Hair Loss Info

Androgenetic Alopecia:

This type of hair loss is attributed to our genes, both in men and women. Whether it’s from your father, grandfather or even an uncle you may not have met, hair loss can be handed down by family members from up to three generations. At a certain point in our lives, our testosterone converts into dihydrotestosterone, which attach our hair follicles and begins to strangle them, thus affecting their blood intake. This causes the follicle to miniaturize, thus affected our hair. If not treated, this can cause the follicle to die of malnutrition (due to lack of blood), which results in no more hair being produced, leading to thinning or balding. For men, the pattern can lead to complete balding, where as in women, it usually results in a diffused pattern of hair loss, with exception to extreme female hair loss suffering from male pattern balding as well.

Alopecia Areata:

This type of hair loss is actually caused by our own body’s autoimmune deficiency. Whether it’s due to stress or anxiety, our follicles can be adversely affected, causing quarter size hair loss. If treated correctly with steroid shots or creams, hair follicles can regain its strength and begin to produce the same hair as before. However, if left untreated, this disease can advanced into Alopecia Totalis, which can result in aggressive, permanent hair loss. This disease affects both men and women.

Traction Alopecia:

Women tend to suffer from this type of hair loss more than men due to the hair styles they use. By constantly wearing their hair in a tight fashion (whether through ponytails or braids), patients begin to lose their hair in their entire frontal hairline. Although one can wear their hair in these styles, it is highly recommended, though, to not wear them so tight and for long periods of time.Hair transplantation can help to regain a patient’s hairline suffering from traction alopecia. However, we caution them to adjust their hairstyles in order to avoid future hair loss again.

Scarring Alopecia:

Can be caused by physical trauma(car accident or a fight), burns, a disease such as Lupus or by a bacterial infection. Affected areas must first be treated before considering hair transplantation.

Trichotillomania:

This type of hair loss is due to constant plucking of the hair. Any hair that is plucked too often can cause damage to the follicle, thus affecting future hair growth. Since this is due to obsessive-compulsive disorder, it is recommended patients see a psychologist in order to overcome the disorder and then have it treated by a hair specialist.

Telogen Effluvium:

Occurs when we lose hair prematurely during our hair cycle process. Our hair cycles every 4-6 years. The anagen phase is the active growth phase of hair. Then we reach our peak growth during the catagen phase when hair stops growing and is on its way out. Due to stress, poor nutrition or hormonal imbalance, patients reach the telogen phase quicker than normal and suffer greater thinning as a result. With a balanced diet or help from an experienced doctor with hormonal balance, a patient can recuperate his/her hair again.

Loose-Anagen Syndrome:

This hair loss occurs mostly in youngpatients who suffer from excessive loss of hair due to their hair follicles not being firmly set in their scalp. This condition improves as patient gets older.

Triangular Alopecia:

Affects mostly young patients and is found in the temple areas and not know to expand to other areas of the scalp. It is a non-inflammatory and non-scarring form of hair loss. This can be resolved with hair transplantation.