Hair Loss

Baldness is defined as partial or complete lack of hair in males or females. The degree and pattern of baldness varies, and “hair thinning" which can be effectively tackled by medical management is also considered in wide topic of baldness.

Problem

Most cases of baldness fall into four different categories;

·         Hormonal

·         Nutritional

·         Local scalp problems

·         Genetic

Out of these four only the last one that is the Genetic cause about which science is yet to find a satisfactory solution but the treatment of this cause may become a reality in near future with developments in Genetics in treatment. Rests of the causes are treatable in most of the cases to some degree. In most cases combination of factors work so a combination therapy can delay the much feared event to considerable amount of time.

The most common cause is androgenic alopecia, commonly known as Male pattern baldness. This fits into typical hormonal cause of alopecia. More than 95% of hair thinning in men is male pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness is characterized by hair receding from the lateral sides of the forehead (known as a "receding hairline") and/or a thinning and balding to the area known as the vertex.

The cause of male pattern baldness is no longer a mystery. Research has shown that when the male hormone - testosterone is exposed to 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme in the hair follicle, it produces another hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes permanent hair loss. This hormone (DHT) causes the hair follicle to shrink and grow a finer hair that is lighter in color, shorter and less deeply rooted than its predecessor. Most often, the hair in the balding region will continue to grow at an increasingly slower rate until hair growth ceases completely. For this reason sometime detection of blood levels of DHT help in charting out the treatment because conversion of testosterone to DHT can be stopped by using certain medications.

Amongst other causes of baldness alopecia seborrheica commonly known as dandruff, is fairly common and is treatable with simple medications.

Nutritional deficiencies is also emerging as fairly common cause with more and more people being weight conscious go on indiscriminate dieting. This again is a very much treatable reason for baldness. High protein diet in combination with hair specific vitamins like Biotin can do wonder in all such cases.

Although baldness is not as common in women as in men, the psychological effects of hair loss tend to be much greater. Typically the frontal hairline is preserved but the density of hair is decreased on all areas of the scalp. Previously it was believed to be caused by testosterone just as in male baldness, but most women who lose hair have normal testosterone levels. They may be suffering from scalp diseases which has to be diagnosed with specialized consultation for proper treatment.

Solution

The pattern of progression, and the extent and speed of male pattern baldness, is largely dictated by genetics, hormones and age and so The management of baldness/ hair loss is a multidisciplinary effort that spans the medical, pharmaceutical, food supplement, exercise and artificial replacement of lost hair .In most cases identifiable causes are amenable to medical treatment. Other cases where there is complete irreversible damage has occurred Hair Transplant is the only answer.

Androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium are the primary non scarring alopecias. The most common cause of hair loss in men  androgenic alopecia, is treatable in  early stages.Progression of this can be  slowed or reversed with medication,mesotherapy,nutrition supplements and stem cell treatment etc.;

Alopecia areata presents as focal discoid patches of hair loss, Telogen effluvium can occur after stressful events, including severe illness, childbirth, or high fever, and can be seen with certain medications or deficiency of iron, particularly in females. Thyroid dysfunction, both when increased and decreased, can lead to specific patterns of hair loss.