Female Hair Loss

2009-05-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Reader I found an article in the internet that may help you to understand about "Female Hair Loss"

How does hair grow and should it recycle?

A single hair follicle grows its hair strand over a period of four to six years (the anagen phase). It then rests for two to four months (the telogen phase), after which it loses the “old” hair as a new hair shaft grows and pushes out its predecessor. When the new hair grows in, it does so at a rate of approximately half an inch per month. At any time, 10 percent of your hair is in the telogen phase and 90 percent is in the anagen phase.

What causes a change in this hair loss/ hair growth process?

If lots of hair begins to fall out throughout the scalp, it’s obviously due to a change in the normal hair cycle: either a short anagen phase or an increase in the number of follicles that enter the telogen phase. When the majority of hair follicles “go telogen” it’s called telogen effluvium or stress alopecia. A shock to the body’s system, which stresses the hair follicles, is often to blame for this change in cyclical hair events. Two to three months after the stressor hits, up to 70 percent of hairs can enter the telogen phase and commence a massive “fall out”. There are a number of shocks that are known to cause this. They include:

A sudden hormone change (usually a drop in hormone levels)

After the birth of a baby ( delivery of the placenta causes the levels of pregnancy hormones to plummet)

Discontinuing birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy

High fever

Acute trauma (surgery, physical injury or psychological trauma)

Severe dieting ( inadequate protein and iron intake)

Underactive or overactive thyroid

Diseases such as diabetes and lupus

Chemotherapy

Medications: These include retinoids, blood pressure medication, anti-depressants, certain birth control pills and even NSAID’s (including Ibuprofen)

Burns or radiation therapy

Note with stress alopecia, the loss over the scalp is general, not patchy and hair loss on other parts of the body can also occur. You and your doctor may be able to ascertain if your hair loss falls in the category of stress alopecia by simply running your fingers through your hair and seeing if the many hairs that are shed have clubbed shafts.

Are there other tests that should be done to diagnose telogen effluvium?

Your doctor may want to check your iron and thyroid levels, but in most cases, your history is the most important factor for diagnosis.

What is the therapy for this type of hair loss?

Mostly reassurance. If the loss is due to a birth, illness, or a self-limited problem, it will stop and will not progress to baldness. New hair shafts will come in and in a few months the hair loss will diminish. Eventually the hair will grow back and become normal. Obviously if the loss was due to a medication, the drug should be stopped. (Note: If it was due to chemotherapy the course should be completed and hair growth will subsequently return.)

If iron levels are low, iron should be supplemented (after making sure that the cause was not abnormal bleeding, which could be a sign of a serious disorder), and if the thyroid level is “off,” this should be treated.

Can dyes, hair treatment, or certain hairstyles cause hair loss?

Pulling the hair tightly in a ponytail and the repeated traction used for hair extensions and tight braiding can cause some hair loss, especially in the temple area. This is called traction alopecia. If not corrected, the hair follicle may be permanently damaged. Chemicals that dye, bleach, straighten or perm the hair can also cause the shaft to break off, but once the chemical insult has stopped, the root portion should grow back.

What if patches of hair are coming out?

This may be due to a condition called alopecia areata. This is thought to be an autoimmune disease in which antibodies attack the hair follicles and hair falls out in small, round patches. In some individuals, this can progress to total loss of hair on the head (alopecia areata totalis), or even complete loss of hair on the head, face (eyebrows, eyelashes) and body (pubic and underarm hair). The latter rare condition is called alopecia areata universalis.

What causes alopecia areata?

White blood cells attack cells in the hair follicles that make the hair, the follicle becomes small and hair production is diminished. However, the stem cells that continually supply the follicle with new cells don’t seem to be targeted, so the follicle does have a potential to regrow hair. Although it’s not clear why this occurs, there is some thought that it has a genetic basis, making individuals from the same family predisposed to developing this disease. There also may be some sort of trigger that initially causes the onset of hair loss, perhaps a virus or an environment contaminant.

There are currently about four million Americans of both sexes and all ages and ethnic backgrounds who suffer from alopecia areata. One in five individuals with this disease has a family member who has had it as well.

Alopecia areata also seems to occur in family members who have had other autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, systemic lupus, pernicious anemia or Addison’s disease. Those who develop alopecia areata have been found to have a higher occurrence of thyroid disease, eczema, nasal allergies and asthma.

If I develop this type of hair loss, will it grow back?

In general, there is a very good chance that the hair will grow back, but it can also fall out again. There’s no way of predicting the ultimate course. Some individuals lose just a few patches of hair, it grows back and the condition doesn’t recur. Others continue to lose and regrow hair for years and still others lose all the hair on their head, face and body; rarely this is permanent.

How is this treated?

There are a number of therapies that are currently being used (when there are multiple therapies, it generally means that no one is going to be absolutely effective). They include:

Corticoid steroids: These are cortisone types of anti-inflammatory drugs that help to suppress the immune system; they can be given as a pill, topical ointment or as a local injection, directly into the hairless patches on the scalp.
Minoxidil 5%: (known under the brand name of Rogaine) This promotes hair growth in several conditions in which the hair follicles are small and not growing to their full potential. It needs to be used on a daily basis. New hair growth can appear in about 12 weeks, however if use of the drug stops, the new hair may fall out.
Anthralin (Psoriatic): This is a tar like substance that is used to treat psoriasis; it changes the immune function in the affected skin. If it does work, new hair growth is seen in eight to twelve weeks. It is often used in combination with other medications.

Sulfasalazin: This sulfa drug is used to treat autoimmune disorders.

Topical sensitizers: These, when applied to the scalp, cause an allergic reaction that leads to itching and scaling, but also stimulate the hair follicles and can cause hair growth. Again, results are only seen after long-term use, usually three to twelve months.
Photo chemotherapy: This too is used for psoriasis. It has helped about half those treated, but requires special equipment and treatment two to three times a week. There are concerns that it could increase risk of skin cancer.

Are there other causes for “patchy hair loss”?

Yes, it can be caused by fungal infections such as ringworm and even syphilis.

What about genetic or inherited hair loss?

We all know that men can become bald as they get older. As a matter of fact, inherited or male pattern baldness occurs in 25 percent of men by 30 and two-thirds are bald or balding by the time they reach 60. This male pattern baldness usually occurs in the hairline and around the crown. It continues until there is just a ring of hair along the side. The male pattern of balding occurs from the effects of testosterone, after it is converted to the more potent DHT (which is the only form that will attach to receptors on the hair follicle). Men who tend to male pattern balding don’t have more testosterone; they simply have an increased conversion of testosterone to DHT in the scalp.(Note: The drug that helps prevent this conversion is called Finasteride, and is used to treat this form of baldness. It Is For Man Only and has not been shown to be effective in women. As a matter of fact, there is concern about a woman being exposed to Finasteride, especially during her reproductive years, since it could cause fetal malformations.)

Women, however, do develop thinner hair as they get older and often this is accompanied by gradual hair loss. It occurs over the top and sides of the head, not in the crown. Once more, it is felt that genetics play a role and it is far more likely to occur if relatives on either side of their family has experienced balding as they age.

What therapies target this hair thinning and loss?

The drug Minoxidil, which was first developed to treat high blood pressure, was found to have a side effect of thickening hair growth in some of those treated. It’s now available over the counter as a lotion applied to the scalp. No one quite knows how it works, but it seems to be effective in about 20 percent of women who develop diffused hair loss or thinning, especially if they are younger when they begin to lose their hair. The disadvantage is that if daily use is stopped, the new hair will fall out.

There are also surgical techniques for restoring hair. The two main options are:

Hair transplantation: Minute punch holes of skin containing a few follicles of hair are taken from elsewhere in the body or the back of the head where there is more hair, and implanted into the thinning areas. Because women are more likely to have overall loss of hair on their scalp, this technique may be less successful for them than it has been for men.
Scalp reduction: Devices are inserted in the skin to stretch the area of scalp that still has hair and the bald areas are removed. Flaps of scalp with hair can also be moved around the head.

What about all those so-called wonder products that are advertised on the Internet?

Beware if they say they are going to quickly and easily cure female pattern hair loss. They probably won’t. You are providing money for the individuals who are using the Internet to promote their product, and there’s a good chance the product will not promote your hair growth.

"Female Hair Loss"

Source:msnbc.msn.com

By Dr. Judith Reichman

Five Effective Hair Loss Solutions

2009-02-08T09:48:00.000-08:00

1) Right type of hair shampoos, conditioners and oils

You need to know your hair type and use the right type of shampoos, conditioners and oils to maintain your hair. If you do not know your hair type, consult an expert. They should be able to tell you and advise you on what type of shampoo, conditioner and oil that you should use. Avoid shampoos which have chemicals. These shampoos may do more harm than good to you. You can massage your head with almond oil once or twice a week. Massaging your head with oil will improve blood circulation and make your hair follicles stronger and your hair healthier.

2) Healthy diet

Healthy diet is one of the most common hair loss solutions. You should eat foods which are high in proteins, vitamins and avoid fatty foods . It is also important to drink lots of water daily. This improves blood circulation in your body. Consult your dietician for more guidance on the exact type and amount of food that you should eat.

3) Balanced Lifestyle

Stress is another big cause. Hence, another effective hair loss solution is balanced lifestyle. This means no prolonged overtime work, decent rest and recreation and healthy diet.

4) Medications

Some people may opt for medications as their hair loss solution. If you planned to take this route, make sure you consult your doctor before doing so. Some over the counter medications may have harmful side effects. The alternative would be herbal supplements which are natural and without addictives.

5) Hair Replacement Surgery

This hair loss solution is getting more and more popular. In the case of surgery, artificial hair is often transplanted in those areas of your scalp where there is no natural growth. Once the surgery is completed, you can wash and comb your hair just as you would do with natural hair.

The hair loss solutions above have varying degree of effectiveness. You would need to use a combination of them to succeed in fighting the disease. Always consult your doctor or an expert for your hair loss solution plan.

About Hair Loss

2008-10-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

Everyone deals with hair loss differently. For some it's just a fact of life, for others it's a source of anxiety and depression.

I can smell why you're visiting this website. Don't worry, there are millions out there with the same problem as yours. It's obvious that you're frustrated from baldness. Whatever they say, having hair or not matters a lot. You're basically judged by your appearance and no doubt hair plays a vital role on how you look like.

Stats show that hair loss affects about 35 million men and 21 million women in the United States alone. 40% of men have noticeable hair loss by age 35 and 65% by age 60.

About 35 million women in the US have some degree of loss due to genetics and this

is not counting those women that have hair loss due to stress, hormonal changes,

and changes due to pregnancy

More widespread than was once believed, it is estimated that over 25 million

American women suffer the effects of female hair loss and the emotional distress it

causes

Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is an immune disease that affects almost 2% of the population in

the US. This type of hair loss appears in various degrees of severity from small,

round patches of hair loss that regrow without medical treatment to chronic,

extensive hair loss that can involve the loss of all hair on the scalp or body

hair. This type of hair loss affects both genders equally and can occur at any age,

although it occurs most often in children and young adults.

Treatment of this type of hair loss includes immunomodulating therapies such as

glucocorticoids, topical immunotherapy, or anthralin, or biologic-responce

modifiers such as Minoxidil. The choice of treatment depends on the patient's age,

as well as the extent of hair loss. Milder cases often see a greater improvement

with treatment than severe cases. In no case does treatment restore full hair in

patients with 100% scalp or body hair loss.

There are currently about four million Americans of both sexes and all ages and

ethnic backgrounds who suffer from alopecia areata. One in five individuals with

this disease has a family member who has had it as well.
By some estimates, 50% of all women in the United States will suffer from some form

of hair loss by the age of 50. Similar to men, in more than 90% of cases, the cause

of hair loss in women is due to androgenic alopecia, or female pattern baldness

Hair Replacement

2008-10-06T10:11:00.000-07:00

Hair replacement candidates should have some noticeable hair loss with healthy hair growth at the back and sides of the head to serve as doner areas.

Hair loss is primarily caused by a combination of aging, a change in hormones, and a family history of baldness. As a rule, the earlier hair loss begins, the more severe the baldness will become. Hair loss can also be caused by burns or trauma, in which case hair replacement surgery is considered a reconstructive treatment, and may be covered by health insurance.

A tube-like instrument punches round gafts from the donor site to be placed in the area where hair replacement is desired.

If you and your doctor have determined that hair transplants are the best option for you, you can feel comfortable knowing that board-certified plastic surgeons have been successfully performing this type of procedure for more than thirty years.

A tissue expander causes the skin of hair-bearing scalp to gradually expand.

If you're considering hair replacement surgery, this article will give you a basic understanding of the variety of procedures involved. It can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on your individual circumstances. Ask your surgeon if there is anything you don't understand about the procedure you plan to have.

When the skin beneath the hair has stretched enough, it is surgically placed over the bald area.

The Truth About Hair Loss

During flap surgery, a section of bald scalp is cut out and a flap of hair-bearing skin is sewn into its place.

Baldness is often blamed on poor circulation to the scalp, vitamin deficiencies, dandruff, and even excessive hat-wearing. All of these theories have been disproved. It's also untrue that hair loss can be determined by looking at your maternal grandfather, or that 40-year-old men who haven't lost their hair will never lose it.

The patterns used in scalp reduction vary widely, yet all meet the goal of bringing hair and scalp together to cover bald areas.

The results of hair replacement surgery can enhance your appearance and self-confidence.

The Best Candidates for Hair Replacement

Hair replacement surgery can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but the results won't necessarily match your ideal. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.

It's important to understand that all hair replacement techniques use your existing hair. The goal of surgery is to find the most efficient uses for existing hair.

Hair replacement candidates must have healthy hair growth at the back and sides of the head to serve as donor areas. Donor areas are the places on the head from which grafts and flaps are taken. Other factors, such as hair color, texture and waviness or curliness may also affect the cosmetic result. There are a number of techniques used in hair replacement surgery. Sometimes, two or more techniques are used to achieve the best results.

Transplant techniques, such as punch grafts, mini-grafts, micro-grafts, slit grafts, and strip grafts are generally performed on patients who desire a more modest change in hair fullness. Flaps, tissue-expansion and scalp-reduction are procedures that are usually more appropriate for patients who desire a more dramatic change.

Remember, there are limits to what can be accomplished. An individual with very little hair might not be advised to undergo hair replacement surgery.

Hair Loss in Women

Some doctors estimate that one in five women will experience some degree of hair loss usually caused by aging, illness, or hormonal changes after menopause. Women tend to experience a subtle thinning all over the scalp rather than losing hair in patches as is common in men. To correct the problem, some women choose to wear a wig or hair extensions. Others have had some success using a topical prescriptive drug. The effectiveness of such drugs varies in some patients and simply prevents further hair loss without stimulating any appreciable new growth. Hair replacement surgery may be the answer for those who feel uncomfortable with either of these options.

Because mini-grafts are usually the surgical treatment of choice for filling-in thinning areas, good candidates for this procedure should have dense hair growth at the back of the head. Mini-grafts are harvested from this dense area and replanted in thinning areas to create a fuller look. Occasionally flap and tissue expansion procedures may be used if the individual is judged to be a good candidate.

If you're considering a hair replacement procedure, it's important to understand that you will never have the coverage you had prior to your hair loss, but surgery may camouflage the thin areas and give you more fullness.

All Surgery Carries Some Uncertainty and Risk

Hair replacement surgery is normally safe when performed by a qualified, experienced physician. Still, individuals vary greatly in their physical reactions and healing abilities, and the outcome is never completely predictable.

As in any surgical procedure, infection may occur. Excessive bleeding and/or wide scars, sometimes called "stretch-back" scars caused by tension may result from some scalp-reduction procedures.

In transplant procedures, there is a risk that some of the grafts won't "take." Although it is normal for the hair contained within the plugs to fall out before establishing regrowth in its new location, sometimes the skin plug dies and surgery must be repeated. At times, patients with plug grafts will notice small bumps on the scalp that form at the transplant sites. These areas can usually be camouflaged with surrounding hair.

When hair loss progresses after surgery, an unnatural, "patchy" look may result-especially if the newly-placed hair lies next to patches of hair that continue to thin out. If this happens, additional surgery may be required.

Planning Your Surgery

Hair replacement surgery is an individualized treatment. To make sure that every surgical option is available to you, find a doctor who has experience performing all types of replacement techniques-flaps and tissue expansion as well as transplants. Look elsewhere if your doctor tells you that he or she has perfected one technique that can "do it all."

In your initial consultation, your surgeon will evaluate your hair growth and loss, review your family history of hair loss, and find out if you've had any previous hair replacement surgery. Your surgeon will also ask you about your lifestyle and discuss your expectations and goals for surgery.

Medical conditions that could cause problems during or after surgery, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood-clotting problems, or the tendency to form excessive scars, should also be checked by your doctor. Be sure to tell your surgeon if you smoke or are taking any drugs or medications, especially aspirin or other drugs that affect clotting.

If you decide to have hair replacement surgery, your surgeon will explain anesthesia, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the risks and cost involved. Don't hesitate to ask your doctor any questions.

Make sure you understand your surgeon's plan-which procedures will be used and how long each will take. Ask your doctor to give you an idea of what you will look like after the procedure or, in the case of grafts, after each stage of treatment.

Preparing For Your Surgery

Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking and avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly. If you smoke, it's especially important to stop at least a week or two before surgery; smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin, and can interfere with healing.

You should arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery. Plan to take it easy for a day or two after the procedure and arrange for assistance if you think you'll need it.

Where Your Surgery Will Be Performed

Hair replacement surgery is usually performed in a physician's office-based facility or in an outpatient surgery center. Rarely does it require a hospital stay.

Types of Anesthesia

Hair replacement surgery, no matter what technique is used, is usually performed using a local anesthesia along with sedation to make you relaxed and comfortable. Your scalp will be insensitive to pain, but you may be aware of some tugging or pressure.

General anesthesia may be used for more complex cases involving tissue expansion or flaps. If general anesthesia is used, you'll sleep through the procedure.

The Surgery

Hair transplantation involves removing small pieces of hair-bearing scalp grafts from a donor site and relocating them to a bald or thinning area. Grafts differ by size and shape. Round-shaped punch grafts usually contain about 10-15 hairs. The much smaller mini-graft contains about two to four hairs; and the micro-graft, one to two hairs. Slit grafts, which are inserted into slits created in the scalp, contain about four to10 hairs each; strip grafts are long and thin and contain 30-40 hairs.

Generally, several surgical sessions may be needed to achieve satisfactory fullness-and a healing interval of several months is usually recommended between each session. It may take up to two years before you see the final result with a full transplant series. The amount of coverage you'll need is partly dependent upon the color and texture of your hair. Coarse, gray or light-colored hair affords better coverage than fine, dark-colored hair. The number of large plugs transplanted in the first session varies with each individual, but the average is about 50. For mini-grafts or micro-grafts, the number can be up to 700 per session.

Just before surgery, the "donor area" will be trimmed short so that the grafts can be easily accessed and removed. For punch grafts, your doctor may use a special tube-like instrument made of sharp carbon steel that punches the round graft out of the donor site so it can be replaced in the area to be covered-generally the frontal hairline. For other types of grafts, your doctor will use a scalpel to remove small sections of hair-bearing scalp, which will be divided into tiny sections and transplanted into tiny holes or slits within the scalp. When grafts are taken, your doctor may periodically inject small amounts of saline solution into the scalp to maintain proper skin strength. The donor site holes may be closed with stitches-for punch grafts, a single stitch may close each punch site; for other types of grafts, a small, straight-line scar will result. The stitches are usually concealed with the surrounding hair.

To maintain healthy circulation in the scalp, the grafts are placed about one-eighth of an inch apart. In later sessions, the spaces between the plugs will be filled in with additional grafts. Your doctor will take great care in removing and placement of grafts to ensure that the transplanted hair will grow in a natural direction and that hair growth at the donor site is not adversely affected.

After the grafting session is complete, the scalp will be cleansed and covered with gauze. You may have to wear a pressure bandage for a day or two. Some doctors allow their patients to recover bandage-free.

Plastic surgeons are the leaders in tissue expansion, a procedure commonly used in reconstructive surgery to repair burn wounds and injuries with significant skin loss. Its application in hair replacement surgery has yielded dramatic results-significant coverage in a relatively short amount of time.

In this technique, a balloon-like device called a tissue expander is inserted beneath hair-bearing scalp that lies next to a bald area. The device is gradually inflated with salt water over a period of weeks, causing the skin to expand and grow new skin cells. This causes a bulge beneath the hair-bearing scalp, especially after several weeks.

When the skin beneath the hair has stretched enough-usually about two months after the first operation-another procedure is performed to bring the expanded skin over to cover the adjacent bald area.

Flap surgery: Flap surgery on the scalp has been performed successfully for more than 20 years. This procedure is capable of quickly covering large areas of baldness and is customized for each individual patient. The size of the flap and its placement are largely dependent upon the patient's goals and needs. One flap can do the work of 350 or more punch grafts.

A section of bald scalp is cut out and a flap of hair-bearing skin is lifted off the surface while still attached at one end. The hair-bearing flap is brought into its new position and sewn into place, while remaining "tethered" to its original blood supply.

As you heal, you'll notice that the scar is camouflaged-or at least obscured-by relocated hair, which grows to the very edge of the incision.

In recent years, plastic surgeons have made significant advances in flap techniques, combining flap surgery and scalp reduction for better coverage of the crown; or with tissue expansion, to provide better frontal coverage and a more natural hairline.

Scalp reduction: This technique is sometimes referred to as advancement flap surgery because sections of hair-bearing scalp are pulled forward or "advanced" to fill in a bald crown.

Scalp reduction is for coverage of bald areas at the top and back of the head. It's not beneficial for coverage of the frontal hairline. After the scalp is injected with a local anesthetic, a segment of bald scalp is removed. The pattern of the section of removed scalp varies widely, depending on the patient's goals. If a large amount of coverage is needed, doctors commonly remove a segment of scalp in an inverted Y-shape. Excisions may also be shaped like a U, a pointed oval, or some other figure.

The skin surrounding the cut-out area is loosened and pulled, so that the sections of hair-bearing scalp can be brought together and closed with stitches. It's likely that you'll feel a strong tugging at this point, and occasional pain.

After Your Surgery

How you feel after surgery depends on the extent and complexity of the procedure. Any aching, excessive tightness, or throbbing can be controlled with pain medication prescribed by your physician.

If bandages are used, they will usually be removed one day later. You may gently wash your hair within two days following surgery. Any stitches will be removed in a week to 10 days. Be sure to discuss the possibility of swelling, bruising, and drainage with your surgeon.

Because strenuous activity increases blood flow to the scalp and may cause your transplants or incisions to bleed, you may be instructed to avoid vigorous exercise and contact sports for at least three weeks. Some doctors also advise that sexual activity be avoided for at least 10 days after surgery.

To make sure that your incisions are healing properly, your doctor will probably want to see you several times during the first month after surgery. It's important that you carefully follow any advice you receive at these follow-up visits.

Getting Back to Normal

How soon you resume your normal routine depends on the length, complexity and type of surgery you've had. You may feel well enough to go back to work and resume normal, light activity after several days.

Many patients who have had transplants (plugs or other grafts) are dismayed to find that their "new" hair falls out within six weeks after surgery. Remember, this condition is normal and almost always temporary. After hair falls out, it will take another five to six weeks before hair growth resumes. You can expect about a half-inch of growth per month.

Follow-Up Procedures

You may need a surgical "touch-up" procedure to create more natural-looking results after your incisions have healed. Sometimes, this involves blending, a filling-in of the hairline using a combination of mini-grafts, micro-grafts, or slit grafts. Or, if you've had a flap procedure, a small bump called a "dog ear" may remain visible on the scalp. Your doctor can surgically remove this after complete healing has occurred.

In general, it's best to anticipate that you will need a touch-up procedure. Your surgeon can usually predict how extensive your follow-up surgery is likely to be.

Hair replacement candidates should have some noticeable hair loss with healthy hair growth at the back and sides of the head to serve as doner areas.

Source:http://www.plasticsurgery.org

Female Hair Loss Reasons

2008-10-05T06:37:00.000-07:00

Total hair loss has never been the consequence of women’s hair loss like it often is for men. Women suffer from partial Hair loss but still it is a distressing factor for the female who suffers from it since hair forms a very vital part of beauty. And as a result the impact of hair loss on psychology is immense in women.

There can be different reasons for women’s hair loss:
* A history of hair loss in a woman’s family.
* Women often suffer from hair loss after giving birth to a child.
* Physical and mental stress can be an important cause of hair loss.
* Improper life style and eating habits will definitely lead to hair loss.
* When women dye or perm their hair, it is imperative that the strength and duration of the treatment is controlled.
You can choose the right treatment for your hair loss only after you know the root cause. It is always recommended that women consult a dermatologist for a complete check up before the problem of hair loss turns in to a serious problem.

Hair loss patterns

2008-10-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

Female Hair Loss & Pattern Baldness in Women:

Female hair loss occurs in more than one pattern. If you are a woman with loss of scalp hair, you should seek professional advice from a physician hair restoration specialist.

In most cases, female hair loss can be effectively treated. If you are a woman who has started to lose scalp hair, you are not alone if:

You are unpleasantly surprised by the hair loss
You don’t understand why you are losing hair
The patterns of hair loss in women are not as easily recognizable as those in men.

Unlike hair loss in men, female scalp hair loss may commonly begin at any age through 50 or later, may not have any obvious hereditary association, and may not occur in a recognizable "female-pattern alopecia" of diffuse thinning over the top of the scalp. A woman who notices the beginning of hair loss may not be sure if the loss is going to be temporary or permanent—for example, if there has been a recent event such as pregnancy or illness that may be associated with temporary hair thinning.

If you are a woman who is worried about loss of scalp hair, you should consult a physician hair restoration specialist for an evaluation and diagnosis.

Self-diagnosis is often ineffective. Women tend to have less obvious patterns of hair loss than men, and non-pattern types of hair loss are more frequent in women than in men. Diagnosis of hair loss in a woman should be made by a trained and experienced physician.

In women as in men, the most likely cause of scalp hair loss is androgenetic alopecia—an inherited sensitivity to the effects of androgens (male hormones) on scalp hair follicles. However, women with hair loss due to this cause usually do not develop true baldness in the patterns that occur in men—for example, women rarely develop the "cue-ball" appearance often seen in male-pattern androgenetic alopecia.

Patterns of female androgenetic alopecia can vary considerably in appearance. Patterns that may occur include:

Diffuse thinning of hair over the entire scalp, often with more noticeable thinning toward the back of the scalp.
Diffuse thinning over the entire scalp, with more noticeable thinning toward the front of the scalp but not involving the frontal hairline.
Diffuse thinning over the entire scalp, with more noticeable thinning toward the front of the scalp, involving and sometimes breaching the frontal hairline.
Unlike the case for men, thinning scalp hair in women due to androgenetic alopecia does not uniformly grow smaller in diameter (miniaturize). Women with hair loss due to androgenetic alopecia tend to have miniaturizing hairs of variable diameter over all affected areas of the scalp. While miniaturizing hairs are a feature of androgenetic alopecia, miniaturization may also be associated with other causes and is not in itself a diagnostic feature of androgenetic alopecia. In post-menopausal women, for example, hair may begin to miniaturize and become difficult to style. The precise diagnosis should be made by a physician hair restoration specialist.

It is important to note that female pattern hair loss can begin as early as the late teens to early 20s in women who have experienced early puberty. If left untreated, this hair loss associated with early puberty can progress to more advanced hair loss if it is left untreated.

Non-Pattern Causes of Hair loss in Women:

In women more often than in men, hair loss may be due to conditions other than androgenetic alopecia. Some of the most common of these causes are:

Trichotillomania— compulsive hair pulling. Hair loss due to trichotillomania is typically patchy, as compulsive hair pullers tend to concentrate the pulling in selected areas. Hair loss due to this cause cannot be treated effectively until the psychological or emotional reasons for trichotillomania are effectively addressed.

Alopecia areata— a possibly autoimmune disorder that causes patchy hair loss that can range from diffuse thinning to extensive areas of baldness with "islands" of retained hair. Medical examination is necessary to establish a diagnosis.

Triangular alopecia— loss of hair in the temporal areas that sometimes begins in childhood. Hair loss may be complete, or a few fine, thin-diameter hairs may remain. The cause of triangular alopecia is not known, but the condition can be treated medically or surgically.

Scarring alopecia— hair loss due to scarring of the scalp area. Scarring alopecia typically involves the top of the scalp and occurs predominantly in women. The condition frequently occurs in African-American women and is believed to be associated with persistent tight braiding or "corn-rowing" of scalp hair. A form of scarring alopecia also may occur in post-menopausal women, associated with inflammation of hair follicles and subsequent scarring.

Telogen effluvium— a common type of hair loss caused when a large percentage of scalp hairs are shifted into "shedding" phase. The causes of telogen effluvium may be hormonal, nutritional, drug-associated, or stress-associated. Loose-anagen syndrome—a condition occurring primarily in fair-haired persons in which scalp hair sits loosely in hair follicles and is easily extracted by combing or pulling. The condition may appear in childhood, and may improve as the person ages. Diagnosis and Treatment

If you are a woman with thinning or lost scalp hair, your first necessary step is to have the condition correctly diagnosed by a physician hair restoration specialist. After a diagnosis is made, the physician will recommend an approach to effective medical or surgical treatment.

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Hair Loss Myths vs Facts

2008-08-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

Hair loss is a condition which prevails largely in our society.

Below are some of the myths that prevail in our society which are opposed by the facts regarding those myths.

Myth: Hair loss is inherited from your father
Fact: Both parent's genes are a factor. Androgenetic aplopecia is genetically-
linked hair thinning.
Myth: Female pattern hair loss causes abnormal bleeding.
Fact: Menstruation is not affected. Hair loss typically begins
between the ages of 12 and 40.
Myth: Extensive hormonal evaluation is required.
Fact: Hormonal evaluation is only required if the patient is also
experiencing irregular periods, infertility, hirsutism, cystic acne, virilization, or glactorrhea. Androgenetic aplopecia
usually doesn't cause menstrual issues or interfere with pregnancy or endocrine function.
Myth: Teasing, using hair color, other products, or frequently washing hair increases hair loss.
Fact: Normal hair care doesn't affect hair loss. The only drug approved for promoting hair growth in women is Minoxidil.

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Hair Loss Causes

2008-08-20T08:48:00.000-07:00

The most common causes of hair loss in women are not related to inherited genes, but to temporary metabolic problems associated with pregnancy, unusual stress, chemotherapy, crash diets/anorexia, thyroid hormone deficiency, major surgery, severe infection or high fever. Certain drugs can also take their toll on once lush and healthy tresses. However, these conditions are usually temporary, and once the “trauma” is alleviated, the hair shedding stops and healthy regrowth occurs with time.

1: Women, just like men, inherit the gene for thinning hair from either parent. In women, testosterone is produced in the adrenal glands and the ovaries. Although testosterone gets converted to DHT in a woman’s body, it cannot cause female hair loss due to the protective effects of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones reduce DHT production and block DHT’s attachment to the hair follicle as long as they are present in adequate amounts. Any condition that can cause a decreased production of estrogen and progesterone or overproduction of DHT can cause thinning hair in genetically predisposed women. In women, hair loss can start at any age after puberty, but in most cases it occurs with menopause.
The normal production of female hormones drops significantly during menopause, lowering a woman’s natural protection against thinning hair.

Hair loss in pre-menopausal women indicates an abnormal hormonal imbalance that requires medical investigation and appropriate treatment.

2: Female hair loss can be caused by any number of conditions. Some female hair loss cases are due to heredity, while others have to do with illnesses, hormones, diet, and stress.

Hormonal changes are the cause of the majority of female hair loss cases. Many women will begin to lose hair when they experience a change in their estrogen levels. These changes can include pregnancy, discontinuing birth control pills, miscarriage, and taking or stopping hormone replacement therapy. These changes affect DHT and estrogen levels, which affects the hair growth and loss process. Post childbirth is the time where many women will lose their hair. Pregnant women have a high level of progesterone and a decreased level of estrogen. This causes their hair to move into the resting stage. Once the child is born, the new hair begins to grow, causing the “resting” hair follicles to shed. Most commonly, hair loss after pregnancy occurs between three and six months after pregnancy. While there is no real cure for this hair loss, it is a temporary situation. It is important to realize that when hair is lost after pregnancy, the new hair is already growing in while old hair is falling out. Therefore, the situation is usually temporary and will remedy itself.

Illnesses and physical conditions also play a role in female hair loss. Diseases such as anemia, hypothyroidism, anorexia, bulimia, thyroid disease, liver disease, hepatic failure, renal failure, and viral, fungal, or protozoan infections can all cause loss of hair in women. High fevers can also cause hair loss. When the body temperature rises extensively, the hair growth cycle is altered, sometimes causing hair to shed. With these medical conditions, hair usually grows back once the illness or condition is brought under control. This condition is called Telegen Effluvium.

Another factor that can cause changes in hair growth and loss cycles in women is diet and nutrition. A women’s diet should have a strong amount of protein, essential fatty acids, and zinc. Deficiencies of these elements can cause hair loss and thinning. Excess amounts of vitamin A and the prescription medicine Accutane, a vitamin A relative can also cause hair loss, in addition to the presence of certain elements such as amphetamines, antimitotics, anticholesterol medications, and anesthesia.

Emotional situations and elevated levels of stress can also result in hair loss. High levels of stress are documented to have a strong correlation to hair loss, particularly in females. This type of hair loss is called Telogen Effluvium. Because our hair is one of the first parts of our body to respond to both physical and emotional stresses, it is the first to be affected by stress, sometimes causing hair to shed. Most women who are affected by Telogen Effluvium are between the ages of 40 and 70, but it can certainly occur in women of all ages. Telogen Effluvium usually remedies itself and normal hair growth begins when the root of the problem is corrected.

The treatment for female hair loss depends on the cause and condition of the specific case. If the hair loss experienced is known to be temporary, most likely the solution will be to simply be patient and hair will grow back on its own. Treatments for permanent female hair loss include medications and follicular unit transplantation procedures. To determine what is the best treatment for your particular hair loss case, contact Pistone Hair Restoration for a free consultation.

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Hair loss information

2008-08-20T06:52:00.000-07:00

Information, Support and Solutions for Women with thinning hair.

Research shows that more than 4 out of every 10 women in the United States experience thinning hair. That's about 43 million women — more than have green eyes or freckles. For most of them (more than 30 million), this hair thinning is due to an inherited condition called androgenetic alopecia. For others, hair thinning may be caused by hormonal changes, changes in diet, or other medical conditions. Due to a lack of credible information, many women are still confused about the reason for their thinning hair.

That’s why the Women’s Institute for Fine and Thinning Hair was developed. Here you’ll find a wealth of information that will help you understand what’s happening with your hair.
The Institute is made up of expert dermatologists, psychologists, and hairstylists, all sharing their knowledge. The Women’s Institute for Fine and Thinning Hair is your source for information, support, and solutions.
Hair is thickest at around age 20. After that, a combination of factors prevents the hair from following its regular growth process. Aside from the natural aging process, there are other reasons why a woman’s hair may begin thinning — ranging from temporary conditions to medical disorders. .

Statistics

2008-08-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

Not taking those women into consideration who have hair loss due to stress, hormonal changes, and changes due to pregnancy, about 35 million women in the US have some degree of loss due to genetics.

Alopecia areata is an immune disease that affects almost 2% of the population in the US. This type of hair loss appears in various degrees of severity from small, round patches of hair loss that regrow without medical treatment to chronic, extensive hair loss that can involve the loss of all hair on the scalp or body hair. This type of hair loss affects both genders equally and can occur at any age, although it occurs most often in children and young adults.

There are millions Americans of both sexes and all ages and ethnic backgrounds who suffer from alopecia areata. One in five individuals with this disease has a family member who has had it as well.By some estimates, 50% of all women in the United States will suffer from some form of hair loss by the age of 50. Similar to men, in more than 90% of cases, the cause of hair loss in women is due to androgenic alopecia, or female pattern baldness

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Hair Loss Defination

2008-07-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

More widespread than was once believed, it is estimated that over 25 million American women suffer the effects of female hair loss and the emotional distress it causes. For many individuals, hair loss is not just a rather mysterious biochemical process, but an integral part of a positive self image.

The most common causes of hair loss in women are not related to inherited genes, but to temporary metabolic problems associated with pregnancy, unusual stress, chemotherapy, crash diets/anorexia, thyroid hormone deficiency, major surgery, severe infection or high fever. Certain drugs can also take their toll on once lush and healthy tresses. However, these conditions are usually temporary, and once the “trauma” is alleviated, the hair shedding stops and healthy regrowth occurs with time.

“Female pattern” hair loss is another matter. Unlike men, women rarely become “bald” in the true sense, but many experience significant overall thinning and a reduction in hair shaft diameter, particularly around the forehead and crown of the scalp as they age. Most often, this pattern begins to develop at around age 40 or with the onset of menopause. In fact, before menopause about 13 percent of women experience hair thinning. After menopause, reporting of the problem from women increases to about 37 percent.

Estrogen levels decline in the skin with age. Before menopause, various forms of estrogen block or “oppose” the steroid hormone responsible for hair loss (testosterone) resulting in low levels of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) being produced in the skin and follicle region. Once females enter menopause, their levels of estrogen decline and more testosterone is then bio-available to be converted to DHT (the known cause of non-traumatic hair loss) in the root bulb and stem cell regions. This results in a shorter hair growth cycle, finer hair and eventually, general effluvium or shedding. As women enter their 80s and 90s, the follicle itself can shrink and stop producing hair completely.

The reason that women experience hair loss during and after menopause is that their estrogen levels decline. Various forms of estrogen can "oppose" androgens and thereby reduce their availability to the cell, by blocking androgen receptors.

Finasteride blocks circulating androgen, but there is also androgen made in the skin. This androgen is normally blocked, in part, by estrogens made in the skin.
Without the opposing estrogen in the skin of women, which declines dramatically at onset of menopause, more androgen remains bio-available to the the follicle root bulb and stem cell regions and is converted to DHT locally.

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Hair Loss Disorders and Thinning

2008-05-06T09:48:00.009-07:00

Hair disorder, especially when severe, often profoundly affects the lives of those afflicted. Severe hair loss evokes not only cosmetic concerns but may also evoke feelings of vulnerability (nakedness), loss of self-esteem and alterations in self-image.

Each hair follicle produces hair in phases. There is a growing (anagen) phase, which lasts from 2 to 6 years, a resting (catagen) phase which lasts for about 3 months, and finally the shedding of the hair (telogen) phase which allows the follicle to begin pushing a new hair to the surface.
Most modern medical research leans toward the position that a male hormone called dehydrotestosterone (DHT), which is converted from testosterone, binds to sites on hair follicles and is a primary instigator of hair loss. DHT appears to make the follicles go into their "resting" phase faster which in turn starts to cause the hairs produced by those follicles to become thinner and thinner with each growth cycle.

Although hair loss is a concern for many men, hair loss in women is also a problem.
Incidence; Causes & DevelopmentFemale pattern baldness usually begins about age 30, becomes noticeable around age 40, and may be even more noticeable after menopause. It is thought that about 15% of American women have such hair loss; around 30% of affected Caucasian females are affected before menopause.

As in males, hair follicles simply shut down. Women rarely lose their hair due to a genetic predisposition; instead it is usually caused by hormonal imbalance and other cyclical shifts such as during/after pregnancy, postmenopausal trauma or birth control side-effects. Other causes include nervous tension, side-effects of certain medications, harsh commercial shampoos, perms, hair color, bleach, blow-drying, and improper combing/brushing.

One plausible theory to explain some of the difference between men and women is based on the angle of follicles and resultant sebum build-up. The angle at which hairs come out of a female scalp allow the sebum (oil produced by the scalp) to "run off" whereas the angle of hairs on a male scalp (straight up) can lead to oil blockage.

Common causes of hair loss or hair thinning in women:

thyroid or liver disease
hepatic or renal failure
anesthesia
childbirth
starting or stopping birth control pills
very high fever
severe stress
anemia (sometimes seen in runners)
hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
essential fatty acid deficiency
zinc deficiency
any condition that upsets the ovarian, adrenal, or pituitary axis
protein deficiency (common with vegetarian diets)
anorexia or bulimia
too much vitamin A
local viral, fungal, or protozoan infection
drug toxicity antimitotics - such as those used for chemotherapy
bromocriptine - used to inhibit lactation
beta blockers
ACE inhibitors
amphetamines
anticholesterol agents
Signs & Symptoms
It is usually an overall thinning rather than a bald area on top of the head, though women may have a receding hairline, too.

Treatment & Prevention

Most doctors agree that if you have a oily scalp with thinning hair, frequent shampooing is advised. Shampooing can reduce surface sebum, which contains high levels of testosterone and DHT that may reenter the skin and affect the hair follicle.

Specific foods or vitamins don't regrow hair, although good nutrition is essential for healthy hair

Hair loss info

2008-05-06T09:48:00.007-07:00

The average human head has about 100,000 hair follicles. Each follicle can grow about 20 individual hairs in a person's lifetime. Average hair loss is about 100 strands a day.

Incidence of pattern baldness varies from population to population based on genetic background. Environmental factors do not seem to affect this type of baldness greatly. One large scale study in the U.S, showed the prevalence of mid-frontal hair loss increases with age and affects 57% of women and 73.5% of men aged 80 and over.

An additional bald patch may develop on top (vertex). The trigger for this type of baldness (called androgenetic alopecia) is DHT, a powerful sex hormone, body, and facial hair growth promoter that can adversely affect the hair on the head and prostate.

The Diagnosis of Hair Loss in Women

2008-05-06T09:48:00.005-07:00

The diagnosis of “female pattern” hair loss is relatively straightforward when there is a history of gradually thinning in the front and/or top of the scalp, relative preservation of the frontal hairline, a positive family history of hair loss, and the presence of miniaturization in the thinning areas.

Miniaturization is the progressive decrease of the hair shaft’s diameter and length in response to hormones. It can be observed using a densitometer, a hand-held instrument that magnifies a small area of the scalp where the hair has been clipped to about 1mm in length. With this instrument miniaturization is easily apparent.

Normally follicular units (natural hair groups) are made of predominately of full-thickness, healthy terminal hair. With miniaturization one or more hairs within each group begin to thin. Eventually these hairs are lost.

If the hair loss is diffuse (thin all over) rather than in the typical female pattern on the front and top, the diagnosis can be more difficult. The presence of miniaturization in the areas of thinning usually confirms the diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia, however, if the diagnosis is still unclear, a number of other conditions must be ruled out. These have been listed in the section on Causes.

Besides densitometry, two other common diagnostic tests that can be performed in the physician’s office are the hair-pull and hair pluck. In the hair pull, the physician grabs on to 20-30 hairs with his fingers and gently pulls on them. If five or more come out in the pull then this is suggestive of the increased shedding associated with telogen effluvium, a reversible type of female hair loss seen with stress, pregnancy, drug reactions and a variety of other conditions. Telogen effluvium generally occurs 2-3 months after a stressful event and affects 35-50% of one’s hair. Over 300 club hairs (telogen hairs that have rounded ends) can be shed per day shed.

In the hair pluck, 20 to 30 hairs are forcibly plucked from the scalp with a small clamp. The hair bulbs are then examined under a microscope to determine the ratio of anagen (growing) hairs to telogen (resting) hairs. Normally, at least 80% of the follicles should be in the anagen stage. A lower ratio would suggest telogen effluvium. With the hair pluck, various abnormalities of the hair shaft may be observed that can contribute to hair breakage and poor growth.

Anagen effluvium occurs when hair is shed in its growing phase and is characterized by large numbers of tapered or broken hairs (>80%). It can be caused by chemotherapy or radiation and can result in extensive hair loss in women.

Chronic Telogen Effluvium is a condition whose diagnosis is often missed, so it is worth mentioning briefly. Chronic TE affects women age 30-60. It starts abruptly with or without an initiating factor. Chronic TE presents with diffuse thinning with accentuation at the temples – often more apparent to the patient than to others. It has a long fluctuating course and patients can lose up to 50-400 hairs/day. There is increased shedding of telogen (club) hairs with a positive hair pull. Fortunately, the condition does not lead to complete baldness. Chronic TE can be expected to resolve spontaneously in 6 months to 6-7 years.

When the cause of the hair loss is still uncertain, further diagnostic information can be obtained from a scraping and culture for fungus and a scalp biopsy (sent for regular and special tissue stains and examined under both horizontal and vertical sections. A dermatologic consultation is warranted whenever the cause of hair loss is unclear.

Wel come to hair loss female

2008-05-06T08:34:00.000-07:00

come on visit this site for every solution of hair loss problem !!!

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Female Hair Loss after pregnancy

2008-05-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

It's time to start feeling like a real woman again. Some women actually feel seriously depressed after giving birth. This is purely down to a hormonal imbalance and is perfectly natural. And why not ?? After you have gone through all the pain during pregnancy,what life does to you is Steal YOur Hair.Its not fair ,sounds like a rhyme but not to those affected by it.However, it doesn’t help when we have to deal with the rather traumatic physical effects of pregnancy – in particular hair loss.

During pregnancy, women experience high levels of Oestrogen as a natural chemical reaction to help develop the growth and health of not only the baby inside you, but to protect and strengthen the baby’s carrier.

This increased level of Oestrogen causes more hair growth by sending signals to the follicles. This process also speeds up metabolism enabling increased nutrient flow to scalp and swelling tummy.
Many women actually experience hair growth during pregnancy, but hair loss after pregnancy.

This is perfectly normal and often the changes are only temorary. Hormone levels re-adjust after giving birth the hair often falls out in its attempt to rebalance itself.
There are many ways to cope with female hair loss after pregnancy. Slower but one route is to try vitamins and a good diet help to promote hair growth during and after pregnancy. Iron in particular is a powerful source of growth for hair, nails and skin. Try to eat foods that contain plenty of proteins such as fish, chicken and nuts.
Hormone changes also affect the overall structure of the hair. So if you previously had curly hair, you might find that it has gone straight, or vice-versa. Again, this is all part of the hormone imbalance and after time you should see things gradually get back to normal.
One has to be patient for the majority of the time coz its a waiting game. It’s difficult to say how long it will take to rebalance the natural hormone levels in your body. Again, it depends on how you treat your body after pregnancy.
Some women experience quick recovery and some women find that it literally takes years to fully recover their original hair density, style and growth.
Eat well, with nutrients, vitamins and plenty of protein to avoid a prolonged hair loss recovery.
Just Be assured in what you are doing and the results will follow.

Baldness

2008-05-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

Baldness involves the state of lacking hair where it often grows, especially on the head. The most common form of baldness is a progressive hair thinning condition called androgenic alopecia or 'male pattern baldness' that occurs in adult male humans and other species.

Female Hair Loss

The severity and nature of baldness can vary greatly; it ranges from male and female pattern alopecia (androgenetic alopecia, also called androgenetic alopecia or alopecia androgenetica), alopecia areata, which involves the loss of some of the hair from the head, and alopecia totalis, which involves the loss of all head hair, to the most extreme form, alopecia universalis, which involves the loss of all hair from the head and the body.

Female Baldness

Treatments for the various forms alopecia have limited success. Some hair loss sufferers make use of so-called "clinically proven treatments" such as finasteride and topically applied minoxidil (in solution) in an attempt to prevent further loss and regrow hair. As a general rule, it is easier to maintain remaining hair than it is to regrow; however, the treatments mentioned will help some of the users suffering from Androgenetic alopecia, and there are new technologies in cosmetic transplant surgery and hair replacement systems that can be completely undetectable. The effectiveness of finasteride and minoxidil is not universally accepted.

Male Baldness

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Hair

2008-05-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

Hair, collective term for slender, thread-like outgrowths of the epidermis of mammals, forming the characteristic covering of those mammals. No animals other than mammals have true hair, and all mammals have hair. Even such apparently hairless mammals as the rhinoceros, elephant, and armadillo have hairs around the snout, at the tip of the tail, and behind each scale, respectively. Whale and manatee have hair only in the embryonic state. When the individual hairs are fine and closely spaced, the coat of hair is called fur; when soft, kinked, and matted together, the coat is called wool. Coarse, stiff hairs are called bristles; when they are also pointed, as in the hedgehog and porcupine, they are called spines (or, popularly, quills).

Hair Growth

A hair grows upward from the root. Lengthening fibres of keratin-filled dead cells, grouped around the semihollow

Individual hairs are composed chiefly of the horny scleroprotein known as keratin and contain neither blood vessels nor nerves. They usually contain pigment (except in the case of albinos) but sometimes also contain interstitial air bubbles that give the hair a silvery colour. The shaft of the hair consists of modified epithelial cells arranged in columns surrounding a central medulla (or core) and covered with thin, flat scales. The root of each hair is contained in a tubular pit of the epidermis called the hair follicle. The hair grows from the bottom of the follicle; it is nourished by the blood vessels in a papilla that extends into the follicle and, for a short distance, into the root of the hair. A minute muscle, the arrector pili, is attached to each hair follicle; under the control of the autonomic nervous system the muscle contracts to make the hair “stand on end”. Most mammals possess tactile hairs, usually growing from the upper lip and eyebrows, with their roots set in erectile tissue richly supplied with sensory nerves.

In humans the development of the hair begins in the embryo, and, by the sixth month, the foetus is covered by a growth of fine hair (lanugo). In the first few months of infancy the lanugo is shed and is replaced by hair which is characteristically coarse over the cranium and the eyebrows and fine and downy over the rest of the body. At puberty coarse hair develops in the armpits and over the pubic region in both sexes; in males the hair over the upper lip and the lower jaw begins to grow coarse to form the beard. The rate of growth of the hair varies with the age of the person and with the length of the hair. When a hair is short, its rate of growth averages about 2 cm (just under 1 in) per month; by the time the hair is a foot long, the rate of growth is reduced by one-half. The fastest growth is found in women from 16 to 24 years of age.

The form of the hair is one of the most important and reliable hereditary characteristics. The nearly black hair of the Papuan, Melanesian, and African peoples grows from a curved follicle, which imparts a spiral twist, and is flat or tape-like in cross section. The hair of Chinese, Japanese, and Native Americans is straight, coarse, long, and almost always black. It grows from a straight follicle, is round in cross section, and has an easily distinguished medulla. The hair of the Ainu, European, Hindu, and Semitic peoples is wavy and intermediate between the straight and curly types. It grows from a straight follicle but has a slight tendency to curl; it is oval in cross section and among individuals exhibits a wide range of colour, from light blond to black.

Human Hair

All mammals have hair, a slender, threadlike outgrowth of the epidermis. Each strand of hair is composed of a scleroprotein called keratin and lacks both blood vessels and nerves. Both the colour and form of human hair and the shape of the hair.

Disorders of the hair shaft or hair follicle cause abnormal growth or abnormal or premature falling of the hair. Dull or dry hair is caused by physical or chemical agents. Too frequent use, for instance, of permanent-waving chemicals or of shampoos or lotions, especially those containing alcohol or free alkalis, can cause this. The cause of excessive hairiness is obscure, but in several cases it has been traced to a tumour of the adrenal cortex or to disorders of the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, or the ovary. Premature greying of the hair is associated with anxiety, shock, deficiency diseases, and hereditary elements. Alopecia, or baldness, is also due principally to hereditary elements. Certain forms of baldness may, however, be due to other causes: alopecia prematura, in which the hair of a young person falls out without first turning grey, may also be caused by seborrhoea; alopecia areata, in which the hair falls out in irregular patches, is believed by doctors to be caused by inflammation, nerve disorders, or local infections. Diffuse falling of the hair, ordinarily a normal phenomenon, may reach abnormal proportions after a fever higher than 39.4° C (103° F), during a debilitating disease, or as a result of surgical shock.

No nonprescription hair “restorers” actually prevent hair loss or grow hair. A research drug called minoxidil, however, has shown limited success in tests run on men with hereditary baldness who had experienced restricted hair loss within ten years preceding the tests.

Infections of the hair follicle also cause a variety of hair diseases. Tinea favosa, or favus, is caused by the fungus Achorion schoenleinii; it is characterized by the formation around the mouths of the follicles of small crusts, which frequently resemble a honeycomb. Tinea trichophytina, or ringworm, is caused by fungi of the genus Trichophyton. These diseases have been treated successfully by epilation (removal of the hair from the affected follicles), cleansing with soaps or oils to remove encrustation, and application of fungicides.

Hairy parts, particularly of the head and pubis, are subject to troublesome infestations by minute insects and mites, such as pubic lice.

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Thinning of hair

2008-04-09T06:52:00.000-07:00

Information, Support and Solutions for Women with thinning hair.

Currently conducted research has found out that 4 out of every 10 women in the United States experience thinning hair. That's about 43 million women — more than have green eyes or freckles. For most of them (more than 30 million), this hair thinning is due to an inherited condition called androgenetic alopecia. For others, hair thinning may be caused by hormonal changes, changes in diet, or other medical conditions. Due to a lack of credible information, many women are still confused about the reason for their thinning hair.

There is a institute Women’s Institute for Fine and Thinning Hair that will help you understand what’s happening with your hair.
The Institute is made up of expert dermatologists, psychologists, and hairstylists, all sharing their knowledge. The Women’s Institute for Fine and Thinning Hair is your source for information, support, and solutions.
Hair is thickest at around age 20. After that, a combination of factors prevents the hair from following its regular growth process. Aside from the natural aging process, there are other reasons why a woman’s hair may begin thinning — ranging from temporary conditions to medical disorders.

Hair Loss treatment

2008-01-06T08:34:00.000-08:00

There are different ways of Hair Loss treatment
Treatment of different type of hair loss includes immunomodulating therapies such as glucocorticoids, topical immunotherapy, or anthralin, or biologic-responce modifiers such as Minoxidil. The choice of treatment depends on the patient's age, as well as the extent of hair loss. Milder cases often see a greater improvement with treatment than severe cases. In no case does treatment restore full hair in patients with 100% scalp or body hair loss.