Social pressures to stay thin are primary causes of Anorexia and Bulimia. Many sufferers are persons with low personal esteem.
Excessive shedding of terminal scalp hairs may follow Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa.
Bulimia Nervosa is classified as a mental disorder, in which the patient’s identity and self-esteem are heavily dependent on body weight and body image. Symptoms may present as:
Repeated bouts of compulsive eating during which excessive quantities of foods are consumed within a short period of time followed by compensatory behavior to avoid weight gain. e.g. self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, enemas, fasting and excessive exercise. Bouts may occur several times weekly for many months.
Types of Bulimia:
Those who compensate for binging bouts by self-induced vomiting, or misuse of laxatives or diuretics.
Those who compensate for binging bouts by fasting or exercising excessively.
Who are affected
Males and females. The average age of onset for bulimia is 18 years, but it occurs in children as young as 9 and adults into their mid-40s.
Anorexia and Bulimia each cause serious and potentially fatal physical and psychological problems. Vital functions / organs may suffer serious consequences: e.g. Heart, Endocrine system, Nervous system, Kidneys, Blood etc.
Bulimia can result in death from suicide, starvation, gastric hemorrhaging, or multiple organ failure.
Medication, nutritional therapy and psychotherapy.
Educational and Work stresses.
In Anorexia and Bulimia, the anagen (cyclical growing phase is prematurely terminated by starvation, gastric abnormalities or reduced vital organ performance.
The hair follicles skip the Catogen phase and enter the Telogen and Exogen (loss phases). The resulting excessive hairlosses (telogen effluvium) commence 6-12 weeks later.
The average scalp has 84000 – 145000 hairfollicles. In healthy persons at any given time, approximately 80-90% of scalp follicles are in the hair producing (anagen) phase, with 10-20% in the telogen phase. Normal average daily hair loss is 40-130 hairs.
In Telogen Effluvium, the anagen and telogen ratios change dramatically. Statistics are unreliable. The author has observed patients loosing all but the shortest hairs within 6-12 weeks of the onset.
What can you do to help?
A reputable trichologist is worth consulting. Is there a Society Registered practitioner near you? (see CONSULTANTS)