata causes irregular shedding and can result in complete baldness, though it is sometimes temporary and hair often returns. When eyebrows, eyelashes and body hair are also affected it is called alopecia universalis. Infections and skin damage can cause scarring, and trauma-related scars can be a main cause of hair loss. Deliberately pulling hair and plucking eyebrows can also cause shedding.
Radiation to the head can cause temporary or permanent hair loss; in temporary cases hair can regrow. The most important factor affecting hair-loss rates is genetics: hair loss in the mother, father or both sides can cause genetic-type baldness.
Childbirth, lupus, diabetes, anemia, thyroid problems, iron-deficiency anemia and autoimmune issues can cause shedding through trauma and stress. Fungal infections, burns and ringworm cause temporary or permanent loss. Other factors:
- Blood-pressure medications, especially beta-adrenergic blockers, can cause hair loss.
- Birth-control pills, chemotherapy and blood thinners can cause shedding.
- Untreated diabetes can cause hair loss.
- Bleaching, frequent braiding and styling, dyeing and cosmetic treatments make hair brittle.
- After treatments that do not seriously damage the scalp, the right steps restore normal growth.
- Low protein intake and very high-calorie diets cause temporary shedding.
Preventing Hair Loss
Shedding can be greatly reduced by avoiding the sources that thin the hair. Chief among these are hair dryers, as well as hot irons, hair dyes, perms and chemical cosmetics, which dry and thin the hair. To avoid color change, keep hair natural; dyeing and styling away from its own color harm it. Choosing a shampoo in the right pH range for your hair type matters, and a medium-stiffness brush (ideally with natural bristles) prevents breakage. Gently and properly brushed hair continues to grow naturally.
Hair-Loss Treatment
Treatment methods have changed over time. There are few options to prevent natural thinning, so many people use hairpieces or wigs; for lost eyebrows and lashes, tattooing is often used. Some medications prevent loss and improve the health of remaining hair, but drug treatment does not fully stop loss and can have side effects, and most must be used continuously. Hair transplantation is a predictable method, and corticosteroids are effective for autoimmune-related shedding.
Hair Transplantation
FUT and FUE techniques are generally used in hair loss treatment, giving follicles a more natural look and natural growth. Transplantation is done not only on the head but also for eyebrows, beard and moustache. A few hundred to a few thousand follicles are used, which affects the number of sessions. Transplanted hair sometimes sheds within weeks, sometimes takes hold; continued shedding of non-transplanted hair may require repeating the procedure.
The Aim of Hair-Loss Treatment
The aim is to repair the scalp and hair roots. In PRP, materials from the blood are used for repair, to gain a healthy hair cycle with rich material and to strengthen the strands. In hair mesotherapy, roots are made healthier and longer-lived; it is applied 4-6 times at 2-3 week intervals, regionally and in classic doses, with no side effects, delivering tailored drug mixtures into the scalp with special needles. Regenera Activa can also be used.
Diagnosis of Hair Loss
To diagnose hair loss, the focus is on hair types and severity of shedding; underlying causes are investigated and a suitable method chosen. The protein ratio of the hair is determined and whether it grows healthily is checked, since hair that normally grows about 12 cm a year growing less may have a cause. Whether old hair cells can push new cells forward is also assessed. The head has the most hair, and about 100 are lost daily; above this number, baldness can begin.
Symptoms of Hair Loss
Symptoms vary by personal factors such as hair type, age and physical condition. They include more than 100 combed-out hairs, hair coming away with every touch, and bald patches. If you see more than 100 hairs shedding, call our clinic now to come in for a diagnosis.
Male-Pattern and Female-Pattern Hair Loss
Male and female hair loss differ slightly. Male-pattern loss is generally known as androgenetic alopecia, with an acute progression; if assessed as an androgenic disorder, different methods are used. Most hair loss is male-pattern, starting with thinning at the top that gradually pushes the front line back. Female-pattern loss also has genetic factors and can result from stress, especially affecting people with insulin resistance and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Those experiencing hair loss can get answers to all their questions from our expert team. Use the contact numbers on our website to reach our professional service quickly.