Hair loss: women also concerned!

Women are not immune to hair loss which is a taboo subject for some of them as the issue remains locked in a sort of societal silence.

In the collective consciousness, the man is the only one to suffer a consequent loss of hair and not to find the dense hair of his young years. Yet many women are also prone to this evil that insidiously erodes self-confidence.

Often the cause that leads to abnormal hair loss in women is androgenetic. Androgens prevent the proper renewal of the hair, which becomes, by force, fragile. This is because a woman with increased scalp sensitivity to androgens is more likely to experience hair loss. Ultimately, the hair is more like a down.

What are the aggravating factors that cause androgenic hair loss?

• Family history: If a member of your family suffers from a similar problem, your chances of developing androgenic hair loss are greater
• Post-childbirth: on a healthy scalp, hair loss after childbirth is normal and decreases within six months. On the other hand, the hair grows back with difficulty on a sensitive androgenic scalp and becomes very fine.
• A psychological shock (stress): when one is brought to live stressful moments, the body secretes androgens which, unfortunately, only disrupt hair renewal
• Deficiency of trace elements (iron, zinc, etc.)
• Thyroid problems
• Excess bad cholesterol
• Harmful hair treatments (the constant wearing of headgear, aggressive coloring, brushing)

Note that age is not necessarily a trigger for androgenic hair loss. However, certain critical moments in a woman’s life can worsen the hair condition: menopause, childbirth, puberty, etc.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALOPECIA

Abnormal hair loss, called “Alopecia,” in medical jargon, comes in different forms, from the most common to the rarest.

Typically, an average person loses 100 hairs per day. Beyond this figure, the observation is precise: the person suffers from a pathology (alopecia), the type of which must be diagnosed by a professional.

In this article, we will go through the different forms of alopecia and the solutions offered by the Hair Center.

The different forms of alopecia

Androgenic alopecia 

As explained in our previous articles, androgenic alopecia is the most common form of baldness in people with abnormal hair loss. This part will serve as a reminder.

Who? Both men and women are affected by this form of alopecia.

What is the cause? If a person suffers from too great a sensitivity (abnormal reaction) to testosterone (male hormones), the risk of androgenic alopecia should not be neglected.

How do you recognize androgenic alopecia? The hair becomes thinner and more fragile, which leads to a gradual loss of hair mass. The top of the skull becomes bald, and the gulfs widen to make room for a crown.

Diffuse alopecia

Diffuse alopecia is a form of hair loss that extends over the entire hair.

Who? Men but especially women, are affected by this form of alopecia.

What is the cause? Medication, severe stress, childbirth, chemotherapy, or even an endocrine problem are prone to diffuse alopecia.

How do you recognize diffuse alopecia? As written above, hair loss is homogeneous over the entire head.

Circumscribed alopecia

Circumscribed alopecia, also known as alopecia areata, concentrates on the part of the hair.

Who? Just like I said previously, both men and women are affected by this form of baldness.

What is the cause? Intense stress is one of the leading causes that triggers alopecia areata (circumscribed alopecia). Indeed, this kind of constant stress can cause inflammation of the hair follicles. The roots of the hair are then significantly weakened without being broken.

How do you recognize a circumscribed alopecia? Alopecia areata is characterized by hair loss in one or more areas of the skull.

Traction alopecia

Traction alopecia is a relatively common form of hair loss.

Who? Men and women who have frizzy or mixed hair and who regularly do tight braids or weaves.

What is the cause? African hair suffers from many problems and constraints:

• Frizzy or mixed hair is one of the most fragile types of hair there is. While Caucasian hair takes root at least 6-7 millimeters below the skin (8 millimeters for Asian hair), African hair is only 4 millimeters. Therefore, when this type of hair is constantly pulled by elastic, braids, or weaving, it is at risk of being uprooted.
• Because of its incredible fragility, African hair constantly needs to be in an environment where humidity is high (99%). If the hair cannot benefit from a humidity level that approaches this percentage, there is a good chance that it will break more easily or fall out.
• Too brutal disentangling risks weakening the hair structure and uprooting it.

All of these problems lead to traction alopecia.

How do you recognize traction alopecia? The areas of the skull affected by this form of baldness are located at the border of the face. Indeed, the roots present in this area are more fragile and, therefore, subject to falling.

Congenital alopecia

Congenital alopecia, also called scarring baldness, is a rare form of hair loss.

Who? Both men and women are victims of congenital alopecia.

What is the cause? An abnormality in the constitution of the hair follicle is the leading cause of scar baldness. This anomaly is very often the result of an autoimmune reaction. The root of the hair is destroyed; therefore, the hair can no longer grow.

How do you recognize congenital alopecia? The hair looks much more refined and thinner in places.

What are the solutions provided by the Center du Cheveu?

Suppose you are a victim of abnormal hair loss or think you have one of the forms of alopecia explained above. In that case, it is urgent to contact a professional to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

At the Center du Cheveu, you have the promise of a quick, effective and complete hair health check-up! After the diagnosis, you will be offered a solution adapted to your needs. You will be advised and supported throughout the process and even after!