Hair loss can be a source of anxiety for many people... But how do you know whether or not you should be worried?
Hair loss is a normal phenomenon, we lose on average between 50 and 100 hairs every day. This can depend on periods of life, certain events, stress, fatigue... But it also depends on thehair renewal cycle .
However, a sudden significant hair loss that can reveal the scalp in places is sometimes worrying, which is why today LAO is shedding light on terms that you may have already seen or heard: baldness and alopecia, which remains less well known but the subject is increasingly being discussed.
Alopecia or baldness: what are the differences?
Alopecia is a term used to characterize the total or partial loss of hair without distinction of factors while baldness specifically characterizes the loss that leads to its absence.
So, contrary to popular belief, baldness is a form of alopecia. But it's not just total; it can also be diffuse, in patches, and even affect the hair.
In men in particular, hair loss is generally localized at the forehead and temples, which will gradually thin out. Baldness can also affect the middle of the scalp. Women are more often affected around the central parting and the area just after this line. (1)
What are the types of alopecia and their causes?
In both men and women, there are several forms of alopecia. It can be moderate or severe, temporary or permanent.
Among the most common forms of alopecia is androgenetic alopecia caused by hormonal or genetic factors.
Alopecia areata is also one of the most common and is considered an autoimmune disease, causing localized hair loss. (2)
There are many forms of alopecia, and they can be caused by different factors.
Among the triggers of alopecia, we note in particular:
- hormonal imbalance, after childbirth or due to taking an unsuitable contraceptive pill;
- stress or a general state of fatigue;
- nutritional problems such as significant dietary deficiencies;
- chemotherapy or radiotherapy;
- heredity and genes;
- heavy drug treatment;
- hair twisting;
- perms and blow-drys. (3)
How to treat or prevent alopecia?
In order to treat alopecia, it is best to consult a professional.
Depending on the form of alopecia and its severity, you may want to consult your doctor, a dermatologist, or an endocrinologist and obtain appropriate solutions. A dermatologist studies and treats diseases of the skin, mucous membranes, or hair and nails, while an endocrinologist specializes in hormones, particularly their effects on our metabolism. An endocrinologist is therefore one of the doctors to consult in the event of a condition that may be caused by a hormonal imbalance, such as alopecia.
In some cases it is difficult to prevent alopecia but you can:
- Monitor your iron deficiency, which is known to be a cause of hair loss.
- Choose gentle, sulfate-free shampoos that do not weaken the scalp.
- Avoid frequent dyeing and perming.
- Protect hair from exposure to UVA rays from the sun with suitable care . (4)
Indeed, simple actions can help you prevent alopecia in certain cases. To learn more about hair loss and hair growth, don't hesitate to consult our article onthis subject !
Sources
¹ MSD Manuals. Alopecia. [MSD Manuals website]. MSD, 2023. Available at: https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/quick-facts-skin-disorders/hair-disorders/alopecia?query=alopecia.
² National Center for Biotechnology Information. Hair Loss. [NCBI Bookshelf website]. NCBI, 2023. Available at : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538178/.
³MSD Manuals. Alopecia. [MSD Manuals website]. MSD, 2023. Available at : https://www.msdmanuals.com/en/home/quick-facts-skin-disorders/hair-disorders/alopecia?query=alopecia; National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Hair Loss and Stress. [NCBI PMC website]. NCBI, 2016. Available at : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5315033/
National Institutes of Health. How Stress Causes Hair Loss. [NIH Research Matters website]. NIH, 2013. Available at : https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-stress-causes-hair-loss.
⁴ French Society of Dermatology. Scalp Alopecia. [Dermato-info website]. Dermato-info, 2023. Available at : https://dermato-info.fr/fr/la-peau-des-seniors/l'alopecie#ferme
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