Alopecia, another name for hair loss, is a condition brought on by a disruption in the body’s cycle of hair growth. Although it can happen anywhere on the body, hair loss typically affects the scalp. So, let’s first understand how hair grows, the causes that stop hair growth, and view the hair loss stages that many of us face today.
Before the actual hair loss
In order to have a better understanding, let’s go back to the start and understand how hair initially grows. There are three stages to the growth cycle of hair. The anagen phase is when hair grows most actively. Years could pass during this phase. The catagen phase is when hair ceases to grow and splits from its follicle, the structure under the skin that keeps hair in place. This phase typically takes 10 days. The follicle rests for two or three months during the telogen phase, after which the hair falls out. As new hair grows in the same follicle, the subsequent anagen phase commences. For most people, it means losing 50 to 100 hairs per day.
Hair may start to fall out faster than it is growing back if this cycle is broken or if a hair follicle is injured. This can cause symptoms like a receding hairline, patchy hair loss, or general thinning of the hair. Although many medical and behavioral conditions can disrupt the growth cycle and cause hair loss, genetics may play a role in hair loss too.
Male and female hair loss patterns and a professional hair care
One of the common hair loss types is Androgenetic Alopecia which results in millions of men and women losing hair. In other words, the term is often referred to as “male pattern loss” or “female pattern loss” which is hereditary and can be treated with medication and surgery. During this, the hair loss treatment is done by specialists who supervise the whole process.
For men, hair loss starts any time after they hit puberty and develops over time, including years and even decades. Typically, the male pattern loss starts above the temples and keeps developing around the perimeter and the top of the head. Sometimes this results in a hair ring along the hair that is in the bottom of the head. After continually developing, this results in balding for men.
For women, the female pattern loss is expressed by the hair slowly getting thinner without receding the hairline. For many women, this is a natural part of aging, however, hair loss can be noticed after hitting puberty. So, female pattern loss is more bent to the hair getting thinner and the balding cases are rarer.
So, as much as men and women face hair loss caused due to aging, they still can treat it with a professional approach. In many cases, the products prescribed by doctors can be found in an online pharmacy or even your local pharmacy.
What causes hair loss
There are three main reasons why people notice hair loss. The first one being genetics. Conditions such as androgenetic alopecia (as discussed above), or male and female pattern baldness, can start as early as the mid-20s for men and around the 40s for women and are largely influenced by hereditary factors.
Then it comes to the hormones, that are a result of thyroid issues, pregnancy, menopause, and conditions like PCOS. During this, the hair loss can be both temporary and permanent. And lastly, the lifestyle factors that are a major factor when it comes to hair maintenance. Stress, poor nutrition, certain hairstyles, and even medical treatments can provoke hair loss.
The hair loss stages
Typically the hair loss stages can be divided into seven stages. In the first stage, there is no visible hair loss and the hairline is normal. In the second stage, there is a slight recession in the temples, which we can call an adult or mature hairline. In the third stage, there is a noticeable balding and the hairline can resemble an M, U, or V shape. In the fourth stage, there is more severe recession and sparse hair on the vertex. In the fifth stage, we can notice larger bald areas and narrower bands of the remaining hair. In the last two stages, the seventh and eighth, the balding areas are more severe and the fine hair is noticeable only on the sides of the head.
Conclusion
Effective management of hair loss requires knowledge of its causes and stages. Results can be considerably improved by early intervention combined with suitable treatments designed for each patient’s needs. It is advisable to seek professional help from a dermatologist or trichologist for customized treatment plans for individual conditions and stages of hair loss. It is also advisable to quit some lifestyle changes that can provoke hair loss since in many cases a popular combination that results in hair loss is bad habits with genetics.
