Different Types of Alopecia Explained
02 / 21 / 19

Different Types of Alopecia Explained

Hair loss, medically known as alopecia, has a wide variety of causes. While it is normal to shed 50 to 100 hairs a day, significant and noticeable hair loss may be temporary or permanent. It is important to discover the cause so the correct treatment can be initiated.

Medications, most notably chemotherapy, can cause hair loss that varies in severity. This loss is usually temporary, and hair regrowth typically begins within three months after therapy is concluded. Other drugs known to cause hair loss in some people include anticoagulants, blood pressure medications, and drugs that alter hormone levels.

When the hair loss is moderate and no additional significant loss is expected, our stylists may be able to suggest an attractive hairdo with or without hair extensions. Professionals at New Image Hair Solutions are dedicated to helping you keep your thinning hair looking glorious until your natural hair grows to the desired thickness and length.

Causes of Hair Loss in Women

It may be genetic.Some women are genetically predisposed to hair thinning, which means you may see a progressive, gradual reduction in hair volume. Hair follicles will gradually shrink and produce slightly finer and shorter hairs with each hair growth cycle. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, this type of hair loss affects 30 million American women. The hair loss increases with age and generally does not have a particular pattern as seen in male pattern baldness.

Other causes of female hair loss are called "reactive" and are caused by certain "triggers." Hormone imbalance is a frequent trigger. Female hormones such as estrogen are "hair friendly" and help to keep hair growing for the optimal length of time. Male hormones such as testosterone are less friendly to hair and can shorten the hair growth cycle. Stress can literally make your hair fall out. It raises the level of the stress hormone cortisol, which causes hair loss as well as other scalp problems such as dandruff.

A thyroid imbalance can affect hair follicles. If left untreated, it may result in anemia, another condition that impacts hair growth. Vitamin B12 deficiency also affects your hair, because it reduces the volume of red blood cells that carry oxygen to your entire body. Vegans need to be aware of this as the only source of Vitamin B12 is animal protein. It is available in pills, so vegans can protect themselves without compromising their chosen lifestyle.

Six to 12 weeks after a dramatic weight loss, hair commonly sheds in excess. Aging increases the appearance of hair loss as hair naturally gets finer the older we get. Also, the scalp produces fewer hairs. This is a totally normal part of the aging process along with other changes in the body.

Causes of Hair Loss in Men

Like women,men can experience hair loss because of hormone and thyroid imbalances, stress, Vitamin B12 deficiency, weight loss, and aging.However, male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men and accounts for more than 95 percent of hair loss experienced by men. By age 35, two-thirds of American men will have noticeable hair loss, and by age 50, 85 percent of men have hair that is thinning significantly. About 25 percent of men who have male pattern baldness begin noticing the difference in their hair before age 21.

Genetics plays a big role. Men with close relatives who experience male pattern baldness are at a higher risk, particularly when the relatives are on the maternal side of the family. It is usually characterized by a receding hairline and/or hair loss on the top and front of the head. It affects different populations at different rates, probably because of genetics. African American and Asian men are far less affected than Caucasian men.

New Image Hair Clinic is Pennsylvania's premier source of hair restoration solutions. We have been offering the latest technology and the newest effective treatments since 1969. Please contact us for a free consultation and begin your journey to the appearance you wish to present to the world.