Hereditary and alopecia or hypotrichosis are one of the most complex disorders of the hair and the scalp. There are over 100 known diseases recorded for hair and scalp disorders and the complexity is highlighted with its differences in symptoms and treatment. Furthermore, each new case defies the diagnosis of previous illnesses. Male and female pattern baldness is most likely the result of hereditary factors. It is the most common form of hair loss, resulting in a pattern, which is most likely passed on from generation to generation. Hereditary hair loss mainly occurs when the androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHL) interacts with the hair follicles, making it genetically susceptible to its effects. While most likely, your family’s history of baldness can be used to evaluate the extent of hair loss you will suffer over the period of years. Thus, if you already know that your family history of hair loss is going to reflect on you, you can start living a healthy and disciplined lifestyle from a very early age.
Hereditary and alopecia or hypotrichosis are one of the most complex disorders of the hair and the scalp. There are over 100 known diseases recorded for hair and scalp disorders and the complexity is highlighted with its differences in symptoms and treatment. Furthermore, each new case defies the diagnosis of previous illnesses. Male and female pattern baldness is most likely the result of hereditary factors. It is the most common form of hair loss, resulting in a pattern, which is most likely passed on from generation to generation. Hereditary hair loss mainly occurs when the androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHL) interacts with the hair follicles, making it genetically susceptible to its effects. While most likely, your family’s history of baldness can be used to evaluate the extent of hair loss you will suffer over the period of years. Thus, if you already know that your family history of hair loss is going to reflect on you, you can start living a healthy and disciplined lifestyle from a very early age.
Research has shown that iron deficiency is one of the main causes of hair loss or alopecia. With or with anemia (low blood count or lack of red blood corpuscles), iron deficiency has shown relation to progressive hair loss. In fact, in some cases, iron replacement therapy has caused cessation of hair loss and growth of hair. However, in some cases, people suffering from hair disorders such as androgenetic alopecia have shown no signs of recovery to iron supplements. Iron deficiency has been noticed in about 65% of women who have been suffering from hair loss. Most of them have had re-growth after having their iron content restored. In some cases, on cessation of iron supplement therapy, the anemia and hair loss has returned, suggesting that iron deficiency is one of the main factors that promote hair loss and other hair disorders. Iron deficient patients should be referred to general practitioners or internal physicians.
Androgenetic alopecia, as the name suggests is a patterned, progressive and irreversible hair loss process from the scalp. According to research, prominent androgenetic alopecia occurs in about 50% of men by the age of 50 and 50% of women go through some degree of alopecia at the age of 60. Progressive alopecia also occurs in about most men and women as they age. Sometimes this may occur only in the form of frontal hair line loss. Perquisites for androgenetic alopecia are a genetic predisposition and the presence of circulating androgens in our body. “Androgen is the generic term for any natural or synthetic compound, usually a steroid hormone, that stimulates or controls the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics in vertebrates by binding to androgen receptors.” Thus, excess of these androgens can lead to progressive hair fall or alopecia. Testosterone is a form of androgen which controls the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics. Excess of testosterone, especially among men has become one of the known causes of alopecia.
Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) relates to the loss of the central scalp hair density which can occur among women after puberty. Alopecia, as we commonly know it, occurs to more than 50% of women after the age of 50. Similar to male pattern baldness, genetics play a major role in the hair loss of women. The diagnosis of hair loss amongst women is a complex process as it requires the history of the patient, a physical examination, laboratory work and the clinical biopsy of the scalp to differentiate hair loss from other causes. Contrary to male pattern baldness, FPHL does not progress at a brisk pace and hair loss patterns often stop at certain stages and stabilize. Most researchers are still trying to find as to why centrifugal hair loss occurs in FPHL without the disposition of the front hair line. The comparative prevalence of hair loss clinical patterns in women is still unknown. Most treatments to FPHL are still limited in the success degree of efficacy.
The excess oil present at the scalp of our head often results in hair disorders such as dandruff or seborrhea of the scalp. This disorder of the excess hair oil secreting sebaceous glands is similar to the lesser known form of dandruff that is constituted with the formation of greasy and crusty scales on the scalp. The most common form of dandruff is the dry flaky type that causes the irritation of the scalp. However, in both the cases, excess hair oil is the main cause that combines itself with dead cell flakes to from normal sloughing, clogging follicles and disturbing the hair reproduction cycle. Dry hair will often exist with this syndrome as the oil flakes clogging at the follicles often become unreachable to the hair shaft. Thus, sometimes using hair oil can aggravate the problem of dry hair. Also, when the sebum combines with hair perspiration, it forms into hard, crystal type follicle plugs. This formation causes follicle congestion and tissue hardening which blocks the flow of nutrients to the hair, thus promoting hair thinning and hair loss. Shampooing your hair with the right product can help you restore the balance of oil in your hair, and by removing hair impurities it can provide our hair the opportunity to receive regular nutrition.
Damaged hair results in the reduction of the hair strength and quality, which are caused by the genetic changes in the structure, composition and diameter of the hair fiber. The disorders mainly occur due to the environmental manipulation such as chemical or physical damage to the cortex and the cuticle. In time, the cuticle becomes relatively thin and fragile and becomes extremely sensitive to stress such as heat and chemicals. Thus, when your hair starts thinning (which is the primary stage of hair loss), it is recommended to take even further care of your hair, as they become more susceptible to damage. As thinning occurs, hair breaks and splits more easily. The hair also becomes dry due to loss of humidity. Hair usually needs 17% to 35% of humidity in order to appear fresh and healthy. When thinning occurs, it is imperative to use the right product that suits the needs of your delicate hair.
Now, before we get into the bottom of hair disorders, it is important to have a look at the composition and properties of the hair fiber. The hair fiber, the most visible product of the hair follicle is chiefly constructed from keratin proteins. It is the deficiency of this protein that mainly results in the process of hair loss. The hair itself is composed of raw elements such as 50% carbon, 20% oxygen, 17% nitrogen, 6% hydrogen and 5% sulfur. The hair also contains small traces of magnesium, iron zinc, and other minerals. The hair shaft of the hair follicles consists of the cortex, the cuticle and the medulla. The present of these minerals and the structure of the hair make them durable to last 1000s of years. The hair construction is also very strong. According to research, if a fiber of hair is healthy, then it can be compared to the strength of a copper wire. Finally, the hair is also elastic in nature, thus allowing it to be stretched up to 10% before going through any permanent damage. These properties will allow us to get a better grasp as to why we suffer from hair diseases and lose hair prematurely.
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