Hair Loss

Types of Hair Loss

Reasons for Hair Loss
Hair loss is sometimes a normal seasonal occurrence, but losing too much hair probably means there is a problem.

Stress, pregnancy, chemotherapy, certain diseases, and various different medications, can all cause you to lose hair. All these forms of hair loss can be treated or prevented by a change in lifestyle or by avoiding whatever is causing the hair to fall out. Usually, the hair will eventually grow back.

Alopecia Areata
Alopecia Areata is a type of hair loss that is caused by problems with the immune system and is most common in people under 20 although it can occur at any age. Most often it rights itself, but very occasionally the person loses all their hair on the head and elsewhere and the hair never grows back. Experts have not yet figured out why the immune system attacks the hair follicles. There are several treatments for this type of alopecia, which we will not go into here, as it is not common with aging. However, as with other types of hair loss, the patient should be examined as soon as possible so that a diagnosis can be made before the condition deteriorates.

Age Related Hair Loss

Normal Hair Loss
As we have seen above there are a number of reasons why men lose their hair, but the most common reasons for males between the age of 20 to 45 to start to lose scalp hair is male pattern baldness. In fact this will be the case in 95 per cent of cases. As the term suggests, male pattern baldness follows a typical sequence or pattern. Hair loss can start in different areas but is usually at the temples and/or on the crown of the head. Initial thinning of hair progresses over a number of years and may lead to total baldness but more typically loss of hair over the top surface of the head.

The Cause of Male Pattern Baldness

Most men are genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness. It is the effect of hormones on the hair follicle that produces male pattern baldness. Testosterone, a hormone that is present in high levels in males after puberty, is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. DHT has an adverse affect on the hair follicles. Acting on a hormone receptor on the hair follicle it slows down hair production and produces weak, shorter hair, sometimes it stops hair growth from the follicle completely. This process gradually depletes your stock of hair and is normal hair loss.

Hair loss, Illness or Disease
Go to your doctor if:

• You lose hair suddenly
• If your hair loss is in clumps or significant enough that you notice large amounts on your pillow, covering the back of your clothes or when you wash your hair.
  

This type of hair loss does not represent typical male baldness, but it does require a diagnosis. Don't worry. Hair loss can occur for a number of reasons and can often be treated successfully.
(Source for this section is about.com).

Baldness in Men is Considered Attractive

While it can be very distressing for a man to lose his hair, many young people nowadays have made a fashion of the bald scalp, including singers and actors. Perhaps these men have managed to turn something negative into a positive. However, there are many women who find bald men very attractive.

A bald head is considered by almost every woman I know as vastly more attractive than the attempts which some men go to to pull their remaining strands of thinning hair across the bald areas to disguise the fact they are going bald. It doesn't work and neither does the wearing of cheap, ill-fitting toupees.

One of the first men who gave the concept of balding a positive reputation was Yul Brynner, who starred in the King and I among other successful films. Another successful and attractive actor who became bald in later life was Albert Finney. Many enjoyed his portrait of Daddy Warbucks in the film Annie, and considered him as attractive in an older way as he was at the beginning of his acting career.

Male Pattern Baldness also Effects Women

Permanent hair loss is considered normal in males, there are even people who claim that bald men make better lovers. It is also considered attractive, judging by the number of men who shave their heads as a fashion statement, and indeed a lot of men do look attractive to certain women with this “hair” style. However, society is more severe in their judgement of women and what is or not feminine and acceptable. There does appear to be a slow realisation in the medical profession, that the emotional damage caused by feeling unattractive because of hair loss can be just as devastating to a woman’s well-being as many more serious illnesses.

The condition is known as Androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness, and as in men, is believed to be caused by a derivative of the male sex hormone, testosterone called DHT that attacks the hair follicles.

Women have far less testosterone, but even a small amount can cause hair loss. Even though women have only small amounts of testosterone, the loss of female hormones after menopause can upset the hormonal balance, leading to several problems, including hair loss. A blood test can show hormone levels in your blood, which will give you a diagnosis, but for the moment if this condition runs in the family, there is no way of preventing this form of alopecia.

Diagnosis

Prevention, Treatement and Cure

Normally, at least for women, the treatment for male pattern baldness is a topical preparation to be applied to the scalp, which has a negative effect on the androgens that are destroying the hair follicles. It will have to be used permanently or the hair loss will recommence. There are pills that can also treat this condition, but doctors prescribe them to men and are wary of prescribing them for women for safety reasons.
(Source: http://www.webmd.com)

For further information on hair loss treatements and hair restoration for both men and women please visit the Med MD web site.