HAIR LOSS
SEASONAL HAIR LOSS
SEASONAL EFFLUVIUM
The term 'Seasonal Hair Loss' refers to increased hair loss during the spring period (late February to May) and the autumn period (September to November). Both sexes are equally affected.
The causes leading to seasonal hair loss have not yet been fully elucidated, but hypotheses are being made:
- Some scholars recognise a genetic inheritance connected with the seasonal process of coat shedding characteristic of mammals;
- Other scholars, on the other hand, believe that it is due to the variation in the ratio of hours of light to hours of darkness, which influence hormonal balance;
- Other trichologists, finally, give a more 'social' explanation of the phenomenon, linking increased hair loss to the return to the polluted city life after the summer holiday period, characterised by stress, return to work, hectic pace of life, worries.
Considering that any aggression on the scalp generally results in hair loss after two to three months, as far as autumn hair loss is concerned, it is believed that the aggressiveness of the summer sun's rays can cause stress on the hair bulbs, as UV rays accumulate free radicals that accelerate the hair bulbs' entry into telogen, inducing an effluvium that is sometimes very worrying.
For spring hair loss, on the other hand, it is thought that the cold of winter causes a vasoconstriction of the scalp, slowing down the activity of the hair bulbs, resulting in a more or less substantial amount of hair entering telogen, with consequent hair loss in the time span from February to May.
Regardless of the cause, an increase in seasonal hair loss is considered a physiological phenomenon of natural 'replacement'.
STRESS-INDUCED HAIR LOSS
ACUTE OR CHRONIC EFFLUVIUM
There is plenty of scientific evidence that stress causes hair loss. Many people in periods of prolonged stress or two to three months after particularly critical moments, experience more or less intense hair loss.
Psychogenic Alopecia (always understood as a fall) is a phenomenon of psychosomatic origin caused by stress and nervous tension.
Studies have shown that a significant and repeated load of stress induces both the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland (the hypothalamus-pituitary axis connects the nervous system to the endocrine system) to release corticotropic hormones (Cortisol) that enter the circulation reaching the cells deputed to hair growth, causing dermal inflammation, weakening and hair loss.
Every stress or stressful event, whether endogenous (internal) or exogenous (external) in nature, leads to both a psychological and physical reaction, which often manifests itself in hair loss.
Stress Alopecia in Women, Effluvium in acute or chronic telogen, is manifested by thinning of the hair throughout the scalp and especially in the central area connecting the frontal hairline to the top of the head. (Digestive and Nervous Incidence)
Stress Alopecia in MenAlso in this case Telogenic Effluvium, in addition to thinning affecting the entire scalp, is characterised by hair receding at a rapid rate. In this case there will be an overlapping of both Effluvium Telogen and Defluvium Telogen (Androgenetic Alopecia).
The symptoms present in Stress Effluvium are:
- hair loss
- sebaceous hypersecretion
- seborrheic dermatitis
- itching all over the scalp
- deep scalp tension or skin pain.
Obviously, the first strategy to use in such cases is to remove and eliminate the causes of stress, which is sometimes impossible.
Modern life almost constantly brings us stressful situations to deal with and some of them last for a long time.
Let us remember that hair loss is not a disease, but a symptom of a psycho-organic system that no longer works in harmony.
PREMATURE HAIR LOSS
Recent studies have shown that approximately one in five children tends to lose their hair prematurely. This problem does not only affect boys, but also girls.
In the majority of cases, in males, it is androgenetic alopecia (Defluvium), thus genetic-inherited, progressive and scarring.
It is necessary to bear in mind that factors of psychological origin, such as performance anxiety, traumas and emotional tensions, are the source and cause of Stress Alopecia.
Boys are affected much more (65%) than girls (35%).
Nowadays, the number of girls at pubertal or post-pubertal age who are afflicted by hair loss is considerably and steadily increasing.
Among the causes leading to hair loss in girls could be thehe 'bad' sleep, incorrect nutrition (very restrictive or unvarying diets) cigarette smoking, use and abuse of alcohol, drugs and medication, anxiogenic-depressive states.
Hair loss often manifests itself in excessive sebum production and thinning hair, which becomes thinner and more fragile. They eventually fall out and do not grow back.
Hair loss has serious psychological consequences in both adults and young people.
Thinning, receding hairline, miniaturisation of the hair shafts and a decrease in the number of hairs cause a sense of shame and inadequacy, leading young people to isolate themselves.
Many children end up not attending school precisely to avoid contact with their peers.
Furthermore, it is clinically proven that hair loss causes a sense of inadequacy that seriously impairs an adolescent's psychological development.
In addition to a problem that is initially only aesthetic, there is a deep psychological crisis that often results in severe depression; a young person in that situation feels uncomfortable because of concern for the judgement of others.
The mirror becomes an enemy that, paradoxically, one can no longer do without because it allows one to control the progress of thinning or receding hairline, generating a chronic state of anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Guys with such a problem try to 'fix their hair' so that the receding hairline is noticed as little as possible.
All this leads young people to a reduction in their self-esteem and confidence and to losing sight of their goals, leading them to drop out of studies or work, and also contributing to the loss of friendships and love relationships.
The best weapon always remains prevention.
In fact, it is necessary to solve the problem at the root, before it manifests itself irreversibly, through the application of trichological treatments and targeted regenerating paths, which guarantee the restoration of a good scalp condition, regulating sebum secretion, stimulating the metabolisms of the reproductive cells and at the same time keeping the skin detoxified and oxygenated.
BALDNESS - ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA
ANDROGENETIC DEFLUVIUM (AGA)
It is the most frequent of the non-scarring definitive alopecias: hence the term 'Common Baldness'.
Androgenetic Alopecia is a chronic, hormonally-based (-androgens are male hormones), genetically determined condition characterised by the progressive involution of hair follicles on the scalp and miniaturisation of the resulting hair.
Androgenetic Alopecia is the consequence of Androgenetic Defluvium, which consists of a progressive superficialisation, depigmentation and miniaturisation up to total atrophy, of the hair follicles of the frontoparietal and vertex area.
Clinically it is defined (according to Hamilton) by:
- progressive retreat of the hair insertion line
- opening of the frontoparietal angles (hairline) that gives the frontal line its characteristic male M-shape,
- slow loss of vertex hair up to the alopecic involvement of the entire upper part of the scalp with typical sparing of the nape of the neck and supra-ear temporal areas, finally leading to 'crown baldness'.
Androgenetic Alopecia is often accompanied by seborrhea and desquamation (dandruff) and for this reason is also called Male Seborrheic Alopecia.
Androgenetic Alopecia is sustained by the presence of normal plasma androgen hormone levels and by familial genetic inheritance (hence the term Androgenetic)
ALOPECIA AREATA
L'Alopecia areata is a fairly common autoimmune-type problem. It affects in its most intense forms about 1% of the Caucasian and Asian population without distinction between male and female. In its milder forms, however, it is estimated that between 15 and 25% of the population is affected.
The problem is characterised by the appearance of one or more round, hairless patches of skin that appear suddenly, even within 24/48 hours, without any particular symptoms.
Only in rare cases do sufferers complain of itching, pain, irritation, redness or swelling.
It is often associated with other autoimmune problems such as Vitiligo and Thyroid.
This anomaly rarely affects those who already have Androgenetic Alopecia.
Alopecia Areata falls into the category of non scarring alopecia, as there is no formation of fibrous connective tissue that completely destroys the pilo-sebaceous apparatus.
The affected area is said to suffer an (as yet unknown) causal 'insult' with rapid arrest of cell regeneration and subsequent Anagen hair loss. For this to occur, it is necessary for what is called an 'insult' to find follicles and hair in the affected areas that are susceptible to attack.
The vertex and nape areas generally have a longer Anagen and this is perhaps why they tend to be the areas most affected by this skin anomaly.
The discovery of a blotch or blotches literally throws the sufferer into panic, who, if not properly supported and calmed, ends up living with great anxiety, leading to depression and social isolation.
NO PANIC!
SCARRING ALOPECIAS
Scarring alopecias occur when, for often unknown reasons, hair falls out and does not grow back due to the destruction of the hair follicle and the germinative papilla with the formation of scar tissue.
FRONTAL FIBROSING ALOPECIA
What is Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia?
Frontal fibrosing alopecia, first described in 1994,
is a scarring alopecia selectively affecting the frontotemporal hairline region, and is considered a variant of Lichen Planopilare.
It mainly affects women after the menopause, and has a slow ex-progressive course.
The frontal hairline recedes progressively and the forehead becomes higher and higher.
More or less severe thinning of the eyebrows is often associated.
Frontal fibrosing alopecia is manifested by a band of scarring alopecia localised at the level of the frontal, temporal and parietal hairline.
receding hairline of the periauricular area is also common
The occipital region is only rarely involved. The skin of the alopecic region is distinguished from the skin of the forehead by the absence of signs of photoageing: the skin is clear, thin and smooth.
Temporal and frontal veins are often very noticeable due to thinning of the skin.
The distance between the nose hairline and the hairline can be up to 9-10 cm. In addition, there is a total disappearance of the hair of the fleece at the new hairline.
Hairline hair shows mild perifollicular hyperkeratosis (keratotic papules around the follicular ostium) associated with erythema.
Complete or partial alopecia of the eyebrows is observed in 50-75% of the persons who manifest this anomaly (true disease).
a lack of body hair is also common.
Trichoscopy shows absence of follicular ostia in the alopecic band.
The hair bordering the back of the alopecia shows sleeves of keratinous material and the skin is erythematous.
It is also common to observe twisted and fractured hairs at various distances from the follicular ostium.
Scarring Alopecia is the consequence of an inflammation of the hair follicles in the hairline, but why this inflammatory aggression develops is still unknown.
The fact that the disease almost exclusively affects the female sex suggests that the trigger may be a chemical used predominantly or exclusively by women, but studies to date have not yielded any clear results.
Contacting a qualified professional is always the best choice when dealing with concerns related to the health of your skin and hair. Whether you are uncertain about the nature of any abnormalities or simply want confirmation, an expert can make all the difference. A timely and accurate diagnosis is a crucial step for the well-being of your skin and hair, providing you with peace of mind and an appropriate treatment plan.
