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Hair loss in females is a pathological or physiological process, depending on the cause that caused it. The areas that remain hairless can be large and noticeable, which is called baldness.
In addition, the hair may fall out in rows. Some common factors can lead to their loss:
Inappropriate care;
Infections;
Avitaminosis and lack of trace elements;
Adherence to dietary regimens;
Hormonal dysfunction;
Inherited predisposition;
Treatment with certain medications;
Stress.
Sometimes it is enough to find out and neutralize one of the reasons for hair growth to recover. This fact determines the only competent approach to the treatment of baldness: first, find out the pathogenic factor and eliminate it. In addition, there are many modern methods that allow this to be done, among them: studying the hormonal status, performing a hair trichogram and their spectral analysis, and performing a blood test. When the results are received, the doctor (trichologist) will prescribe a therapeutic course, which will be compiled individually for each patient.
There are also physiological norms, according to which a healthy person will lose up to 100 hairs daily. At the same time, they have time to be replaced by new ones, so their loss is imperceptible. If the balance is disturbed, the hair does not grow, but falls out, or is lost in significant quantities, this will definitely lead to baldness.
Causes of three months ago lead to hair loss. This is due to the fact that, having outlived the period from 2 to 7 years, they begin to prepare for removal for a maximum of 3 weeks. After 3 months the hair falls out.
Main Factors Affecting Excessive Hair Loss
Anemia. This factor is a frequent provocateur of alopecia in the female. Excessive blood loss in them can be observed during menstruation. If anemia develops, then this leads not only to hair loss, but also to a deterioration in the appearance of the skin and nails. Anemia can also be the result of adherence to dietary nutrition, vegetarianism, increased physical activity. As a result, the woman begins to lose hair.
Bearing and breastfeeding. The natural process is the return of most trace elements, vitamins and other nutrients to the child. At the same time, the mother’s body often suffers from their lack. This will definitely affect the condition of her skin and nails, as well as hair. After childbirth, certain changes will occur in the body associated with the restructuring of hormones. It can also cause excessive shedding. The increased stress experienced by the mother in the first year, the presence of chronic fatigue, lack of sleep and overwork during the day and night lead to health problems. It affects the skin, hair and nails.
Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Against the background of problems with the thyroid gland, namely, with a decrease in its functionality, thinning of the hair structure occurs. They break and fall out faster. Pathology can be suspected by other symptoms, including: dry skin, severe weakness, fatigue. Menstrual irregularities are often observed. If similar signs have been noticed, you should not delay contacting an endocrinologist. The doctor will prescribe a comprehensive examination of the gland.
Polycystic ovary. When the two main sex glands are affected, estrogen production will definitely fail. If there is less female sex hormones and more male sex hormones, then this may be the cause of loss of scalp hair. In this case, testosterone is the culprit. (Read More: Polycystic Disease: Causes and Symptoms)
Fungal attack. If a fungus has settled on the scalp, this will contribute to baldness in the form of nests. Pathogenic microorganisms can damage the follicles, as a result – areas without round hair. And more on the affected areas, hair will not grow. This is due to the fact that the existing mycelium destroys all the nutrients that are necessary for hair growth. To get rid of the existing problem, a visit to the doctor is required. He may prescribe certain medications, ointments and shampoos. Comprehensive treatment can effectively eliminate fungal skin lesions.
Diseases of a chronic nature. If a person has any chronic disease, such as lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, then this can cause early baldness. Intoxication, problems in the work of the endocrine glands, infections of the body have a negative effect. However, in the presence of such pathologies, other symptoms of diseases will appear, which will be expressed in various states, depending on the specific pathology. That is why a thorough diagnosis is so important when profuse hair loss is detected. After all, even the most expensive treatment will be ineffective when the true cause of alopecia is not found.
Stress. Dystonia of the autonomic nervous system, neurosis, and regular experience of stress – all this can cause pathological vasoconstriction. The nutrition of the follicle is disturbed and the hair dies. These factors can affect male and female alopecia.
Therapy with drugs. Medicines that the patient takes for any pathology can affect the condition of the hair, including the rate of their death. These can be hormonal contraceptives, laxatives, antidepressants, etc. There are about 100 such drugs. Anagenic alopecia is provoked by drugs for the treatment of cancer. Many weight loss drugs can have a laxative effect. As a result, a woman loses not only kilograms, but in parallel, the process of absorption of substances useful to the body is disrupted in the intestines. Poor-quality preparations can be a source of salts of heavy metals, selenium, which causes intoxication of the body and leads to hair loss.
Cosmetic procedures and trauma. Any mechanical damage causes damage to the hair, sometimes it can be quite pronounced.
This is a whole range of mechanical damage:
If you expose your hair to chemical influences too often, for example, dyeing, perming, bleaching, straightening with a hair dryer or ironing, then this will definitely lead to their accelerated death.
Using wigs and hairpieces, hair extensions, applying styling products, or even using hair care products (incorrectly) will all lead to alopecia.
Any tension in the hair leads to the fact that the follicles lose their normal blood supply, the hair lacks nutrients, breaks and falls out. The danger in this regard is a tight tail, weaving dreadlocks and African braids, rough combing, and complex hairstyles.
Scarring process. When hair loss occurs as a result of infection of the skin, burns or radiation exposure, this leads to pathological changes. The bulb is destroyed, as a result, the hair in this area ceases to grow forever. This type of baldness is called cicatricial alopecia.
Exposure to cold, intake of caffeine. Both of these factors lead to the fact that the vessels penetrating the scalp spasm. As a result, chronic spasm leads to increased hair loss. Therefore, in cold weather, you should always cover your head, as well as limit coffee consumption.
Telogenic hair loss, which is chronic. Chronic telogen effluvium, or CTE, is severe and prolonged hair loss that is not due to any other cause. This process may take several years. Hair loss occurs not in certain areas, but globally. Nevertheless, the appearance of a woman does not suffer from this. The density of the hair does not change, the width of the parting and the growth line are preserved. Doctors talk about telogen prolapse when all other causes have been ruled out. If CTE results in noticeable bald patches and prominent areas of alopecia appear, then it makes sense to reconsider the initial diagnosis for androgenetic alopecia. It is currently not possible to get rid of CTE, as there is still no effective treatment. Neither corticosteroid hormones, nor contraceptives with antiandrogens, nor Minoxidil help. Therefore, doctors suggest that their patients choose observation tactics and, if the loss increases, come back for an appointment. Sometimes it is this approach that allows the problem to self-destruct after a few years. It would be useful to take iron and zinc-containing drugs, even if they are normal in the blood.
AHA. Androgenetic alopecia is male pattern hair loss in women. This process is characterized by parietal hair loss, as a result, these zones thin out and the skin is visible through them. This process is considered curable. The only drug that has proven itself in terms of the treatment of AGA is Minoxidil. The doctor can determine this type of alopecia by the pattern on the woman’s head in the form of the so-called “bald patches” and the histology of the skin.
Diffuse alopecia. Alopecia areata is a common type of alopecia and can be diagnosed in both adults and children. At this time, the hair falls out in such a way that bald spots form on the head of the patient, however, they are not too extensive. There are no absolutely hairless areas on the human head. Based on the studies carried out at the microscopic level, it was found that the skin taken from problem areas has certain similarities with the skin that was taken from patients with standard alopecia areata. Scientists have come to the conclusion that even if there is a difference in clinical manifestations, diffuse alopecia, in the end, is a type of alopecia areata. To get rid of it, you can use the same drugs of the same type that stop the cells of the immune system. Therefore, when establishing this diagnosis, the doctor may recommend therapy using corticosteroid hormones. Release forms vary – it can be ointments, foams, shampoos.
Excessive activity of sex hormones. It is possible that the loss of hair can be associated with increased work of male sex hormones in her body. It is this root cause of baldness that can be suspected if there are other accompanying symptoms: acne and pimples, seborrhea, amenorrhea, infertility, excess weight, and hair growth on the face and body. If the trichologist reveals such problems, then he should send the woman for a consultation with an endocrinologist and a gynecologist. Treatment in this case should be joint. Often, women have a symptom of polycystic ovaries, which was mentioned above.
Zinc deficiency. It was found that women and men suffering from increased hair loss, there is a lack of such a trace element as zinc. Therefore, sometimes, its introduction into the therapeutic regimen allows you to make it more effective.
Hair loss diagnostics
Men in almost 90% of cases suffer from hair loss due to a genetic predisposition. In women, alopecia can be caused by other factors, often depending on the state of health.
To identify the true cause, it is necessary to undergo a series of studies:
Perform a blood test.
Examine the hormonal status for several hormones, in particular: the hormone androstenedione, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, DHEA, prolactin.
Determine the presence or absence of syphilis.
Investigate hormones produced by the thyroid gland, such as: TSH, T4 and T3.
Determine even slight violations in the density of the hair (optical).
Determine the iron-binding capacity, the level of iron and ferritin in the blood.
Carry out the pull method. In this case, the doctor pulls out a bundle consisting of 100 hairs. If more than 3 of them fall out, then such losses are considered excessive.
A small section of the scalp, not exceeding 4 mm in diameter, is being studied. The biopsy is performed using a microscope.
Answers to some frequently asked questions
Does the hairstyle I wear affect hair loss? Hairstyle can have an effect. It has been proven that the tighter the hair is pulled, the faster it falls out. In this case, baldness of the frontal, temporal zones and crown is observed. Tight hairstyles and constantly collected hair are harmful to their structure. The danger lies in the fact that where the hair has fallen out, due to excessive tension, they will no longer grow. To avoid such a nuisance, you should not tighten your hair until painful sensations appear. The resulting feeling of tension, which causes discomfort, is a signal that the hairstyle needs to be loosened.
Are there any effective masks, shampoos, or other remedies for hair loss, to strengthen hair, or to make hair thicker that can be used at home? How to choose the best tool? The modern market is rich in various hair care products. Many of them guarantee excellent results. However, it should be understood that a universal remedy that would suit every woman simply does not exist. This is due, first of all, to the abundance of causes leading to hair loss. So, Minoxidil preparations have a certain effectiveness, but it has been proven only in relation to androgenetic alopecia. Just like contraceptives, with their antiandrogenic components, not every woman can help. Therefore, before putting into practice the advice of other people, it is important to ask about the reasons for their hair loss. It is possible that what works for one will not work for another. Reliable information as to whether a variety of capsules and ampoules really help with alopecia was also not found. Therefore, it is not advisable to recommend them as a remedy. (list of all medicines for hair loss)
Do I need to take vitamins and minerals against hair loss or to strengthen hair? You can also answer this question only after establishing the true cause of hair loss. So, if this process is physiological, then no supplements are needed. When baldness is associated with a lack of iron or zinc, then taking certain medications can positively affect the treatment process. However, in this case it is advisable to take not vitamins, but special preparations.
Dryness and brittle hair. Hair loss is often caused not by its complete exit along with the root, but by simple breaking. Most often this occurs in women with long hair, which is due to various cosmetic manipulations performed with them.
The experience of getting rid of increased fragility, which has been accumulated by many women, can be concluded in several recommendations:
When the scalp is not oily, you can only use conditioner to wash your hair, without shampoo. It should be applied and washed off twice.
The conditioner can be applied in advance and after two hours just rinse it off. This method is faster.
When the hair remains oily after this washing method, you can apply shampoo closer to the roots, and conditioner on the hair. With the help of massage, the product is distributed evenly along the entire length, after which the hair is washed.
The silk pillowcase minimizes hair damage on the pillow.
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