Hair loss, alopecia: what is this, causes, symptoms, diagnostics, treatment, prevention of hair loss

Hair loss; Loss of hair; Alopecia; Baldness; Scarring alopecia; Non-scarring alopecia

Alopecia (hair loss) it is a medical condition, in which the patient experiences unusually rapid and frequent hair loss. This can be due to a variety of reasons., including hormonal disorders, lack of nutrients, genetic factors and certain diseases.

Symptoms of Hair Loss

Hair loss usually develops gradually. It can be spotty or solid (Diffuse). Normally, a person loses about 100 scalp hair every day. The scalp contains about 100 000 Hairs.

Causes of hair loss

Heredity as a cause of hair loss

As in men, and women, usually, with age, there is a decrease in the thickness and amount of hair. This type of baldness is not usually caused by the disease.. It's related to aging., heredity and changes in the content of the hormone testosterone. Hereditary or typical baldness affects many more men, than women . Male pattern baldness can occur anytime after puberty. About 80% men have signs of male pattern baldness 70 years.

Physical or emotional stress as a cause of hair loss

Physical or emotional stress can cause half to three-quarters of the hair on the head to fall out.. This type of hair loss is called telogen alopecia. Hair falls out in bunches, when you shampoo them, comb or run your hands over your hair. You may not notice this for weeks or months after an episode of stress.. Hair loss decreases during 6-8 months. Telogene alopecia is usually temporary, but can become long-lasting (chronic).

The causes of this type of hair loss are:

• High fever or severe infection
• Delivery
• Major surgery, serious illness, sudden blood loss
• Severe emotional stress
• Extreme Diets, especially those, which do not contain enough protein
• Medicines, including retinoids, birth control pills, beta-blockers, Calcium channel blockers, some antidepressants, NSAIDs (including ibuprofen)

Some women are over the age of 30 to 60 years may notice thinning hair, which affects the entire scalp. Hair loss may be stronger at first, and then gradually slow down or stop. The cause of this type of telogen alopecia is unknown.

Other Causes of Hair Loss

Other Causes of Hair Loss, of a particularly unusual nature, include:

• Ochagovaya alopecia (bald spots on the scalp, beards and, perhaps, Eyebrows; possible loss of eyelashes)
• Anemia
• Autoimmune conditions, such as lupus
  Burns
• Some infectious diseases, such as syphilis
• Excessive hair washing and drying with a hair dryer
• Hormonal changes
• Thyroid disease
• Nervous habits, such as permanent hair pulling or scalp rubbing.
• Radiatsionnaya therapy
• Ringworm of the head (ringworm of the scalp)
• Ovarian or adrenal tumor
• Hairstyles, which affect the hair follicles too much
• Bacterial infections of the scalp

Home care for hair loss

Hair loss due to menopause or childbirth often goes away from 6 months before 2 years.

With hair loss due to illness (eg, fever), radiation therapy , medication or other causes treatment is required. Hair usually grows back again, when the disease ends or therapy ends. You can wear a wig, hat or other hats, until the hair grows back.

Hair weaving, hair pads or changing hairstyles can hide hair loss. Usually, it is the cheapest and safest method of hair loss treatment. Tufts of hair should not be glued to the scalp because of the risk of scarring and infection..

When to see a doctor for hair loss

Contact your doctor, if you have any of the following:

• Hair loss in an unusual way
• Rapid or early hair loss (eg, in adolescence or twenty years of age)
• Pain or itching with hair loss
• The scalp under the affected area is red, scaly or has other abnormal manifestations.
• Acne, facial hair or abnormal menstrual cycle
• You are a woman and you have male pattern baldness.
• Bald spots on the beard or eyebrows
• Weight gain or muscle weakness, intolerance to low temperatures or fatigue
• There are areas of infection on the scalp

What to Expect When Visiting a Doctor for Hair Loss

A thorough history and examination of the hair and scalp is usually sufficient., to diagnose the cause of hair loss.

The doctor will ask detailed questions about the following:

• Symptoms of Hair Loss. If you have a pattern in hair loss or if you also lose hair on other parts of the body, if other family members have hair loss.
• How you care for your hair. How often do you shampoo and dry your hair with a hair dryer?, and whether you use hair products.
• Your emotional well-being and if you are experiencing severe physical or emotional stress
• Your diet, if you have made recent changes
• Recent diseases, such as high temperature or any operation

Tests, which can be fulfilled (but rarely necessary), include:

• Blood tests to exclude the disease
• Microscopic examination of plucked hair
• Scalp skin biopsy

If you have ringworm on your scalp, you may be prescribed an antifungal shampoo and medicine for oral administration, because the application of creams and lotions may be ineffective against fungus in the hair follicles.

Your doctor may advise you to use the solution., such as minoxidil, which is applied to the scalp to stimulate hair growth. Other medications, such as hormones, can be prescribed to reduce hair loss and stimulate hair growth. Men can take such drugs, like finasteride and dutasteride, to reduce hair loss and regrow new hair.

If you have a certain vitamin deficiency, doctor, probably, will recommend that you take supplements.

Hair transplant may also be recommended.

Used literature and sources

Phillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R. Hair loss: common causes and treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):371-378. PMID: 28925637 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28925637/.

Sperling LC, Sinclair RD, The Shabrawi-Caelen L. Alopecia. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L, eds. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 69.

Tosti A. Diseases of hair and nails. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 413.