Hello guys, how are you? Those who follow us on BodyCarre.com have known for a long time we have also written about hair loss . For those who have inherited the problem of baldness, you can find relevant information in that post or exchange ideas with other people with the same problem, we have also made a mega article with tips 65 causes of hair loss , which if you have doubts you should look at FOREVER.
Baldness is a form of alopecia – hair loss without replacement – that progresses gradually and progressively if not treated immediately.
The main cause is genetic, when parents or grandparents, especially men, are bald. The male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) present in the scalp is the main factor that causes hair loss. The sebum containing the male hormone, accumulated on the scalp, clogs the pores and causes malnutrition of the hair roots.
Alopecia Areata
Another cause of baldness is an autoimmune disease known as alopecia areata . They are small, rounded areas that are completely hairless. Usually the fall is limited to only these areas, there is no complete loss.
The cause of alopecia areata is still unknown , but several factors can contribute to its development, such as thyroid diseases, genetic inheritance, exposure to chemicals, cases of emotional background, menopausal periods, poor diet and problems like seborrheic dermatitis.
Alopecia can be congenital (present from the birth of the person) or acquired , and the latter has two main forms:
- Scarring : there is inflammation and loss of hair follicles. It can be caused by skin diseases, fungal infections (mycoses), bacterial infections, or burns.
- Non- scarring : hairs are absent, but hair follicles are preserved, which explains the reversible nature of this type of alopecia. Skin diseases are the most common causes of non-scarring alopecia and include telogen effluvium, androgenic alopecia, and alopecia areata.
If you want more complete information about alopecia areata , you can read our article about it where we explain everything you need to know to identify it, treatments, etc.
Male androgenic alopecia
Male pattern baldness can be caused by a genetically inherited sensitivity to a naturally occurring hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) . A natural enzyme in the body, called 5-alpha-reductase, converts the hormone testosterone into DHT. Men with androgenic alopecia have very high levels of DHT .
This condition begins with thinning of the hair at the temples; then the growth phase is reduced until some areas are completely hairless.
More information on male androgenic alopecia.
Female androgenic alopecia
Female pattern alopecia is the result of decreased estrogen (female hormone), which generally inhibits the effect of hair loss caused by testosterone.
Baldness in women can be explained by a “high sensitivity” of the hormone receptors in the hair to male hormones.
Androgenic alopecia is a progressive disease that, if left untreated, tends to get worse over time. The rate of progression depends on factors unique to each person, such as family history and the presence or absence of hormonal disorders.
The hair of women with alopecia usually begins to thin out on the front and top of the head . At first, only fine, fragile and brittle hair is noticeable, with low volume and slow growth. Then a more diffuse thinning of the hair begins to be perceived. Finally, a certain “transparency” of the hair is observed, allowing the contour of the head to be seen through the hair.
Although there is no effective way to guarantee 100% success in curing baldness, there are several measures that can be taken to control it and stop its progression, avoiding total hair loss . The earlier the problem is detected, the better the results. The goals of androgenic alopecia treatment are:
- The delay of rarefaction, avoiding excessive fall;
- Increase the volume of hair on the scalp;
- Thickening of existing hairs.
More information on female androgenic alopecia.
Tips for treating hereditary baldness
- Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The adoption of a diet rich in amino acids and proteins (copper, iron, zinc, flaxseed oil and B complex), in addition to physical exercise, contribute to good hair nutrition and irrigation of the scalp. Here are 19 tips for healthy eating.
- Clean the scalp . Washings should be frequent, using suitable shampoos with mild, pH-neutral and salt-free formulas, to remove dirt and excess sebum without changing the pH of the scalp. More information about the scalp and how to treat it.
- Get massages . Having the habit of massaging the scalp helps to activate circulation. The massage should begin at the front of the head and temples, continuing through the neck and ending at the upper skull. This massage, in addition to activating circulation, also helps the absorption of hair lotions.
- Try lymphatic drainage massages . These sessions help to activate the metabolism of the scalp and reactivate the hair follicles. They also aid in relaxation, which reduces the effect of the hormones that cause hair loss.
- Try contraceptives. In cases of female androgenic alopecia of hereditary origin , it is useful to use contraceptives that contain cyproterone acetate. This substance inhibits the influence of androgens (male hormones) and reduces the excessive function of the sebaceous glands, responsible for most cases of hair loss by producing seborrhea. The cyproterone acetate can be found in contraceptive Yasmin as Diane 35. In the case of Diane 35, the loss begins to improve after the third month of treatment.
Key medications for hereditary baldness
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a hair lotion for hair loss problems related to baldness problems. This product helps to revitalize the hair root, normalizing the follicle cycle and prolonging the anagen or growth phase. It also serves to stimulate the vascularization of the scalp area that allows oxygenation.
Minoxidil lotion is normally found in concentrations of 5% to 10%. Recent studies have shown that the 5% concentration is the most effective , in both men and women.
It is recommended to distribute 1 ml of the product in each application whenever you dry your hair. It is important that you keep in mind that the product should be applied to the scalp, not the hair. It must be absorbed through the pores to act at the root.
Minoxidil acts on living follicles, since the “dead” follicles do not recover anymore. No medicine will make hair grow in a totally affected area . Only hair transplantation can fill this empty space. In this procedure, the donor’s follicles are placed in the bald area.
Treatment should be continued forever as once stopped, baldness will return to its pre-treatment state in about two months.
More information about minoxidil.
HOW DOES MINOXIDIL WORK? WHAT IS ITS EFFICIENCY? WHAT ARE ITS SIDE EFFECTS?
Minoxidil, a drug for peripheral vaso-dilation initially used as an antihypertensive (Lonitem), is currently one of the main drugs used in androgenic alopecia, because it stimulates the growth of telogen effluvium . It is a vasodilator that acts on the vessels of the scalp and increases the local irrigation of the hair follicles.
It can be used by men and women in a concentration of 5% to 10%, twice a day. Its side effects are observed at the level of the cardiovascular system , especially in the change in blood pressure. The action of the drug occurs only during use.
The action is mainly in the parietal region of the scalp or crown, stabilizing baldness, delaying its development and stimulating weak or thin hair (fleece), so that it becomes thicker hair during the early stage of alopecia .
Finasteride
Finasteride treats mild to moderate androgenic alopecia. It is a specific inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase , the enzyme responsible for hair loss.
Finasteride has been shown to result in 60% lower DHT levels in the scalp . It has no affinity for the androgen receptor and therefore does not interfere with the action of testosterone. This is why it has no other effects of steroids.
Treatment for androgenic alopecia is administered in a daily dose of 1 mg orally.
Finasteride, however, is not approved for use in women as abnormalities of the external genitalia of male fetuses may occur during pregnancy.
Kathie Sand always saw the world of beauty as the terrain on which to build her professional career, a goal that was clear to her when she was only 15 years old. Her great concern to expand knowledge led her to settle in Paris where she studied hand in hand with the best beauty professionals and with the most advanced techniques for skin care.
