Temporary baldness

The problem with medical statistics is that they rely on figures from hospitals and clinics, leaving out all those who are sick without going to the doctor. That is why from time to time large-scale studies have to be conducted among “healthy” people, that is, among those who are not currently in the hospital, but at home or at work. For example, statistics on baldness show that almost 95% of balding people suffer from androgenic alopecia, while other types of alopecia account for about 5%. This figure had to be questioned after a recent study conducted by L’Oréal among 10,000 randomly selected people.

According to the results of this study, 40% of men and only 1% of women suffer from true progressive baldness. However, 60% of women express concerns about their hair and complain about baldness. Almost all of them suffer from temporary hair loss caused by stress, hormonal and seasonal fluctuations in the body, internal diseases and even fungal hair infections. Therefore, when examining a patient who has come with complaints of baldness, it is necessary to first of all figure out whether the hair loss is temporary. When the cause is eliminated, hair loss stops and hair growth is restored.

Forms of temporary deforestation

Depending on the stage of the hair life cycle at which hair loss occurs, there are two forms of temporary alopecia: telogen effluvium and anagen effluvium.

Telogen effluvium is hair loss in the telogen phase. It occurs under various stresses - physical and emotional. Hair loss is often provoked by sudden weight loss, surgical interventions, divorce, job loss, failures in love, etc. Stress leads to the fact that hair follicles, which should have been in the growth phase for quite a long time, move to the catagen stage, and from there - to telogen.

Then they shed their hair at the same time, after which they enter a new life cycle. Its duration may be normal, or it may be shortened if the impact is repeated. Hair loss in telogen effluvium occurs 3-4, sometimes 5-6 months after stress, so it is difficult for people to associate stress and hair loss. As a rule, hair begins to fall out intensely and randomly all over the head, while there may be no noticeable thinning of hair. However, women are very upset when they see how much hair they lose every day. This can become a source of additional stress, and the process is delayed. It should be remembered that women are generally very prone to telogen effluvium. Sometimes telogen effluvium can be assumed at first glance at a patient who looks nervous, impressionable and emotional.

A special type of telogen effluvium is hair loss after childbirth or after termination of pregnancy. During pregnancy, hair follicles do not enter catagen and remain in anagen until the child is born. Women often note that their hair looks thicker and more voluminous during pregnancy. However, soon after childbirth, the effect of hormones ends, and a significant portion of the follicles finally decide to rest. Therefore, 3 months after childbirth, profuse hair loss occurs. It is aggravated by stress, chronic fatigue and anemia.

Stopping hormonal contraceptives can also cause telogen effluvium in some cases. Many oral contraceptives create a hormonal background in the body similar to that experienced during pregnancy. When the pill is stopped, the follicles stop growing and go into a resting state. Hair loss caused by stopping hormonal contraceptives is usually minor and rarely causes noticeable thinning of the hair.

A special type of telogen effluvium is hair loss after follicle transplantation. The follicles that are transferred to a new location experience stress and stop growing. Three months after the transplantation, the discouraged patient sees that his new hair is falling out intensively. There is no reason to worry, because after a short rest, the follicles will begin a normal growth cycle and the hair will grow again.

Unlike androgenic alopecia, telogen effluvium does not involve atrophy of the hair follicles. Once the hair loss in the telogen stage is complete, the hair will begin to grow. If you give it additional support, it will grow stronger and healthier than before. An important role here is played by the emotional state of the patient, for whom hair loss is a new stress. Thus, the treatment of this type of baldness includes stimulation of hair growth and improvement of its structure, as well as psychological impact on the patient, increasing his faith in the success of the treatment, self-confidence and restoring his emotional balance. It can be said that women suffering from telogen effluvium are the first candidates for baldness treatment in a beauty salon.

In telogen effluvium, hardware cosmetology methods are especially effective - they not only create favorable conditions for new hair growth, but also enjoy great trust among patients (see Physiotherapeutic methods for combating baldness). Massage using vacuum technology is very effective, improving microcirculation in the follicle area. Electrical stimulation of hair follicles - electrotrichogenesis - gives good results. In order for hair to grow well, it is necessary to supply nutrients. There are many compositions that improve the structure and accelerate hair growth. However, as is usually the case with cosmetics, the problem of delivering these substances to the hair roots arises. In these cases, electrophoresis and electroincorporation will help.

Anagen effluvium is a sudden loss of hair caused by exposure to chemicals or radiation. Unlike telogen effluvium, hair falls out without entering telogen. Sudden hair loss is usually observed 1-3 weeks after exposure to chemicals or radiation. This is what happens during the treatment of malignant tumors, which is carried out using radiation or cytostatic agents. Hair loss can be caused by poisoning with arsenic or thallium. During chemotherapy of malignant tumors, up to 90% of hair loss is observed, up to complete baldness.

What causes temporary baldness?

Hair loss can be caused by some diseases. In this case, you need the help of a specialist who will prescribe treatment for the underlying disease. Hair loss can be caused by liver and stomach diseases, as well as:

• Secondary syphilis - hair loss occurs in separate areas. Usually such areas of baldness resemble traces left by moths on woolen fabric. The diagnosis is based on anamnesis and blood tests.
• Scleroderma is a disease in which there is excessive production of collagen, which leads to compaction and thickening of the skin. Hair follicles are compressed, their blood supply is disrupted, resulting in increased hair loss.
• Ringworm is a contagious disease caused by a special fungus.

Hair with ringworm breaks off low at the roots, as if someone had cut round patches on the head. Ringworm must be recognized quickly and the patient must be sent away as soon as possible, explaining to him where to go with such a disease.

Round bald spots do not always indicate ringworm, secondary syphilis, or another disease. They can be a symptom of alopecia areata, which will be discussed in the next section.