Hair loss in women: causes and treatments

Trichology (from the Greek “trichos” - hair, “logos” - science) is the science of hair and scalp, which studies the structure and physiology of hair, develops theoretical and practical methods for treating hair and scalp.

In the West, trichology as a separate scientific direction was formed in the middle of the 20th century. Since then, there has been a qualitative breakthrough in its development: from small scattered schools and individual doctors to large associations, centers and institutes for the study of hair. Trichology appeared in Russia later, in the early 1990s. And like any science, with the accumulation of scientific data, it has now acquired an integrated approach to the treatment of trichological diseases.

Reasons for visiting a trichologist

• increased hair loss,
• loss of hair volume,
• dandruff and itching of the scalp.

Signs of hair loss

• after washing your hair, more than 15 hairs fall out;
• a large amount of hair remains on the comb;
• Separate “islands” appear on the head, devoid of hair;
• there may be partial loss of eyelashes and eyebrows;
• itching and flaking of the scalp.

Hair loss often indicates the presence of certain disorders or diseases in the body. To properly deal with the problem of alopecia (baldness), you need to understand the reasons for its occurrence.

Causes of hair loss

• genetic predisposition;
• exposure to harmful chemicals, radiation - hair loss often occurs after chemotherapy for oncology treatment;
• development of autoimmune diseases;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• impaired blood circulation in the scalp and cervical region;
• development of infections, spread of parasites;
• previous operations and injuries;
• poor nutrition or exhausting diets;
• lack of vitamins in the body;
• severe stress, depression;
• long-term use of medications.

The causes of baldness listed above apply to both men and women. However, let's take a closer look at the causes of hair loss in women. Most often, the cause of an unpleasant problem can be changes in a woman’s hormonal levels. Increased hair loss in women often begins a few weeks after giving birth and can last up to several months. This often happens due to increased levels of stress, fatigue, lack of sleep, and decreased protein levels in the body.

During pregnancy itself, hair may also fall out, especially if the expectant mother does not adhere to a balanced diet. Due to nutrient deficiency, baldness occurs, since most of the nutrients and nutrients are spent on maintaining the health of the baby in the womb.

A woman's body over the age of 40 again undergoes hormonal changes as it prepares for menopause. The unstable emotional state of a woman during this period and a decrease in metabolism also affects the condition of the hair follicles, the hair receives insufficient nutrition and weakens.

As for improper hair care: constant use of a hair dryer, curling iron or hair straightener, dyeing with chemicals, etc. only aggravates an existing problem and is unlikely to become the true cause of baldness on its own.

Causes

Oily seborrhea can appear at any age. However, most often this occurs in adolescence and during hormonal imbalances in the body. Baldness is a consequence of chronic seborrhea, which can last for about five years without any serious consequences.

To begin adequate therapy, it is important to identify and eliminate the root cause of sebaceous gland dysfunction. It could be:

• failure of the endocrine system;
• disorders in the autonomic system;
• long-term drug treatment;
• hormonal disorder;
• hereditary predisposition;
• improper metabolism;
• poor nutrition;
• some diseases and complications of diseases.

Before starting treatment for baldness, it is important to conduct a medical examination to identify possible underlying causes.

What is hair loss like?

1. Focal or nested - separate “nests” appear on the head, on which the hair initially thins and then falls out completely. The areas of loss have clear contours. Often this type of alopecia can be observed in men. In women, it is accompanied by loss of eyelashes and eyebrows.
2. Symptomatic or diffuse – hair falls out evenly over the entire head, and the remaining hairs become thinner and thinner. Baldness in this case is a consequence of a serious chronic disease. The loss resolves after a course of treatment for the underlying disease.
3. Androgenic hair loss is a common type of hair loss in men. An irreversible process that leads to complete loss of hair on the head. Baldness begins unexpectedly in the frontal area in men and in the parting area in women. The first signs of androgenic loss are severe thinning of hair and a decrease in its number. If you notice the problem in time and contact a specialist, you can completely stop the alopecia process, but lost hair cannot be returned.
4. Seborrheic – often occurs in women. Seborrhea is a condition of the scalp in which excessive sebum secretion occurs. As a result, a stratum corneum forms on the scalp, which is accompanied by scalp itching, flaking and hair loss. The process of loss in this case is reversible; you just need to cure the cause.
5. Hereditary – hair loss due to genetic predisposition is often accompanied by brittle nails and tooth dystrophy. This is a common cause of baldness in men, but is extremely rare in women.
6. Cicatricial – scars form at the site of severe injury. At this point, hair follicles stop growing for life. Cicatricial baldness can be triggered by previous infectious diseases, burns or injuries.

Characteristic symptoms of seborrhea

Seborrheic dermatitis is characterized by a range of symptoms.

Bold form:

• frizzy, sticky hair;
• greasy shine;
• increased oiliness of facial skin;
• the appearance of redness, ulcers on the face, head and back;
• dandruff;
• seborrheic growths.

Dry form:

• tight, dry skin on which wounds easily form;
• dry hair;
• fragility, weakness of hairs;
• loose dandruff.

In both cases, itching may be present. The patient wants to scratch the skin all the time. Sometimes there is a feeling of soreness on the skin. With severe manifestations, wounds and ulcers that occur when scratching are possible.

Hair loss tests

If you have the first signs of hair loss, start by consulting a trichologist. Using computer diagnostics (trichogram), a specialist will determine the number and diameter of hair, the condition of the skin and sebaceous glands. To determine the cause of alopecia, you may be asked to undergo an examination by other specialists: a gynecologist, an endocrinologist, a neurologist, or a therapist.

The gynecologist will help the woman correct hormonal imbalances. If the cause of hair loss lies in the presence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, you should consult a gastroenterologist.

You will be offered to hand over

• detailed blood test,
• blood for biochemistry,
• detailed urine analysis,
• tests for parasites,
• tests for female sex hormones,
• detailed hair analysis for the presence of toxins,
• hair testing to assess mineral status.

As a result, the doctor will be able to determine the extent of the disease and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Fighting oily seborrhea

If the doctor has determined oily seborrhea, then in terms of nutrition you will need:

• exclude smoked meats and pickles, as well as cakes, sweets, cookies and other sweets;
• do not eat canned and pickled foods, as they provoke itching and deterioration of the skin;
• eat fresh vegetables and fruits;
• eat enough fiber, fish dishes, cereals, meat;
• refuse flour products;
• limit consumption of foods containing animal fat.

Methods for treating hair loss

To treat alopecia, you need to use an integrated approach: massage, medications and vitamin complexes, the use of specialized shampoos and salon procedures. It is important to note that giving up bad habits, a balanced diet and restoring sleep and wakefulness also play a big role in the treatment of hair loss.

Hair loss treatment methods:

• Surgical - Scarring alopecia can be treated with hair follicle transplantation. Many patients cannot afford surgical operations, and for some, operations are not an acceptable solution due to the presence of contraindications.
• Physiotherapy. Medicinal products are applied to the skin and heated using special devices. This is where laser therapy comes into play. The laser stimulates all metabolic processes in the body and hair treatment occurs more actively.
• The injection method improves hair growth, awakens “dormant” hair follicles, eliminates dandruff and fights scalp diseases by injecting a special cocktail into the scalp. The complex of preparations for the procedure contains all the necessary vitamins, microelements, nutrients, beneficial amino acids, etc.
• Therapeutic method is the use of ointments, masks, shampoos, conditioners, and folk remedies.

Women often resort to home care. But folk remedies cannot cope with the problem of baldness better than professional salon procedures.

Methods of therapy

With seborrheic dermatitis, hair can fall out both on the entire surface of the head and in certain areas (on the back of the head, temples, frontal part). It is better to prevent the problem from developing; it is very important to intervene at an early stage. The treatment is simple. However, the process is very lengthy and requires patience, an integrated approach and consistency. Work is being carried out in a number of areas:

1. organization of proper nutrition;
2. use of special hair care products;
3. physiotherapy;
4. drug treatment.

Classic alopecia. Androgenetic (male) and diffuse (female) alopecia

These are the two most common situations in medical practice. The cause of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is most often genetics, followed by provoking factors: stress, lack of microelements, vitamins, trichotoxic drugs, etc. Therefore, more often we call AGA not a disease, but a pathological condition.

What is characteristic of the female type of hair loss is that, in addition to genetics, hormonal problems (usually sex hormones) are in second place, and in this case, alopecia can often occur after various diseases.

Now let's look at the effect of provoking factors in more detail.

Atypical types of hair loss

The so-called idiopathic alopecia (that is, with an unknown cause) includes focal forms. They are characterized by the formation of areas devoid of hair. There are single, multiple, subtotal, total and universal forms of alopecia. In a one-time, first case, the hairline often recovers on its own without treatment within a year (with the exception of the universal form).

The cicatricial form (Broca's pseudopelade) is also known. In this case, a transplant is indicated; the treatment is ineffective, since the root is replaced by connective tissue, that is, in fact, there is nothing to treat.

Symptoms of androgenetic alopecia in women

The success of treatment for androgenetic alopecia in women is closely related to the extent of the damage. Doctors at the HFE Clinic recommend contacting them at the first signs of the disease, and in the case of hereditary baldness, in advance, before hair begins to fall out quickly. But an important feature of this type of disease is its inconspicuous onset. Many patients turn to doctors at the moment when the bald spot is clearly visible and only a transplant can help. The first signs are missed - women consider the large number of hairs remaining on the comb to be a seasonal phenomenon or explain it as improper care.

The process of the appearance of noticeable bald spots takes a long time: several years may pass from the onset of the disease to the moment when panic begins. But there are several symptoms that show that the pathology has already begun and it’s time to see a doctor:

• hair becomes thin, hair volume is lost, strands grow slowly or break off;
• On the parting, thinning of the strands is noticeable. The hairs at the parting site become thin and fluffy, and the parting visually expands. The same thing happens with the strands at the temples;
• Dandruff and dry scalp appear. At the next stage, dandruff disappears, replaced by seborrhea;
• In appearance, the hair becomes less vibrant, brittle, dull, and the strands feel dry to the touch. At the seborrheic stage, the picture changes: the strands always look unkempt, as if they haven’t washed their hair for a long time;
• the structure of the hairs changes. Strong long hair is replaced with short, fluff-like strands.

The development of the disease is especially noticeable on the top of the head, at the parting site. First, vellus hairs appear on the parting, through which the scalp is visible, then they fall out, and a bald spot forms. The disease can also affect eyebrows and eyelashes. But on the body and face, on the contrary, unwanted hair may appear.

You should consult a doctor in the first stages of the disease, especially if fortified and strengthening masks and shampoos do not bring results. The sooner the doctor makes a diagnosis, the higher the chance of delaying the visible signs of androgenic alopecia.

Which doctor should I contact for alopecia?

A doctor who deals exclusively with diseases of the scalp is called a trichologist. Trichology is an additional specialization of dermatology-cosmetology, so if such a specialist is not available (and in small towns and villages this is a common problem), you can seek advice from a dermatologist.

In addition, the following can provide significant assistance with hair problems:

• therapist;
• endocrinologist;
• gynecologist;
• andrologist;
• immunologist;
• rheumatologist;
• gastroenterologist

Important! Treating hair loss takes time. If the problem is not too serious and advanced, then it will take about three months for the improvement in the condition of the hair to become noticeable. (About a month to start the process of normal keratogenesis in the bulb; another month for the hair to grow to the surface of the skin and become noticeable; and another month for it to enter the tangible volume of curls.) In difficult cases, it may take six months to get results , and a year of continuous work between the patient and the specialist.

When to sound the alarm

Normally, a person loses up to 300 hairs per day, depending on the type and total amount of hair. They cannot not fall out at all, since this is a natural process - a new hair begins to grow in place of the lost hair.

You should sound the alarm if:

• Hair comes out in clumps when combing, washing or simply running your hand over it
• There is thinning in the area of ​​the temples, parting or crown
• Bald spots appeared on the head - areas of baldness
• Hair loss associated with dandruff or dermatitis
• Significant hair thinning has begun

Have you noticed these alarming symptoms? See your doctor.