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Recently, alopecia in women, or baldness, is becoming more frequent. Hair loss is not accompanied by pain and ailments, does not undermine health and does not cause physically felt symptoms.
But it inflicts psychological trauma on women, depresses the psyche, disrupts interest in life, and even leads to depression.
This problem deserves special attention because it concerns the appearance and beauty that is important for any woman.
When your hair is thinning gradually, responding to age-related changes in the body, you can get used to it and take it for granted.
Alopecia what is it
When hair loss occurs suddenly and for unknown reasons, forming a bald spot, it can shock anyone. The prospect of baldness deprives a woman of the joy of life. You have to cover your head with a handkerchief, avoid capturing photos, socializing and appearing in public. But this disease occurs even in children.
Many factors affect the condition of the hair, such as proper care, balanced nutrition, hormones and much more. There is a mass of diseases associated with hair loss, try to figure it out.
Alopecia or baldness is a pathological loss of the scalp. The disease is very unpleasant, especially for women. Statistics say that this disease occurs in a third of women after 40 years, there are cases of the disease at an earlier age. Basically, this disease leads to a partial thinning of the hair, but there are also more severe forms.
There are several types of alopecia, each of which requires systematic treatment. At the first signs of alopecia, you should consult a dermatologist or any hair related doctor.
Causes Affect Baldness
Every woman should know the causes of the disease in order to avoid their appearance and take preventive measures. It may be noted such moments of the origin of this disease:
- Polycystic ovary – Hair loss, in this case, is associated with a deficiency in the production of the hormone estrogen and a surplus (excess) production of the hormone testosterone. Polycystic ovaries cause many external manifestations in young girls. It is associated with the emergence of such diseases as acne (acne), weight gain, seborrhea, and more. If left untreated, the consequences can be disappointing.
- Zinc deficiency in the body – One of the most frequent, but easily compensating reasons;
- Constant super cooling of the head;
- Excessive use of caffeine;
- Medication, side effects of which are associated with hair loss. These can be slimming products, hormonal contraceptives, antidepressants, and even aspirin;
- Chronic diseases;
- Scalp parasites, burns, tuberculosis infections, syphilis, lupus, pneumonia, arthritis;
- Iron-deficiency anemia – Another reason that affects the appearance of women. The causes of anemia itself are also numerous, mostly unhealthy diets;
- Period of pregnancy and lactation;
- Hypoteriosis and other diseases of the thyroid gland;
- Stress and nervous disorders;
- Fungal lesion of the scalp;
- Head injuries;
- Chemical and thermal effects on the scalp. Frequent staining, perm, other traumatic effects;
- Chronic telogenous alopecia – The only type of alopecia, the cause of which cannot be found. The only version is a genetic predisposition.
What stages of hair loss are highlighted?
The degree of baldness in women is determined by the Ludwig scale, in which there are 3 types of alopecia:
The first – The thinning of hair, mainly in the region of the crown and forehead.
The second – Moderate hair loss in the same areas.
Third – Sharp thinning of hair in the same areas. But hair on the sides of the head also becomes noticeably sparse.
Types of Alopecia
There are only 4 types of baldness in women: androgenic, focal, diffuse and nesting.
Each species is characterized by its symptoms and requires systemic treatment. Consider each one of them.
Alopecia areata – The name was due to the appearance of the head, affected by alopecia of this species. Hair loss begins with a parting and gradually increases in size. It is characterized by a pink lumen of the scalp and itching.
Diffuse – In 95% of cases, the cause of diffuse alopecia is the pronounced sensitivity of the hair follicle to dihydrotestosterone. In appearance, diffuse alopecia can have 3 different patterns.
- The first is nesting type baldness.
- The second is strip baldness. At the same time, “strong” hair falls out over the entire head, but a translucent strip appears in the parietal region.
- The third picture is androgenetic alopecia, characterized by hair loss in the parietal and frontal zone of the head and associated with disruption of the endocrine system. It is considered the most problematic alopecia in women.
Diffuse alopecia is divided into telogen and anagen. In the first case, the cause may be an unhealthy diet, stress, chronic illness, taking any harmful pills and so on. In general, everything that gradually leads to hair loss.
In the second case, the hair follicle dies quickly. The cause can be burns, chemical damage to the scalp, chemotherapy procedures, and even toxic substances. Treatment of diffuse alopecia usually lasts 9 months and successfully cured after finding the cause of baldness.
Focal – It is characterized by local hair loss. Damage centers take on an oval or round shape, of which there are several. There are:
subtotal,
multifocal,
universal nest,
and total focal alopecia.
The last stage of focal alopecia is accompanied by complete loss of hair and damage to the nail plates. The reason is associated with a genetic predisposition due to the influence of external factors, which we described above.
Androgenic – A rare form of alopecia, however, exists. Androgenic baldness is associated with an increase in the body of a woman, the hormone testosterone, or rather its form of dihydrotestosterone. Symptoms: hardened voice, facial hair. In 70% of cases, the cause of androgenic alopecia is associated with a maternal genetic predisposition.
How to deal with baldness in women
The first step that a woman should take when she noticed any symptom of alopecia in her is an immediate visit to a doctor. The problem of baldness is not only external, but also internal. Behind the beauty of hair loss, serious diseases can be hidden.
The doctor must prescribe a comprehensive examination to identify the causes of baldness. Examinations usually include: scraping fungal, a blood test for hemoglobin, iron and endocrine system check.
Drugs for treatment prescribed by a doctor
After the examination, the question is: how to treat baldness?
First of all, internal treatment depends on the cause of the disease and is individual in nature.
Let’s look at what medicines modern medicine offers for the treatment of baldness in women.
In fact, 90% of external baldness cure is associated with the drug minoxidil.
Minoxidil is a solution that awakens the sleeping follicles of the scalp, improves blood flow. Men are prescribed in a 5% solution twice a day. A woman is recommended to use a 2% solution due to the possibility of unwanted hair on the face and body. A significant effect is overtaken after a month of use.
How to keep your hair healthy
The best treatment is prevention. Health comes from the inside. Observe the following rules, and hair loss will bypass you:
Proper nutrition, smoking cessation and excessive alcohol consumption. Healthy lifestyle, physical activity;
Taking B vitamins;
Less traumatize your hair, minimize the use of a hairdryer, ironing, curling.
Limit coffee consumption;
Cover your hair with a hat during the cold season.
Choose the right shampoo, considering your hair type;
Everyone should take care of their health and monitor their condition. Long thick hair – the pride of any woman.
These tips will help you to keep your hair in good condition. At the slightest observation of the symptoms of baldness, contact your doctor, because, in the early stages of the disease, the probability of a complete cure is much higher.