Causes of Hair Loss

What is causing my hair loss?

Are you finding that your hair brush or comb has more hairs than usual on it? Or, perhaps you’ve noticed your hairline parting is getting wider, or you can see your scalp when your hair is wet? These are all signs of hair loss and understandably, you will be wondering what is causing it.

Finding out the cause of your hair loss should always begin with a medical professional specialising in the field. A diagnosis with a Martinick Hair Restoration professional can be the first step towards understanding your hair loss, treating it and minimising its effect on your life style.

Affecting 70 per cent of men and 50 per cent of women at some stage of their lives, hair loss is generally divided into the inherited genetic form of hair loss and telogen effluvium which is noticed as excess shedding. Genetic hair loss usually occurs gradually and the only means to permanently replace this hair is through hair transplantation. The other type of hair loss, telogen effluvium, can be caused by a broad range of medical, environmental or nutritional factors and when the cause is correctly identified, an appropriate clinically proven solution can be offered.

Genetic hair loss

The majority of genetic hair loss in men and women is caused by a specific enzyme alpha 5 reductase.  This enzyme is responsible for converting testosterone to the male hormone dihydrotesterone (DHT), the release of which initiates a process which leads to the shrinking and eventual deterioriation of the hair follicles.  The final consequence is the hair’s growth phase is shortened, the hair becomes thinner and the hair follicle eventually ceases producing hair completely. Typically, the temples, hairline, top and vertex of the scalp are the regions affected by hair loss. The rim of the hair around the back of the scalp contains hormones which are resistant to DHT.  When transplanted into the hairline, top or vertex, the follicles from the back of the scalp, will not fall out. This is the principle of donor dominance, the reason that hair transplantation is a proven permanent means of hair restoration.

Other alopecia conditions affecting men and women

Along with genetic hair loss there are a range of other alopecia conditions affecting men and women and these include:

• Alopecia areata – Requiring treatment by a dermatologist, this is an auto immune disorder, where the skin attacks the hair and is manifested as spots of baldness on the head and body.
• Cicatrical alopecia – a group of disorders that destroys the hair follicle and causes permanent hair loss. Patients often experience severe itching and the hair follicle is replaced with scar tissue.
• Triangular alopecia – Present from birth and often confined to a patch, this can be successfully treated with follicular unit transplantation (FUT).
• Scarring alopecia – Occurring from burns or trauma, patients suffer bald patches in scarred areas of the scalp. The Martinick Transplant Technique™ is successfully used to transplant hair into scarred areas.
• Congenital cutis aplasia – Alopecia occurs in a scar, most commonly at the top of the head, due to incomplete formation of the skin at birth. This can also be successfully treated with FUT.
• Traction alopecia – Caused from excessively tight hairstyles, this affects women and can also affect men from some religious or cultural backgrounds who wear their hair in a tight bun.

Is your medication causing hair loss?

• Alopecia medicamentosa is a type of diffuse hair loss that can be caused by taking certain medications. Close to 300 medications may cause this type of  hair loss including; anti epileptic medication, some beta blockers, the acne treatment roacutane, anabolic steroids, some antibiotics, anti cancer drugs, anti convulsants and some anti-ageing medicines such as Dihydro Epri Androsterone (DHEA).  Hair loss can also occur among some patients who take cholesterol lowering medications such as clolibrate (Artomis-S) and gernfibrozil (Lopid).  Many people mistakenly take their cholesterol medication with meals instead of heeding warnings about taking it as far away from meals as possible.  Hair loss occurring as a result of medication almost always stops when people finish the medication and re-growth usually occurs within three to six months.

Telogen effluvium – excess shedding

Telogen effluvium can be caused by a range of factors including; anaemia, an over or under active thyroid, certain medications, a high temperature, prolonged illness, psychological stresses, general anaesthetic, hormonal changes such as pregnancy and menopause, a reduced protein intake and other nutritional deficiencies.

Trichotillomania is a compulsive hair pulling disorder that leads to hair loss. Patients affected by this disorder often lose hair on the scalp, eyebrow or eyelashes.

Over processing of hair, such as dying, straightening, back combing, scalp scratching and excessive styling with heat is a common cause of hair breakage in many women.