Hair Loss

What is it and how it manifests

And 'normal for an adult lose each day a number of hair and that this loss may be more consistent with age. There is talk of alopecia, however, when the fall escalates to determine more or less extensive areas of the head without hair. There are several forms of alopecia: in humans, the most common form is the 'androgenic alopecia, a common pattern baldness, which affects the? 80% of men by age 60 (but also afflicts many women after menopause). We play an important role the hormones male androgens (hence its name) and genetic predisposition (it is more common in people with his father bald). In humans manifests itself in typical fashion, with a slow and progressive withdrawal of the fronto-temporal line and thinning at the top: the hair of these areas seem genetically predetermined to drop in the bulb for the presence of particular structures (receptors) sensitive to hormones. In women, the hormonal changes after menopause may lead to an increase in hair loss that manifests as diffuse thinning.

Another form of alopecia, less frequently, it is called alopecia aired, in which there is a rapid hair loss as well demarcated areas of the head, often circular and bounds rather flat. Nell'alopecia aerated the fall of hair can affect, in addition to the head, also the beard and other surfaces hairy. Begins suddenly and has a trend unpredictable. The cause is not known and the disorder often resolves on its own within a few months, especially affecting an adult, but the hairs that grow back they look different from normal, being more akin to a fine down. There are frequent relapses.

Other causes of alopecia can be certain infectious diseases or drug treatments. In fact, many drugs cause hair loss but it is usually reversible on discontinuation of treatment. This phenomenon is especially common with cancer but can also be induced by antithyroid drugs, the derivatives of vitamin A taken by mouth, anticoagulants, oral contraceptives and some blood pressure medications (beta-blockers).

Telogen effluvium

It is a condition of particular of alopecia that occurs when a high number of follicles of the scalp simultaneously passes in phase telogen (death of the hair). Occurs then an abundant hair loss and thinning appearance of patchy alopecia. The telogen effluvium usually follows, after 2-4 months, a stressful event, such as an illness, a psychic trauma, childbirth. It can affect both adults and children without distinction of sex. It does not require any treatment. Hair loss for its entities may be frightening but it is usually transient, and lasted for 2-3 months and then resolved spontaneously.

What are the risks

No form of alopecia is a real risk to public health. The consequences are exclusively aesthetic. Hair Problems, however, are often experienced with excessive anxiety than the actual severity and may lead to psychological problems.

The treatments

Especially the treatment of androgenic alopecia enjoys a thriving market where promises far outweigh the actual chances of cure. Baldness is not a curative treatment and need to be very careful with the'' miracle cures''. There is no scientific evidence of efficacy for vitamins, minerals (such as zinc, iron, copper), amino acids (such as cysteine ​​and proline), and the reality is quite different from the results claimed by many products. Was recently conducted a study whose purpose was to determine the efficacy of non-conventional therapies such as aromatherapy (clutches with essential oils of thyme, rosemary, lavender, etc.. Scalp) in patients with alopecia areata: the results are were quite encouraging, but it certainly will require additional surveys to assess the effectiveness of these alternative treatments.