Types of hair loss in women

Alopecia is a disease that affects patients of any age. There are several types of baldness, each with its own characteristic symptoms. Let's look at the main types of hair loss in women:

1. Androgenic – occurs due to increased production of male sex hormones, which provoke the formation of dihydrotestosterone. The substance inhibits the functioning of hair follicles, the hairs become thin, lose their color and stop growing. This type of baldness can also occur due to hereditary factors.
2. Diffuse - associated with disorders in the endocrine system, strict diets, unbalanced nutrition, various diseases. Curls fall out evenly over the entire surface of the head, become very thin, lose volume.
3. Focal – occurs with itching and irritation of individual areas of the skin. Strands fall out in clumps, leaving behind round and oval bald spots all over the head. Occurs due to hormonal imbalance, metabolic disorders or as a result of genetic predisposition.
4. Cicatricial - chemical and thermal burns of the scalp leave behind cicatricial changes, i.e. scars. At the site of damage, hair follicles die and are no longer restored. The pathological condition can occur after infectious and viral diseases of a chronic nature, deep purulent acne on the head.
5. Traumatic - occurs in women who have worn tight hairstyles for a long period of time. Because of this, the supply of oxygen to the dermis is disrupted, which negatively affects the condition of the bulbs. Rough combing, curl extensions, dreadlocks, African braids have a detrimental effect.
6. Psychosomatic – this type occurs due to problems with the central nervous system. In case of nervous system disorders, patients pull out hairs, eyebrows and eyelashes on their own. The painful condition is accompanied by depression, nervous tension, irritability.
7. Endocrine (hormonal) – occurs due to thyroid disease and imbalance of hormones in this organ.

The method of treatment and further preventive recommendations depend on the type of baldness.

Diffuse hair loss in women

The most common type of alopecia that women face is diffuse. Hair loss can reach 150-1000 hairs per day. The disease leads to disruption of hair nutrition, deterioration of their quality. This entails not only cosmetic but also psychological problems.

Diffuse alopecia is characterized by uniform thinning of the hair. About 40% of women under 50 years of age face this problem. The mechanism of its development is associated with a violation of one of the stages of hair growth.

The main causes of diffuse alopecia include:

• Drug therapy with retinoids, beta-blockers, cytostatics, anticonvulsants and other drugs.
• Exacerbation of chronic diseases.
• Hormone-dependent pathologies.
• Thyroid dysfunction.
• Stress and emotional overstrain.
• Infectious diseases.
• Immunodeficiency states.

The methods of treatment depend on the causes of the painful condition. Therapy may include taking medications (hormones, antibiotics, vitamins), physical therapy to accelerate the growth of strands and strengthen them. Local stimulation of follicles with shampoos, masks, sprays that improve blood supply and microcirculation is also necessary.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ]

Focal hair loss in women

The main age of women who have encountered focal alopecia is 15-35 years. This type of alopecia does not harm the general condition of the body, but is a significant cosmetic defect. Left unattended, alopecia quickly begins to progress and provokes severe disorders of the nervous system.

Focal hair loss is most often associated with the influence of autoimmune factors. The body's defense system incorrectly identifies follicles, taking them for foreign tissue. Because of this, immunoglobulins are detected in the structure of hair follicles in patients with a pronounced form of the disease.

There are a number of factors that influence the development of the disease:

• Genetic predisposition.
• Long-term viral or infectious diseases.
• Sinusitis, tonsillitis, dental pathologies.
• Disorders of the endocrine system.

The etiology of focal alopecia is associated with hormonal imbalance, which entails disorders in the endocrine system. Pathological functioning of the autonomic system leads to problems with microcirculation. Spasms of capillaries and arteries increase blood viscosity. This in turn contributes to slower blood circulation and deterioration of follicle nutrition.

Alopecia areata has several forms:

1. Local - oval bald spots.
2. Ribbon-shaped - the hairless area is most often located from the back of the head to the temples, which visually resembles a ribbon.
3. Subtotal – manifests itself as small foci that gradually spread, increase in size and merge.
4. Total – uniform loss of strands, loss of eyebrows and eyelashes is also possible.
5. Universal - bald spots appear on different parts of the head, gradually growing over and recurring again.
6. Alopecia areata - accelerated baldness with loss of nail plates. It is the most difficult to treat.

According to the symptoms, focal alopecia goes through several stages, let's consider them:

• Progressive – hair loss occurs with itching, tingling and burning. Hyperemia and mild inflammation appear in the bald spots. The hair around the bald spot is shortened. Increased thinning of the hair occurs during combing and washing the head. The follicles are atrophied.
• Subacute - inflammatory lesions form on the head, which quickly spread, leaving behind bald spots and areas with shortened strands. Over time, the inflammatory process is replaced by increased pallor of the skin.
• Regression – new hairs appear in the bald areas, but they are thinner and more brittle than the rest of the hair. At first, they are light in color, but gradually become pigmented.

If focal alopecia is mild, then dystrophy of nails, eyebrows or eyelashes does not occur. Treatment consists of a complex of drug, physiotherapeutic and surgical therapy. If necessary, patients are provided with psychological assistance. A comprehensive treatment approach allows you to normalize the condition of your hair.

[ 4 ], [ 5 ]

Hormonal hair loss in women

Active substances that stimulate the body to perform certain tasks and functions are hormones. They are responsible for metabolic processes, the state of the immune system, mood, reproductive functions, the condition of the hair on the head and other parts of the body.

This form of alopecia is a sign of increased testosterone levels in the female body, that is, the male sex hormone, which has a negative effect on hair follicles. The problem occurs when there is insufficient production of estrogens. The main causes of hormonal baldness in women include:

1. Postpartum period – an increase in sex hormones during pregnancy makes the hair thick and strong, but after childbirth the condition worsens. This is due to a sharp decrease in estrogen levels and their gradual restoration for the period before pregnancy. Normalization of the hormonal background takes up to six months.
2. Dysfunction of the adrenal glands/ovaries, thyroid disease - these organs are responsible for the production of sex hormones, so disruptions in their work affect the condition of the hair and the entire body.
3. Taking oral contraceptives and hormonal drugs - very often problems with curls make themselves known after a course of hormonal therapy or stopping taking contraceptives. Due to the lack of hormonal "feeding", the level of hormones decreases sharply, which leads to temporary increased hair loss.
4. Menopause – after 40 years, the female body reduces the intensity of the ovaries, which leads to a decrease in estrogens. Age-related changes provoke thinning of hair, deterioration of the skin, nails and general well-being.
5. Emotional shocks and stress – nervous system disorders lead to intensive production of cortisol, which increases production of testosterone and its derivative – dihydrotestosterone. Intensive hair loss is observed 2-3 months after the stress factor.
6. Hereditary predisposition - if there were cases of alopecia on the maternal line, then there is a risk of inheriting it.

There are a number of symptoms that indicate hormonal imbalance in women: menstrual cycle irregularities, weight gain, increased activity of the sebaceous glands, male-pattern hair growth, decreased libido, and a deepening of the voice. The so-called hormonal hair loss may also be associated with seasonal factors.

To determine the cause of the painful condition, it is necessary to determine the level of sex hormones and undergo a number of other laboratory and instrumental studies. The treatment is complex, aimed at restoring the level of hormones and normalizing their production.

Androgenic hair loss in women

Progressive baldness caused by the effect of male sex hormones androgens on hair follicles is androgenetic alopecia. The pathological condition occurs not only in men, but also in women, proceeding according to the male type. The following factors contribute to the appearance of a cosmetic defect:

• Diseases of the endocrine system.
• Tumors that produce male sex hormones.
• Taking corticosteroids, antidepressants, steroids and other medications.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome and other gynecological diseases.
• Hormonal imbalance.

Given the above reasons, genetic predisposition is not a risk factor for androgenic alopecia, unlike androgenetic alopecia. The disease is characterized by slow progression with thinning, loss of volume and loss of curls. The hair thins in the frontal and parietal areas, which is especially noticeable from the central parting.

The pathological process can last for several years. Consulting a doctor when the first symptoms of the disease appear, that is, at its early stages, gives a chance to stop the disease and restore the health of the curls. Diagnosis of androgenic alopecia consists of determining sex hormones and thyroid hormones. Microscopic examination of hair follicles and a phototrichogram are also performed.

The treatment is complex, therefore it includes taking medications to normalize hormone levels, physiotherapy procedures and cosmetic care of the hair. The therapy is long-term, but the first positive results are noticeable 3-4 months after the start of treatment.

[ 6 ], [ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ], [ 11 ]

Telogen effluvium in women

During growth, hair goes through several stages:

1. Anogen is a phase of active growth, lasting up to 7 years. It is characterized by increased division of cells, which actively move to the follicular sac, growing through it and forming a hair shaft. About 85% of all strands are in the anogen.
2. Catogen is a transitional stage lasting up to 30 days. During this period, the hair root remains without nutrition from the hair papilla, which leads to follicle atrophy.
3. Telogen is a resting stage lasting up to 6 months. The root moves to the surface of the skin and falls out. This is a physiological process. A person loses up to 100 hairs daily.

Violation of one of the stages leads to loss of curls. Telogen alopecia is a temporary loss of strands at the telogen stage. Hair loss occurs under the influence of stress factors, which can be both physical and emotional:

• Increased excitability of the nervous system.
• Disturbance of sleep/wake cycle.
• Increased fatigue.
• Deficiency of vitamins and microelements.
• Depressive state, apathy.
• Negative impact of environmental factors.
• Termination of pregnancy, postpartum period.
• Iron deficiency anemia.
• Stop taking hormonal contraceptive drugs.

The first sign of telogen effluvium is increased hair loss and uniform thinning of the scalp. Baldness is diagnosed by carefully examining the hair. The hair that has fallen out has a healthy, undamaged shaft, and the follicle is light in color. With this type of disorder, about 20% of all hair is lost.

Telogen effluvium cannot be treated, since the strands in the telogen stage will fall out anyway. The doctor's task is to improve the condition of the hair with the help of various physical procedures and cosmetics that strengthen the curls and stimulate their increased growth.

Male Pattern Hair Loss in Women

Male pattern baldness affects women. According to medical statistics, the pathology occurs at the age of 20-40 years. The hair becomes thinner, thinner and falls out. Bald spots are localized in the crown area. The main causes of this disorder include:

• Genetic predisposition.
• Hyperandrogenism – develops with polycystic ovary syndrome, as well as after long-term use of synthetic progesterone preparations.
• Disruption (reduction) of the anagen phase during hair growth.
• Age-related degenerative changes in the body.
• Improper hair care.
• Traumatic cosmetic procedures.
• Skin diseases.
• Iron deficiency anemia.
• Chemotherapy.

Androgenic alopecia has a number of characteristic symptoms. The first thing women encounter is widening of partings during combing. Also observed is thinning of hair from the temples to the forehead, in some cases there is complete baldness on the crown.

Diagnosis of the disease condition consists of a set of laboratory and instrumental methods. Particular attention is paid to the trichogram, i.e. the assessment of the appearance of the hair roots and their life cycle. Treatment depends on the cause of the disorder. As a rule, therapy consists of normalizing the production of female sex hormones and eliminating diseases that cause male-pattern baldness.

Chronic hair loss in women

There are many factors that lead to hair loss. Some of them occur in the body on a permanent basis, causing chronic alopecia. These reasons include:

• Diseases of the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus).
• Dysfunction of the adrenal glands and thyroid gland.
• Hormone-dependent tumors.
• Taking oral contraceptives.
• Long-term treatment with medications.
• Chronic stress and emotional experiences.
• Unbalanced diet.
• Living in harsh environmental conditions.

Chronic baldness in women is characterized by thinning hair on the crown, less often on the temples and in the frontal area. Treatment of the cosmetic problem is based on eliminating its cause. Particular attention is paid to preventive measures aimed at strengthening and stimulating the growth of curls.

[ 12 ], [ 13 ], [ 14 ]

Seasonal hair loss in women

One of the common reasons for the deterioration of hair, skin and general well-being is vitamin deficiency. As a rule, the deficiency of nutrients is especially acute in the autumn-spring period. Seasonal hair loss is explained by the following factors:

• Lack of vitamins and microelements.
• Climate change.
• Unbalanced diet.
• Decreased levels of the hormone estrogen.

The duration of intensive hair loss is from 1 to 3 months. If the period of temporary alopecia coincides with the physiological phase of changing curls, then the loss process can last for 3-4 months.

At the first symptoms of seasonal baldness, it is necessary to improve the diet and improve the quality of hair care. It is recommended to use shampoos, masks and sprays to strengthen and increase hair growth. To improve microcirculation and metabolic processes, strengthen the follicles, head massage and other physiotherapy procedures are recommended.

It is also worth protecting your hair from the negative impact of the environment. In the cold season, wear warm hats, and in the summer, use tonics to protect strands from ultraviolet radiation and wear panamas/hats.