Temporary Hair Loss

The problem of medical statistics is that it operates on figures obtained from hospitals and polyclinics, leaving behind all those who are sick without referring to doctors. Therefore, from time to time, large-scale studies are needed among "healthy" people, that is, among those who are currently not in a hospital, but at home or at work. For example, statistics on baldness shows that almost 95% of bald 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, it turned out that 40% of men and only 1% of women suffer from true progressive alopecia. However, 60% of women express fears for their hair and complaints 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 damage to the hair. Therefore, when examining a patient who came with complaints of baldness, we must first of all understand whether hair loss is a temporary phenomenon. If the cause is eliminated, hair loss stops and growth is restored.

Forms of temporary obsession

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

Telogen effluvium is the hair loss in the telogen stage. It occurs under various stresses - physical and emotional. Often, hair loss is caused by a sharp loss of weight, surgical interventions, divorce, loss of work, failure in love, etc. Stress leads to the fact that the hair follicles, which should have been in the growth phase for quite a long time, go to the catagen stage, and from it to the telogen.

Then they simultaneously discard the hair, and then enter a new life cycle. Its duration may be normal, or it may be shortened if the effect is repeated. Hair loss with 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, the hair begins to fall hard and randomly throughout the head, and there may not be a noticeable thinning of the hair. However, women are very upset, seeing 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 in general are very prone to telogen effluvium. Sometimes telogen effluvium can be assumed at a first glance at the patient, who looks nervous, impressionable and emotional.

A special type of telogen effluvium is hair loss after the birth of the child or after the abortion. During pregnancy, the hair follicles do not go into catagen and remain in the anagen for the entire period before the birth of the child. Often, women note that during pregnancy their hair looks thicker and lush. However, soon after birth, the hormones end, and a significant part of the follicles finally decides to rest. Therefore, after 3 months after childbirth, there is a profuse loss of hair. It is aggravated by stresses, chronic conditions and anemia.

The abolition of hormonal contraceptives also in some cases leads to telogen effluvium. Many oral contraceptives create a hormonal background in the body, similar to that that occurs during pregnancy. When the taking of tablets stops, the follicles stop growth and go into a state of rest. Hair loss caused by the abolition of hormonal contraceptives is usually minor and rarely causes a noticeable thinning of the hair.

A special type of telogen effluvium is hair loss after follicle transplantation. Follicles transferred to a new place, experience stress and stop growing. After 3 months after the transplant, the discouraged patient sees that his new hair falls out intensely. There is no cause for concern, because after a short rest the follicles will begin a normal growth cycle, and the hair will appear again.

Unlike androgenic alopecia, with telogen effluvium there is no atrophy of the hair follicles. As soon as hair loss, which is in the stage of the body-on, ends, the hair will begin to grow. If they provide additional support, they will grow stronger and healthier than they were before. An important role here is played by the emotional state of the patient, for which hair loss is a new stress. Thus, the treatment of this type of baldness involves stimulating hair growth and improving their structure, as well as psychological impact on the patient, increasing his faith in the success of treatment, self-confidence and restoring his emotional balance. It can be said that women suffering from telogen effluvium are the first candidates for the treatment of baldness in the cosmetic salon.

When telogen effluvium is particularly effective methods of hardware cosmetology - they not only create favorable conditions for the growth of new hair, but also enjoy great confidence in patients (see Physiotherapy methods to combat hair loss). Very effective massage with the use of vacuum technology, improving microcirculation in the field of follicles. Good results are provided by electrostimulation of hair follicles - electrotrichogenesis. In order for the 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 arises of delivering these substances to the roots of the hair. Electrophoresis and electro-corporation will help in these cases.

Anagen effluvium is a sudden loss of hair caused by exposure to chemical agents or radiation. Unlike telogen effluvium hair falls out, not entering telogen. Sudden hair loss is usually observed 1-3 weeks after exposure to chemicals or radiation. This is what happens in the treatment of malignant tumors, which is performed with the use of irradiation or cytostatic agents. The cause of hair loss can be poisoning with arsenic or thallium. When chemotherapy for malignant tumors, up to 90% of the hair falls out, down to complete baldness.

What causes temporary alopecia

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

• Secondary syphilis - hair loss occurs in separate areas. Typically, such areas of baldness resemble traces left by moths on woolen fabric. The diagnosis is based on anamnesis and blood test.
• Scleroderma is a disease in which excessive production of collagen occurs, which leads to thickening and thickening of the skin. Hair follicles are squeezed, their blood supply is disturbed, as a result, increased hair loss is observed.
• Ringworm is a contagious disease that is caused by a particular fungus.

Hair with ringworm break off low at the root, as if someone had cut off round patches on his head. The lichen should be recognized quickly and rather the patient should be sent out, explaining to him where to treat such a disease.

Not always round spots of baldness speak of ringworm, secondary syphilis or other disease. They may be a symptom of focal alopecia, which will be discussed in the next section.