Hair Loss Disorders
Management and Treatments for Hair Loss
What is a Hair Loss Disorder?
Hair loss (alopecia) is caused by a disruption to the body’s cycle of hair production. Depending on the cause of your hair loss, your hair may either fall out gradually or abruptly, become thinner, be able to regrow on its own, require treatment to stimulate regrowth, or will need care to prevent further hair loss. Hair loss can occur anywhere on the body, but it is common on the scalp.
There are several factors that are known to influence hair loss disorders including abnormal levels of hormones, genes from male or female parents that may cause you to be predisposed to male or female pattern baldness, stress, illness, childbirth, drugs, burns or injuries, diet, vitamin deficiencies, and medical conditions. Hair loss disorders can appear in many different ways depending on what’s causing them. They may occur suddenly or gradually. Some may affect just the scalp while in other cases, your entire body may be affected.
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of hair loss disorders include gradual thinning of the hair on top of the head, a receding hairline, broadening of the part in the hair, circular or patchy bald spots, and a sudden loosening of the hair. Our hair restoration team at Cross Medical Group will work with you to create a tailored treatment plan to address your specific type of hair loss.
The Stages of Hair Growth and Loss
Although hair growth may seem like a simple process, there are four distinct stages of hair growth and shedding, each of which has its own timeline. The anagen or growth phase is the most active phase of hair growth. The cells in the hair follicle rapidly divide. Catagen is the transition phase when follicles shrink, and hair growth starts to decline. The hair stops growing. Telogen is the resting phase when the hair follicle is inactive. Hairs aren’t growing but don’t fall out either. The exogen phase is when hair is shed from the scalp. There are certain hair loss disorders that can be disruptive to the stages of hair growth.
What Are the Most Common Hair Loss Disorders?
Male Pattern Baldness and Female Pattern Baldness
The medical term for male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness is androgenic alopecia. Though anyone can lose hair from the scalp, it is more common in men. Male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss disorder in men. This hair loss disorder can sometimes have an early onset, starting in the teens or early twenties. However, in most cases this type of hair loss disorder may occur by the age of fifty in men. It can occur slowly and gradually, causing hair thinning or loss for years.
Female pattern baldness is a common hair loss disorder that typically develops after menopause. It is the most significant cause of hair loss in women. Just like male pattern baldness, this hair loss disorder results in a loss of hair from the scalp and the hair won’t grow back without treatment.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
Would you like to find out more about hair loss disorders? Contact Cross Medical Group in Philadelphia (215) 561-9100 or Main Line’s Villanova (610) 688-9100. You can also send a message online to inquire about a consultation, or to request more information.
Other Types of Hair Loss Disorders
Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia is a hair loss disorder caused by repeated pulling of the hair. People often experience this type of hair loss if they frequently wear their hair in a tight ponytail, bun, or braids. People who apply chemicals or heat to their hair may also develop this hair loss disorder.
Trichotillomania
Scarring alopecia or cicatricial alopecia occurs due to hair follicle destruction. This hair loss disorder often develops because of inflammatory or autoimmune disorders but sometimes it may occur because of skin injuries, burns, or certain medical treatments. The hair cannot regrow after the follicle has been destroyed. You won’t be able to restore hair growth without healthy hair follicles. The visible hair loss due to this hair loss disorder may have emotional and psychological effects.
Cicatricial (Scarring) Alopecia
Trichotillomania or hair pulling disorder is a mental health condition. People who experience this type of hair loss disorder may have uncontrollable urges to repeatedly pull hair out from the scalp or other areas of the body. The hair pulling may leave behind patchy bald spots on the scalp.
Tinea Capitis
Tinea capitis or scalp ringworm is a type of fungal infection of the scalp hair that is caused by mold-like fungi called dermatophytes. Common symptoms associated with this condition include swollen red patches, dry scaly rashes, itchiness, and hair loss. Children between the ages of three and fourteen often experience tinea capitis. Though it is uncommon after puberty, this hair loss disorder may affect some adults.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is another common type of hair loss disorder that is linked to an autoimmune disease. Simply put, the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss. Though most of the time it starts during childhood or young adulthood, it can develop at any age. This hair loss disorder causes your hair to fall out in patches. These patches are usually small and round.
Anagen Effluvium
If there is an interruption in the anagen phase or growth phase of hair growth, anagen effluvium may occur. This condition is characterized by diffuse and abrupt shedding of structurally damaged hair from the entire scalp. There is shedding of most or all of the hair from the scalp and sometimes on the rest of the body. The hair loss develops because of an acute injury to the hair follicles. This hair loss disorder is common in patients who are receiving chemotherapy or those with autoimmune diseases or may develop due to an infection, drug, toxin, or radiation.
Telogen Effluvium
Telogen effluvium is a type of temporary hair loss disorder that may occur when an individual experiences severe stress or a change to their body. This type of hair shedding occurs during the telogen or resting stage of the hair cycle. People may notice thinning hair, particularly on the top of their head. This form of hair loss develops when your hair is in the telogen stage. Though this hair loss disorder can occur in anyone, it is more likely to develop in women between the age of thirty and sixty.
Solutions for Hair Loss Disorders
It isn’t necessary to treat male pattern hair loss but for some, it can be difficult to cope with hair loss disorders. Some people accept their hair loss disorder, preferring to allow the loss of hair to run its course untreated and unhidden. Other individuals might try to conceal hair loss disorders with certain hairstyles, makeup, hats, and scarves. It’s normal to experience thinning hair and bald spots with age but younger men often feel as if hair loss ages them prematurely or makes them appear less attractive. Hair loss disorders and confidence are closely linked. Our hair is part of our self-esteem, so a hair loss disorder may cause us to experience distress. Even losing a small amount of hair can sometimes be detrimental to self-esteem, self-image, and general quality of life.
For those who are concerned about hair loss, there are treatments available to help you avoid further loss of hair or restore your normal hair growth, such as over the counter medications. If you want to do something about your hair loss disorder, making an appointment with us is a good place to start. Each type of hair loss disorder requires different treatments. Before you pursue any type of treatment, you can discuss the cause of your hair loss and treatment options with us.
Hair transplant surgery, also called hair restoration or hair replacement, is the primary solution we offer for hair loss. Hair transplant surgery for men and women involves moving hair you already have on one part of your head have to bald or thinning areas on the scalp. Individuals who still have areas of thick hair growth on some parts of their scalp may be ideal candidates. There are several different techniques that can be used but hair grafting is the most common type of hair transplant surgery.
The most effective treatment option for male pattern baldness is often oral Finasteride (Propecia) because it works by decreasing the amount of a natural body hormone (DHT). By decreasing the amount of DHT, there may be increased hair regrowth and slower hair loss. The medication is designed for male pattern baldness at the crown and the middle of the scalp on adult men. We can also discuss other treatment options for hair loss disorders such as: Topical minoxidil (Rogaine), LaserCap, and PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma). Topical minoxidil treats hair loss-related conditions by increasing blood flow around follicles and encouraging existing hairs to grow. LaserCap is a low-level laser treatment that re-energizes inactive hair follicles. PRP treatments rely on platelets to enhance tissue function.
Which Other Procedures Are Available from Cross Medical Group?
Aside from diagnosis and treatment of hair loss disorders, our Cross Medical Group team offers a complete range of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. We provide cosmetic surgery to enhance the face such as facelift, brow lift, blepharoplasty, and rhinoplasty. Popular procedures to enhance the breasts and body include breast augmentation, breast reduction, tummy tuck, liposuction, Mommy Makeover, and much more.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
Contact Cross Medical Group in Philadelphia (215) 561-9100 or Main Line’s Villanova (610) 688-9100. You can also send a message online to inquire about a consultation, or to request more information.
