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.
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