Discovering the Head Scratching Truth Behind the Problems of Hair Loss diagnosis
Salon Magazine - Hair Loss Awareness Week
Jan 2011 For those who are prone to hair loss, within these genetically
programmed hair follicles the male hormone ‘testosterone’ is
converted into the androgen ‘Dihydrotestosterone’, or ‘DHT’, by an
enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. DHT retards the hair follicle over
every hair cycle that particular hair follicle completes, so each
new hair which is affected is that little bit smaller and grows for
less time than the previous one.
Consultant Trichologist Iain Sallis is the only hospital-based
trichologist in the UK with seven clinics spanning the country.
Treating symptoms and problems such as male and female pattern hair
loss, thinning hair, alopecia and many types of scalp conditions,
trichologists are hair scientists who work to try and understand the
underlying problems causing hair and scalp issues.
1.) Damaged Hair (Damage caused by heated appliances
(straighteners / curling tongs / hairdryers)
The thing you need to remember about hair is that it is dead! No
nerve endings, no blood vessels, so it cannot repair itself, once it
has been damaged the only thing you can do to use a hair products
too possibly make it feel a bit better or cut the damage out.
The main culprit for hair damage these days must be over use of
heated appliances Straightening irons are a major culprit in todays
quick styling world, the hair is not built to withstand such intense
heat, some straighteners are over 220°C which is way beyond what it
can withstand!
The
hair becomes dry and dull and it starts fraying at the ends of the
hair and fracturing up the hair shaft! The only way for you to make
it look better on a day to day basis is to (...yup you guessed
it...) use straightening irons on it again, so the hair breakage
cycle continues.
So what can you do to prevent this exploding hair?
Keep your straighteners below 180°C and dry off the hair with a hair
dryer until you hair is totally dry.
Keep some distance between your hair and the hairdryer nozzle; don’t
be tempted into placing it directly onto the hair to speed thing up.
ALWAYS use good moisturising products and care for your hair in the
way you care for your skin, then you won’t go wrong and your hair
will thank you for it!
2.) Male Pattern Baldness
What’s the cause?
There are a number of different causes of male hair loss, but a
condition inherited from either one or both parents is the cause of
over 90% of all hair loss in men. It is quickly recognisable because
the loss results in a familiar pattern at the crown, front or the
entire top of the head. The back and sides are left unaffected. It
is called 'Male Pattern Baldness' ' or by its medical name 'Androgenetic
Alopecia' as this can affect both men AND women.
The science behind the loss?
This in turn leads to the slow
retardation seen in male pattern hair loss and ultimately the
atypical horseshoe looking baldness seen in the most extreme
cases. What is not written in stone is ‘how far’ you will go,
your heritage will give you an indication but it is not a ‘set in
stone’ blue print for your own hair thinning!
The Facts!
Male Pattern hair loss is the cause of hair thinning or loss in 90%
of men.
70% of men will experience Male Pattern Balding before the age of
65.
Male Pattern Balding only affects the top, crown and upper sides of
the head.
If you are loosing hair from your entire scalp, there may be another
reason.
Men do not suffer Male Pattern Balding before puberty.
Male Pattern Balding is not caused by poor scalp circulation.
Male Pattern Balding is caused by dominant genes inherited from
either or both parents, but if you are a man your hair loss genetics
to tend to ‘lean’ towards your paternal side.
There are effective treatments available for Male Pattern Balding if
treated while adequate hair still remains.
Other causes of male hair loss include:
Mineral deficiencies
Under active thyroid
Fungal scalp infection
Some prescribed medicines
3.) Trichotillamania
Trichotillamania is the habitual psychological disorder, which is
defined where a person pulls his or her own hair out! This is more
common than people think (and can be seen in the animal kingdom too)
hair twiddles and constant strokers are all mild versions of the
same thing, as is ‘Trichophagia’ which is the habitual eating of
hair!
Trichotillamania is actually classed in the same category as
obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD) and self harmers, The severity
can be varied between severe (full or partial head plucked) or mild
(one place in particular, ends of the hair or eyebrows/eyelashes).
You will usually find that suffers repetitively pluck their hair in
times of stress or as a comforter the same way babies sometimes play
with their mother’s hair whilst falling asleep in their arms.
The main problem of this is that most people who suffer from it do
not know that they are doing it (it’s so habitual) or they are in
total denial that they do it.
This is not a hair problems per-say; there is nothing wrong with the
hair! The hair loss is usually patchy and irregular, and
characterized by broken hairs of varying length. Within the patches,
hair loss is not complete. As long as the hair trauma was not severe
or chronic enough to cause scarring, the hair will re-grow when the
trauma is stopped.
The best thing to do if you are concerned that you or a loved one is
suffering from Trichotillamania is to speak with their GP, who
should then arrange suitable counselling or a cognitive therapist to
deal with this problem.
Sciatrical Alopecia:
is one where there is scarring present or there has been a
disease/disorder which has caused scarring.
Unlike the usual ‘alopecia’ which we have spoken about (areata
etc..), Sciatrical alopecia will cause the destruction of the hair
follicle completely as so cause permanent hair loss, the following
are the usual problems which cause this.
Folliculitis declavans: It’s National Hair
Loss Awareness Week from January 31st to February6th2011. Despite
the fact that many people suffer from variousdifferent kindsof hair
loss throughout their life, very little is still known about
theconditions and a certain taboo is still felt towards these
problems. For many people, their hair is their crowning glory and hair loss
can betraumatic and embarrassing. To contact Iain or find out more on hair loss please contact: Visit: www.hairmedic.co.uk Call: 0845 6449384 Email: info@hairmedic.co.uk
Is characterised by redness and swelling and pustules around the
hair follicle (folliculitis) that leads to destruction of the
follicle and consequent permanent hair loss. Folliculitis declavans
is one cause of cicatricial alopecia (baldness with scarring) and is
sometimes known as tufted folliculitis.
Folliculitis declavans affects both men and women and may start
first during adolescence or at any time in adult life. The exact
cause is unknown. In most cases Staphylococcus aureus can be
isolated from the pustules but the role of the bacteria is not
clear.
Signs and symptoms?
Any hairy region may be involved. It is usually confined to the
scalp but can involve other sites including the beard, underarm and
pubic hair. There are usually round or oval patches of hair loss in
which there are pustules surrounding the hair follicles.
Characteristically, several or many hairs can be seen coming out of
a single follicle, so the scalp looks "tufted" like a toothbrush.
Eventually the hairs are shed as the follicle is completely
destroyed and leaves behind a scar.
Usually there are no symptoms but sometimes the affected area may be
itchy. The disease may remain limited to a few small patches or may
progress over time causing extensive hair loss.
Lichen planus (planopilaris)
It is thought to be due to an abnormal immune reaction provoked by a
viral infection (such as hepatitis C) or a drug. Inflammatory cells
seem to mistake the skin cells as foreign and attack them.
Lichen planus may cause a small number of skin lesions or less often
affect a wide area of the skin and mucous membranes.
Clinical features
Follicular lichen planus, also known as lichen planopilaris, results
in tiny red spiny papules around a cluster of hairs. Rarely,
blistering occurs in the lesions. Permanently bald patches may
develop. Sometimes no follicular scaling or inflammation is present
but bald areas of scarring slowly appear, often looking rather like
footprints in the snow. This is known as ‘pseudopelade’.
Frontal fibrosing alopecia is thought to be a limited form of lichen
planopilaris.
Frontal fibrosing alopecia
Frontal fibrosing alopecia has been described only recently and is
quite uncommon. Its name reflects hair loss and scarring in the
frontal region of the scalp.
What are its features?
Frontal fibrosing alopecia usually affects post-menopausal women
over the age of 50. It is characterised by hair loss on the front
and sides of the scalp. The skin in the affected area usually looks
normal but may be pale or mildly scarred. There may be mild redness
around the hair follicles at the margins.
The hair slowly retreats backward, to give an (Queen Elizabeth I)
type of hair line, the skin in the receded area is smooth and shiny,
and no follicles are present.
Don’t ignore the signs! Look out for hair loss signals!
The most obvious markers are:
You notice your ponytail getting thinner.
You can see your scalp through your hair.
Your hair is acting ‘frizzy’ or ‘flyaway’
These are all markers of diffuse hair loss conditions that if left
untreated may lead to excessive thinning hair in later life.
Diffuse hair loss is very common and can be for the following
reasons;
Diet: Deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals are a main
cause, but only if there is a medical deficiency in them...just
popping any type of vitamin pills just won’t work!
Medication: Certain types of long term medication may have a bad
effect on hair.
Underlying illness: Anaemia, Thyroid disorders, hormonal problems
are all bad news!
Severe stress: Bereavement, Divorce, life changing moments...not the
small day to day things!
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