Hair Loss (Alopecia)
A little bit of hair loss is normal: we loose up to one hundred hairs each day. The reasons are the differing growth cycles. If you experience excessive hair loss every day, or if the hair loss is limited to a certain area of the scalp, you should find out the reason for that hair loss.
Hair loss caused by hormones
Hormones are the most common reasons for hair loss in men. Receding hairline, high forehead or thick hair, sons will definitely inherit the trait.
The cause of androgenetic (hereditary) hair loss is a hypersensitivity of the hair root to the hormone testosterone. The hair on the back of the head, which often remains and forms the reservoir for hair transplantation, seems to be resistant against hair loss.
Women can also suffer from hormone-related hair loss. Disorders in hormone levels, for example through pregnancy, thyroid disease and menopause can lead to diffuse hair loss.
Hair loss treatments by a plastic surgeon
Medications, shampoos and tinctures may stop the hair loss in some cases, but after discontinuation of the treatment it will progress. In most cases only hair transplantation can lead to a permanent success.
Hair loss types and causes
In order to treat hair loss successfully, it is important to determine the cause and type of the hair loss. In addition to rare special types the most common one are:
- Androgenetic alopecia (hair loss due to genetic predisposition)
This inherited form of hair loss is caused by hypersensitivity of the hair roots to male sex hormones (testosterone). Receding hairlines, tonsures, high forehead are the most common appearances.
- Alopecia areata (circular hair loss)
A disturbance in the immune system is assumed to be the reason for alopecia areata, which causes hair loss in circular areas.
- Diffuse alopecia (diffuse hair loss)
Infections, stress, hormonal imbalance, deficiency symptoms, or side effects of medications: The reasons for diffuse hair loss are numerous. The hair is generally thinner, and in extreme cases the scalp becomes visible.