Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an acquired skin disease that can affect all hair-bearing skin and is characterized by localised areas of non-scarring hair loss. Alopecia areata, as a rule, is rarely associated with any other external or internal medical problems. Most often these bald areas regrow their hair spontaneously.

What is alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is a hair-loss condition which usually affects the scalp.  It typically causes one or more patches of hair loss. Alopecia areata can affect both genders.

An autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, is believed to cause alopecia areata.

For most patients, the condition resolves without treatment within a year, but hair loss is sometimes permanent.  In some cases alopecia areata can be seasonal.

A number of treatments are known to aid in hair re-growth. Multiple treatments may be necessary, and none consistently works for all patients.

What causes alopecia areata?

Current evidence suggests that alopecia areata is caused by an abnormality in the immune system. As a result, the immune system attacks particular tissues of the body. In alopecia areata, for unknown reasons, the body's own immune system attacks the hair follicles and disrupts normal hair formation. Alopecia areata can occasionally be associated with other autoimmune conditions such as allergic disorders, thyroid disease, vitiligo, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. The diagnosis or treatment of these diseases is unlikely to affect the course of alopecia areata. Sometimes, alopecia areata occurs within family members, suggesting a role of genes.

What are the different patterns of alopecia areata?

The most common pattern is one or more well-defined spots of hair loss on the scalp. There is also a form of more generalized thinning of hair referred to as diffuse alopecia areata throughout the scalp. Occasionally, all of the scalp hair is lost, a condition referred to as alopecia totalis. Less frequently, the loss of all of the hairs on the entire body, called alopecia universalis, occurs.

Who is affected by alopecia areata?

Alopecia areata tends to occur most often in adults 30 to 60 years of age. However, it can also affect older individuals and rarely toddlers. It should be distinguished from hair shedding that may occur following the discontinuation of hormonal estrogen and progesterone therapies for birth control or the hair shedding associated with the end of pregnancy. There are a number of treatable conditions that could be confused with alopecia areata.

What is the treatment for alopecia areata?

There are a variety of treatments depending on the period of time of hair loss and the size area/areas effect.  Steroid injections, creams, and shampoos for the scalp have been used for many years and are known to be effective.   Advise from your GP should be sought as to what treatment is the right treatment for you.

DHT and How It Affects Hair Loss

Many people feel that genetics is what causes hair loss, which is only partially true. People from the same blood line will of course have many similar physical characteristics. However, this is not the only cause. 

If DHT were not part of every human in the world today, hair loss would not be nearly such a big problem as it is now. DHT is a hormone. DHT is directly related to and affected by the level of testosterone in the bloodstream.

Because there have been plenty research into hair loss, we are now aware what causes DHT, how this effects hair loss and how the effects can be reduced. 

DHT in men is mostly a result of a decrease or depletion of testosterone in the male body. As for women, it is caused by a depletion of oestrogen, causing the woman to have more testosterone in her body than she should.

The effect of DHT varies in men and women. DHT hair loss in men occurs in patches while women it happens through thinning of the hair. This is more common in male than in females because men have more testosterone. It is a main cause of balding among men.

Anyone that suffers from hair loss may find that by stopping the production of DHT will cause their hair loss problem to diminish. Whilst there is no quick miracle product that will immediately stop the production of DHT there are a number of products that will help to reduce the amount of DHT that is produced.

Effect of Hair Loss on Appearance and Self-Esteem

When people realise they are suffering from some form of hair loss, people instantly wonder what effect this will have on their appearance and whether this means they will look unattractive or older as a result.  It is no wonder then that plenty of men and women will consider hair transplantation to overcome what they perceive to be an age-inappropriate appearance.

People that unfortunately suffer from hair loss do not want to appear older than they, or even older than they wish to portray.  This is not necessarily people being vain and many factors may affect their decision to take such a step.

Reasons for people to get a hair transplant to avoid age-inappropriate appearance can be personal, work-related, or a combination of both. In both personal and work environments, age-inappropriate appearance can substantially influence one's self-regard, self-esteem, interpersonal and work-related relationships.

A person’s age is objectively measured in years, however a person’s appearance can lead to people making assumptions as to how old they may be. 

Most people who are encountered in the workplace or in social environments probably do not know your calendar age unless you revealed it to them, but they quickly make judgments regarding your appearance of age. Along with their assessment of your apparent age as seen through their eyes, they may make some judgments regarding what may be called age-related values.

Believing that people may be making these assumptions have a dramatic impact on us and the way we feel.  Believing that people may deem us to look older or less attractive can cause us to have lower self-esteem and in some cases can cause us to withdraw into ourselves. 

The emotional aspects of living with hair loss can be challenging. Discovery of hair loss is a stressful experience for both sexes, but substantially more distressing for women.

Physical beauty is one of the cornerstones of self-esteem and it is one of the most vulnerable. The self-esteem levels and other measures of self-worth drop significantly when hair loss occurs.

Hair is an important determinant of physical attractiveness and a mean of expressing individuality. Hair loss affects the individual’s feelings of attractiveness. For balding women it is especially hard to live in a society that places great value on youthful appearance and attractiveness.

Because women are famous for spending a lot of time and money grooming, dying, curling, drying, and styling their hair to make it look its best, when they begin to lose their hair, it is extremely traumatic. This cosmetic setback is quite intense when a woman is used to having hair and suddenly finds herself losing it. They can have a lot of trouble dealing with the reality of hair loss.

In extreme circumstances, some people really take hair loss badly and get highly distressed about it, up to the point of getting into depression.

Some people make assumptions that they are losing something about their control of their life, things they really can not reverse when they start losing their hair.

Correcting hair loss may not be merely a matter of halting loss of hair or replacing lost hair. Well-planned and long-term management of hair loss requires professional attention such as that offered by a physician or hair restoration specialist.

If you are suffering from hair loss, and are concerned at all about the effects this may have, it is essential that you consult your GP for their diagnosis as to whether it may be temporary or likely to continue to and progressively get worse

Hair loss and Herbal Remedies

Many people are care a great deal about their condition of their hair and some people spend a lot money on shampoos, conditions, treatments in order to help it look its best and to stay in the best condition.  A lot of people would almost do anything to prevent further hair loss or to seek hair re-growth.

Much hair loss and baldness is related to DHT or genetics; however, other factors may play a role such as hormonal problems, poor nutrition, medication, chemotherapy and thyroid disease.

There are a variety of pharmaceutical products that claim to promote hair growth and prevent thinning hair and help combat the causes of the hair loss.  Some, however, can cause dangerous side effects and often do not work.   It is always hard to know which products are the safe ones that actually do show results and it sometimes can take a lot of researching to find the right product. 

Herbal treatments, however, have been used for centuries to treat the scalp and hair, and many are effective in the prevention of baldness, keeping hair looking healthy and can even help in restoring hair pigment to its original color.

Some natural alternatives to help restore your hair and slow down the hair loss problem are:

Ginkgo biloba - Rich in antioxidants, Ginkgo provides increased blood flow to the hair follicles in the scalp, strengthening and stimulating the hair shaft.

Polygonum Multiflorum - Also known as Fo-ti or He shou wu, Polygonum multiflorum is a Chinese herb used for centuries to slow hair loss, promote new hair growth, restore hair to its original color and to slow the aging process. It is often mixed in with other herbs to create a tonic that stimulates the scalp and hair growth.

Topical aromatherapy applications - Using aromatherapy mixtures topically on the scalp may help regrow hair in some cases. A mixture of essential oils including rosemary, cedarwood, lavender and thyme can be applied to the scalp to stimulate blood flow and hair growth.

Reishi mushroom - Reishi mushroom, or Ganoderma lucidum is another well-known Chinese herb with many health benefits. Reishi mushroom is often combined in hair tonics along with Fo-ti and other Chinese herbs to promote hair growth and prevent balding. Find it at Chinese herbal shops where you would also buy Fo-ti.

Summary – the same as taking any pharmaceutical products it is always best to check that the product is safe.  If you experience any side effects then you must stop taking the product immediately. It is always best to consult a medical professional if you are experiencing hair loss to ensure there is no underlying health issues that are the cause.

Hair Loss and the Effect on our Appearance

Hair loss can have a negative effect on how we feel and hair loss in a younger person can contribute to an appearance of premature aging. Hair loss at any age can detract from overall appearance.

In some circumstances, hair loss may be the dominant factor in how a person is assessed. Overall appearance figures prominently in the way others view us. The perception of hair loss as a cosmetic "defect" influences the way in which both men and women may be assessed, but it is often a detriment to women more than to men. The bald man may benefit from the "Mr. Big" image of the powerful bald-headed man. There is no such image from which women may benefit; thinning hair is an age-related cosmetic detriment for women, no matter at what age it occurs.

Hair restoration is not accomplished by a "one pattern fits all" approach. Every patient requires an individual approach to correction of hair loss. Factors requiring individual consideration include:

• Patient's age-e,g, will a younger person's hair loss likely progress for decades, and therefore require age-appropriate management at regular intervals?
• Patient's gender-e.g, the approach to correction of hair loss is often quite different in men and women.
• Cause of hair loss-e.g, while hereditary male-pattern of female-pattern hair loss is the most common cause of thinning hair, other causes must be considered and no correction undertaken until the cause is correctly diagnosed.
• Pattern of hair loss-e.g, the emphasis on hair restoration should be on restoring the appearance of natural growth and an asthetic effect appropriate to the patient.
• Degree of hair loss-e.g, planning of hair restoration must be based on the achievement of an outcome that is rational in terms of overall hair loss, and acceptable to the patient.
• Cosmetic relationships of the patient's hairline to other cosmetic features including forehead, eyebrows, ears and nose-e.g, overall asthetic effect must be appropriate for the patient.

Living with alopecia can be difficult in a culture that views hair as a sign of youth and good health.

Hair plays an important role in our social lives. Upon meeting someone, one of the first things you notice is their hair. Before any social engagement we also take a lot of time to ensure that we look good and lovely hair or good hair style always completes our appearance. Those affected by hair loss become aware of how important hair is in our social lives quickly.

Hair loss may cause the person to limit social activities. Some people avoid seeing friends and stop going out except to work.

Many people begin wearing more hats or caps to try to disguise their thinning hairline.  In some serve cases some people resort to wearing artificial hair whether that be extensions to combat hair thinning or in some cases wigs. 

For some hair loss may spark self-improvement tactics like starting to work our more. The improvement in physique gives more confidence, thus making less worry about hair loss.

If you are suffering from hair loss, and are concerned at all about the effects this may have, it is essential that you consult your GP for their diagnosis as to whether it may be temporary or likely to continue to and progressively get worse

Hair Loss Signs to Notice

It sometimes can be hard to notice the early signs of hair loss as hair loss can be a gradual process of a lengthy period of time. Hair loss does not happen overnight.  However, if you are reading this article, you are probably already concerned about the prospect that you may be loosing your hair. We all know prevention is better than a cure but sometimes hair loss just happens.

Not everyone loses their hair in the same fashion.  The type of hair loss you have may determine the signs you may notice however no matter what type of hair loss you have, there are early signs that can act as warnings that you need to lookout for. 

Genetic Hair Loss

Just because your mother or father may have suffered from hair loss or hair thinning it is not a clear indication that you will also suffer the same fate.  On the other side of the coin, however, if your father lost his hair at the age of 21, it does not mean that you are in the clear should you have reached the age of 31 and are still sporting a full head of hair. 

The genes for hair loss can be inherited from both sides of the family but they can also skip generations. While genetics can determine the pattern of hair loss, your parents are not always your blueprint.

The signs of hair loss you need to watch for are:

• Hair loss that runs in the family
• A receding hairline
• Thinner hair than usual
• A wider centre part
• Ability to see the scalp through the hair at the top of the head

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen Effluvium means sudden or severe stress.  This can cause hair loss or thinning.  Some stages in our lives will ultimately cause us to feel stressed such as a bereavement or even going through pregnancy.

What we eat, or do not eat, can also have an effect on hair growth.

Telogen effluvium and the impact of our diets can cause excess shedding of hair causes hair to be thinner. Nutritional deficiencies, particularly iron-deficiency anaemia, can result in hair loss.

The signs of hair thinning you need to watch for are:

• Extra hair fall
• Thinner hair than usual
• A dramatic change in diet or weight
• A stressful event that may have happened a few months ago

Alopecia Areata

This type of hair loss generally comes on very suddenly.  The hair loss generally presents itself as coin-sized bald patches on the scalp but it can affect other areas of hair-bearing skin. Some people only have one small bald spot that can be hidden by the rest of the hair but others may have a few more, or even larger patches. Sometimes the hair will grow back on its own and can in fact be seasonal.  However, in some cases it can get worse and spread, eventually leading to baldness.

The signs of alopecia you need to watch for are:

• Clumps of hair fall
• Smooth bald patches
• If any other family members have or have had the condition

Severe infection or extremely stressful situation which may have triggered it

Hair Loss Signs

Most people notice hair loss when looking at themselves in a mirror.  It could either be a sudden shock one day or perhaps they have noticed it over a period of time.  Sometimes people found out when it is brought to their attention by other people.

Some people will notice hairs on their pillow in the morning or find that after brushing their hair more and more hair is left on their hairbrush or comb.

The thing about hair loss is that it can occur in anyone, men and woman, and at any age.  Hair loss is not restricted to middle-aged men.

The Signs of Baldness in Men

Hair loss in men tends to occur on the front hairline and forehead and on top of the head  The first sign of hair loss in a man is mainly a receding hairline.  This would seem an obvious sign that you may be in the early stages of hair loss but because hair loss is a gradual process, it may take a while before you may notice it or even realise it has happened.

Hair loss can also present itself as thinning hair.  It is not noticeable that hair is falling out but you may notice that your hair is getting gradually thinner.  This is normal as a result of shrinking hair follicles. You may notice that your hair is getting thinner as the gap between your hairs widens.  Widening areas between hairs can slowly reveal more of the scalp and this is an indicative sign of thinning hair which could lead to hair loss and possibly eventual baldness of the crown.

The Signs of Hair Loss in Women

There is generally only one early sign of women’s hair loss and that is thinning hair.  Unlike men, women do not experience a receding hair line and rarely will a woman go bald. Hair loss involves the thinning of hair in general, all over the scalp but mainly at the crown. A woman may therefore notice a decrease in the size of her ponytail or the widening of her parting.

Because women’s hair is generally longer than men’s, concerning forms of hair loss can be hard for a woman to detect because even normal hair loss is so obvious. A woman may therefore notice the changes more effectively by looking at her hair brush.  If you are noticing more hair on your brush quicker than before, or you find that you have having to clean your brush more often that you used to, this could be a sign that you are losing your hair more quickly.

Is Hair Loss Hereditary?

Most people are of the opinion that hair loss runs into the family.  Children look at their parents who may be balding and assume that this is their future.  In a vast majority of cases, hair loss is hereditary, passed down the genes from either side of parentage. Some studies indicate that baldness from the maternal side has a greater chance of it being passed along to a male offspring

Whilst in many situations hair loss does seem to be hereditary, there are, of course, some exceptions to this, but they are not incredibly common. 

You may therefore be wondering, what exactly does cause hair loss then? Is it genetically already predetermined that you will lose you hair? The answer is yes, and no! Hair loss is affected genetics but it can be caused by factors that can be controlled or even reversed by outside forces or products.

Hair loss is caused by an increase in DHT in the scalp. A human body is programmed to produce an enzyme known as 5 alpha reductase. When the Androgen hormone in the scalp produces testosterone, which mixes with 5 alpha reductase, it produces Dihydrotestosterone or DHT.  DHT is not well received by male (and some female) hair follicles, cutting off blood supply which is critical to growth of new hair.

Thinning and or balding process begins when this occurs, in other words DHT related hair loss.

DHT is not the only cause of hair loss.  Dirt and oil on your scalp can also lead to an increase in the rate of hair loss, as can malnutrition and poor circulation. Lucky for you, plenty of products on the market right now can cancel out the effects of these problems and ultimately allow you to keep your hair.

Even if there are many family members who are presently balding, or indeed are bald already, this may not be your future.  You can start as soon as possible to take the right supplements and use the right products to prevent any future hair loss. In the long run you will be glad you did. Even if you have already started to lose your hair, there are some great hair loss products out right now that can really turn things around for you and help you re-grow hair you have already lost.

Stress and Hair loss

Your hair has a way of telling you if your body is in balance.  If you are healthy - physically as well as emotionally - your hair will be radiant and shining and your scalp pliant and moist.

If you are not well physically, or if you are upset emotionally, your hair becomes dull and lifeless - it will begin to fall out, and your hair will become waxy with the overproduction of your traumatised sebaceous glands.

If your hair is thinning or you are experiencing baldness and it seems abnormal either because you are young or female, it is more than likely that stress is the culprit of hair loss.  Your hair is one of the first places your body shows distress. Illness, medication and imbalances in nutrition all show up in you hair and scalp.

Usually, it is not mild job or life stress that triggers hair loss, more likely it is extremely serious stress to the body that causes hair to stop growing and fall out. These types of stress can be initiated by some types of medications, diabetes, thyroid disorders and even extreme emotional stress, but also can be caused by commonplace life events like childbirth, miscarriage and surgery.

Any major change in our lives can be reflected in the condition of our hair, scalp and skin.  We reflect our health and well-being in the condition of our hair and scalp.

But how does stress actually effect hair loss? Well hair grows in repeating cycles. The active growth phase lasts around two years and is followed by a resting phase that spans three months, after which the hair falls from the scalp. Normally, every strand of hair in your head is at a different point in this cycle, so the shedding is barely noticeable: a few strands in the shower drain, some more on your brush, a hair or two on your pillow. A normal head sheds at most 100 strands of hair a day.

However, when the body undergoes extreme stress, as much as 70 percent of your hair can prematurely enter the resting phase. Three months later, these hairs begin to fall out, causing noticeable hair loss.

The person will not become completely bald and the thinning will be fairly unnoticeable. However, it is this three month delay and the fact that the trigger seems so unrelated that causes confusion on the part of the patient concerned about hair loss.

Fortunately, in most cases hair will begin to grow back within six months. However, some people may face further periods of severe stress that may trigger the whole process to being again cause more hair loss resulting in a more long-term problem.

What Causes Hair Loss

Men and women experience hair loss for similar reasons.

Hormonal Changes

Men, unfortunately, experience a more dramatic, specific pattern of hair loss commonly termed "Male Pattern Baldness." This loss is caused by dihydrotestosterone (DHT).   DHT is a hormone linked with testosterone. DHT binds to receptor sites on the scalp and hair follicles, interacting and interrupting the normal chain of events involved in continual healthy hair growth.

Woman, experience many hormonal changes throughout their lives which can lead to hair loss. In general, women may lose hair after a pregnancy, or during menopause. But it is not limited to just these. Any number of hormonal imbalances can trigger hair loss in women.

Hormonal changes in both men and women can cause hair loss by directly affecting the cells responsible for hair growth or by affecting the level of nutrients and blood flow to the follicle. The hair follicle cannot maintain a healthy growth cycle without proper nutrients and may eventually fall out and die.

Stress

Stress affects the hormone balance and it will transmit signals to the hair follicles.  The hair follicles then undergo a resting stage. Usually it occurs 3 months after the stressful event has occured and it may take 3 months after the stress period has ended for the hair growth to resume. If the stress continues or is repeated the onset of genetic hair loss may worsen existing hair loss.

Supplements

A series of other factors can cause hair loss, including diets, the use of certain bodybuilding supplements, and environmental factors.

Hairstyle

Chemicals used for dying, tinting, bleaching, straightening or perms can cause hair to become damaged and break off if they are overused or used incorrectly. Also using excessive heat either by use of your normal hairdryer, straightners or curling tongs can lead to hair thinning.  Overstating and excessive brushing also can cause hair to fall out if the hair shaft becomes damaged.

SUMMARY: As you can see there are many factors that can cause hair loss in both men and women but they all have one underlying theme in common, hair follicles that are affected by hormonal "clogging" agents and poor blood and nutrient circulation are less likely to experience a healthy growth cycle.

What is DHT?

Dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, is the leading cause of hair loss.  Whilst we know what the leading cause of hair loss is, unfortunately there is no miracle cure to completely block its effects and solve the problem of hair loss forever.

DHT is a hormone. DHT is directly related to and affected by the level of testosterone in the bloodstream. DHT blocks the growth of hair in men and is the cause of most baldness. And even though this is a male hormone, women also have a small amount that runs through their blood, some higher than others. When a female inherits hair follicles that are supersensitive to DHT, they start to lose hair just like men do.

The most important structure of a hair follicle is the dermal papilla, which is responsible for hair growth. DHT cause the hair follicle to shrink and restricts the follicles ability to produce hair growth. This is how DHT is responsible for about 95% of hair loss. In addition to all this, DHT tends to create a wax like substance around the hair roots and it is this accumulation of DHT in the hair follicles and roots that gives rise to male and female pattern hair loss.

DHT is responsible for more than just hair loss in males as well. It plays a major role in the growth of facial hair, the deepening of the voice during puberty, sex drive, and muscle growth. Because of the important role it plays in helping men look and act like men, the hormone cannot be completely blocked or eliminated in the body.

The production of DHT in the scalp is the primary problem for men and women experiencing hair loss, which means that it is actually possible to have plenty of DHT to keep your body in balance, while at the same time virtually eliminating hair loss as a problem.