Male Pattern Baldness

Male Pattern Baldness (also known as alopecia or common baldness) is by far the most common form of hair loss in men. This form of hair loss usually starts with a receding hairline with the hair at the temple. This hair gradually recedes to form an "M" pattern. Then, the hair on the crown of your head begins to thin and eventually this bald spot will meet with the top points of the "M" pattern of receding hair line. Over time, the only remaining hair is the horse-shoe pattern around the sides of the head.

In addition to the change in the hair pattern, there is also a change in the hair appearance - any remaining hair usually is thinner and grows at a below normal rate. The shape of the hair often changes from long, thick, and pigmented hair into fine and unpigmented hair.

Female Pattern Baldness

Female Pattern Baldness is the most common form of hair loss in women. Although some women have receding hairlines, Female Pattern Baldness usually takes the form of overall thinning. Typically, hair density or the number of follicles per square inch of scalp, drops by half or more over a period of several years.

Alopecia aerata

Alopecia aerata is a condition where sudden hair loss occurs in patches. It occurs in approximately 1 in 1,000 people and can affect men, women, and children.

Alopecia aerata can be triggered by stress, medications, birth control pills, pregnancy, various diseases such as thyroid conditions, anemia, syphilis, arthritis, as well as autoimmune disorder. In the case of autoimmune disorder, the body's own immune system attacks the hair follicles. In many cases, Alopecia aerata is a temporary condition, with hair regrowing on the bald patches spontaneously once the underlying causes are resolved.

In some cases, the hair loss condition becomes more severe or recurrent - people may lose eyebrows and lashes in a condition called Alopecia totalis, or even all body hair in a condition called Alopecia universalis.

Other less common forms of hair loss include:

Tinea capitis, where patches of bald spots are caused by fungal infections in the skin of the scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes.

Telogen effluvium, where actively growing hair converts into resting phase because of flu, high fever, severe emotional stress, or pregnancy. This hair would fall off in droves a couple of months later.

Anagen effluvium is the sudden loss of hair due to chemotherapy or radiation therapy, a common treatment for cancer patients.

Trichotillomania is a psychological condition of pulling or plucking one's own hair, usually affecting children.

Traction alopecia, where hair loss is caused by constant pulling of tightly braided hair styles or ponytails.

Overproduction of the Male Hormone DHT

Studies have shown that the overproduction of a specific form of the male hormone testosterone, called dihydrotestosterone or DHT, can lead to hair loss in both men and women. Blocking the production of DHT or preventing the binding of DHT to its receptors in the hair follicles are thought to prevent and stop hair loss.

Indeed, this is the mode of action of several hair loss treatments, including chemical drugs (such as finasteride) and many herbal supplements. Blocking DHT production is usually done by inhibiting the enzyme, called 5-alpha reductase, that converts testosterone to DHT.

As DHT is required for normal sexual functions, blocking overall DHT production may lead to unwanted sexual side effects, such as impotence or erectile dysfunction. When looking for hair loss treatment that prevents the overproduction of DHT, consider a topical solution such as Retane instead of an oral supplement that blocks all DHT production throughout the body.

DHT is not the sole cause of hair loss - there are many other factors that contribute to hair loss and shedding. Depending on your hair loss, your treatment regiment should consider the following:

Lack of Nutrition

Although nutritional deficiencies are usually not a direct cause of hair loss, lack of nutrition is often an underestimated factor. Lack of proper hair nutrition can lead to a condition called Nutrition Deficient Follicle (NDF) as well as the stress of hair follicles, thus shortening the life and durability of hair. Stressed hair is also more susceptible to hair loss due to physical damage.

Fad diets often cause not only stress on the body, but stress on your hair as well. Similarly, crash dieting, rapid changes in eating patterns, and extremely low protein diets can also lead to hair loss.

Extreme lack of overall nutrition, such as those caused by anorexia nervosa, can also cause severe hair loss. Here, the body switches hair from its growing phase into resting phase to conserve energy. The hair would fall out 3 to 4 months later.

Iron deficiency, which leads to the reduction of the number of red blood cells in a condition called anemia, can also cause general thinning of the hair. Zinc deficiency, often accompanied by skin diseases such as psoriasis, can also lead to hair loss and diffuse loss of hair. Vitamin B12 deficiency, commonly found in vegetarians because plant-derived food do not have this vitamin, can also be responsible.

The good news is that hair loss due to lack of nutrition is often the easiest to treat - providing nutrition either directly to your hair or through diet can help stop hair loss and restore hair growth.

Sebum and Cholesterol Plugs

Sebum is an oily secretion of the sebaceous glands, which open out into hair follicles. In most women and some men with hair loss, sebum build up at the root of the hair. Over time, sebum combines with cholesterol to create a hardened plug which cuts off oxygen from the hair follicle and thus starving it of air.

Hardened sebum and cholesterol plugs also provide breeding grounds for bacteria and create accumulation of dirt. These two factors often exacerbate or cause hair loss and general thinning of hair.

Fungus and Diseases

Fungal infection of the scalp can cause hair loss in patches and breakage of the weakened hair shaft. Fungus such as the ringworm fungus (which despite the name, is not a worm), is often implicated in the infectious scalp infection in children. It can be effectively treated by anti-fungal medicines.

Diseases such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, lupus, diabetes, and thyroid disease often have hair loss as one of their symptoms.

Hormonal Irregularities

Changes in your body's hormonal levels often have multiple symptoms, one of which is hair loss. Examples of hormonal irregularities that lead to hair loss are:

Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) - usually accompanied by soft, thin, and easily damaged hair.

Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) - is usually accompanied by coarse, easily damaged hair.

In addition to these two thyroid conditions, thyroid diseases can also manifest itself as hair loss.

Pregnancy - some women experience hair loss about three months after giving birth. This is because while pregnant, their hormonal levels increase and cause hair to keep growing beyond its normal life span. After giving birth, their hormonal levels drop back to normal, thus making the hair fall out and causing the normal hair growth cycle to start over again.

Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy - Some women are predisposed to hair loss after menopause. This is thought to be caused by the lack of estrogen to counteract the effects of DHT. Sometimes, Hormone Replacement Therapy, which is often used to counteract other symptoms of menopause often have the negative effects of hair loss.

Imbalance between the female and male hormones - Similar to what happens in menopause, any imbalance in the levels of the female and male sex hormones that are normally present in women can lead to hair loss and thinning of hair.

Traumatized Hair Follicles

Trauma to hair follicles can lead to progressive or sudden hair loss. Pulling of hair, such as that caused by overly tight hair styles (cornrows, ponytails, and braids) can cause the hair to fall out prematurely. After being pulled, a follicle would normally require about 3 to 4 months to recover. Repeated pulling causes hair to grow back finer, and may lead to permanent hair loss.

Other physical trauma include aggressive combing of wet hair, rough toweling, and overly vigorous scalp massage.

Radiation and chemotherapy, designed to kill the rapidly growing cancer cells, also kill hair growing follicles, and thus lead to hair loss.

Thermal or chemical trauma, such as burns due to waxing, bleaching or dying, perming, and hot oil treatments, can lead to permanent damage to follicles and hair loss. Repeated exposure to chlorine in swimming pools and too much sunlight can contribute to hair loss. Excessive shampooing can also lead to brittle hair that is prone to shedding.

Medicines

Certain types of medicines can cause hair loss. These medicines include: blood thinners or anticoagulants, medicines used for treating gout, vitamin A overdose, birth control pills, and anti-depressants.

Medicines used in chemotherapy to treat cancer can also lead to severe or total hair loss.

The good news is that in most cases, the hair loss is temporary. Once the medicine is no longer taken, hair would then regrow.