Types of Hair Loss
There are many types of hair loss and the first step in creating your new look is to decide which type you
suffer from...
Male Pattern Baldness: When men lose their hair, they tend to lose it in predictable ways, around the hairline and the crown of the head. This happens because the metabolism of Androgen gets involved with an enzyme called 5 Alpha Reductase. This combines with the male hormone, testosterone to create Dihydrotestoterone or DHT. This collision tends to build up on the dermal papilla, which is responsible for carrying the blood supply to the capillaries and tends to be similar to how plaque accumulates on our teeth. When the blood supply is compromised, this causes the hair to suffer and essentially it suffocates until it stops growing.
Alopecia Areata: This is the most common form of an unusual auto-immune skin disease resulting in patchy hair loss on your scalp. It usually starts with a small patch of hair loss and continues with one or more small, round patches of hair loss on your head. Alopecia Areata is considered a skin disease because it occurs on the skin of the hair or scalp. Auto immune disorders such as Areata happen because your hair follicles are mistakenly attacked by your own immune system, resulting in the disruption of the hair growth stage. In all forms of Alopecia, the hair follicles remain alive and are ready to resume normal hair production whenever they receive the appropriate signal from the body.
Alopecia Totalis: This form of Alopecia is when hair loss involves the entire head. This also includes the eyebrows and lashes.
Alopecia Universalis: This form of Alopecia is when hair loss extends to the entire body. Individuals with Universalis don't have eyebrows, lashes, under arm hair, hair on their arms, legs or hair in the genital region.
Androgenetic Alopecia: While natural hair loss in women is generally referred to as female pattern baldness, women's hair loss is rarely classified as true baldness, nor does it often resemble the patterns of hair loss so often seen with men. It is usually diffused thinning of the hair all over the head. Some of the causes are hormone imbalances, genetics, pregnancy, medical issues or external causes.
Traction Alopecia: Most times this form of Alopecia affects African Americans or people who constantly have their hair tightly braided or pulled back and essentially the hair is pulled out at the root. Unfortunately, Traction Alopecia is permanent if not diagnosed very early.
Trichotillomania: This is a compulsion to pull hair out from the head or body and is so strong that it goes far beyond just a "habit". It is a medical condition and experts now think that behaviors like hair pulling may be caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals. The compulsion for hair pulling varies in severity, location, and response to treatment from person to person. This type of hair loss requires professional medical attention.
Many individuals will experience some form of hair loss when their body systems have been compromised in some way. Illness and disease often to blame, as well as medications and diet. The average person loses 50-100 hairs a day. If you feel you are losing more than this amount or your hair is coming out in clumps, please see your physician.
Julie Horner, Hair Enhancement Specialist
8334 S. Maryland Parkway
Suite 104
Las Vegas, NV 89123
Phone: (814) 397-1902
