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Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of the male
hormone testosterone, is the enemy of hair follicles on your head. Simply put, under certain conditions DHT wants those follicles dead. This simple action is at the root of many kinds of hair loss, so we'll address
it first.
Androgenetic alopecia, commonly called male or female pattern baldness, was only partially understood until
the last few decades. For many years, scientists
thought that androgenetic alopecia was caused by the
predominance of the male sex hormone, testosterone,
which women also have in trace amounts under normal
conditions. While testosterone is at the core of the
balding process, DHT is thought to be the main
culprit.
Testosterone converts to DHT with the aid of the
enzyme Type II 5-alpha reductase, which is held in a
hair follicle's oil glands. Scientists now believe
that it's not the amount of circulating testosterone
that's the problem but the level of DHT binding to
receptors in scalp follicles. DHT shrinks hair
follicles, making it impossible for healthy hair to
survive.
The hormonal process of testosterone converting to
DHT, which then harms hair follicles, happens in both
men and women.
Under normal conditions, women have a
minute fraction of the level of testosterone that men
have, but even a lower level can cause DHT- triggered
hair loss in women. And certainly when those levels
rise, DHT is even more of a problem. Those levels can
rise and still be within what doctors consider"normal" on a blood test, even though they are high
enough to cause a problem. The levels may not rise at
all and still be a problem if you have the kind of
body chemistry that is overly sensitive to even its
regular levels of chemicals, including hormones.
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The most common causes of female hair loss:
 Andogenetic Alopecia
The majority of women with androgenic alopecia have diffuse thinning on all areas of the scalp. Men on the other hand, rarely have diffuse thinning but instead
have more distinct patterns of baldness. Some women may have a combination of two pattern types.
Androgenic alopecia in women is due to the action of
androgens, male hormones that are typically present in only small amounts. Androgenic alopecia can be caused
by a variety of factors tied to the actions of
hormones, including, ovarian cysts, the taking of high
androgen index birth control pills, pregnancy, and
menopause. Just like in men the hormone DHT appears to
be at least partially to blame for the miniaturization
of hair follicles in women suffering with female
pattern baldness. Heredity plays a major factor in the
disease.
Telogen Effluvium
When your body goes through something traumatic like child birth, malnutrition, a severe infection, major
surgery, or extreme stress, many of the 90 percent or
so of the hair in the anagen (growing) phase or
catagen (resting) phase can shift all at once into the
shedding (telogen) phase. About 6 weeks to three month
after the stressful event is usually when the
phenomenon called telogen effluvium can begin. It is
possible to lose handful of hair at time when in
full-blown telogen effluvium. For most who suffer with
TE complete remission is probable as long as severely
stressful events can be avoided. For some women
however, telogen effluvium is a mysterious chronic
disorder and can persist for months or even years
without any true understanding of any triggering
factors or stressors.
Anagen Effluvium
Anagen effluvium occurs after any insult to the hair follicle that impairs its mitotic or metabolic
activity. This hair loss is commonly associated with
chemotherapy. Since chemotherapy targets your body’s
rapidly dividing cancer cells, your body’s other
rapidly dividing cells such as hair follicles in the
growing (anagen) phase, are also greatly affected.
Soon after chemotherapy begins approximately 90
percent or more of the hairs can fall out while still
in the anagen phase.
The characteristic finding in anagen effluvium is the
tapered fracture of the hair shafts. The hair shaft
narrows as a result of damage to the matrix.
Eventually, the shaft fractures at the site of
narrowing and causes the loss of hair.
Traction alopecia
his condition is caused by localized trauma to the hair follicles from tight hairstyles that pull at hair
over time. If the condition is detected early enough,
the hair will regrow. Braiding, cornrows, tight
ponytails, and extensions are the most common styling
causes.
Hair loss in women is now not thought to be a strictly male disease, women make up a significant percentage of American hair loss sufferers. Forty percent of women have visible hair loss by the time they are age 40, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Hair loss in women can be absolutely devastating for self image and emotional well-being.
Unfortunately, society has forced women to suffer in silence. It is considered far more acceptable for men to go through the same hair loss process. Even more unfortunately, the medical community pays little attention to the issue of women's hair loss. Since hair loss doesn't appear to be life threatening, physicians often overlook women's complaints about hair loss and essentially tell their patients that "it's no big deal," and that "you'll just have to live with it."
Now you can get help and restore the luster and volume you once had. You don't have to suffer with hair loss. Contact us and receive a free consultation on how to get started today!
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