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Hair loss guide

Abstract

• Experts speak of pathological hair loss when more than 100 hairs are lost every day.
• It manifests itself in various forms and can be temporary or irreversible.
• Diagnosis is based on hair, skin or blood tests.
• Depending on the type of hair loss, there are some medicinal therapy methods.

Definition

Human scalp hair grows back permanently. On average, a hair on the head grows for around six years before it dies and falls out. After that, a new hair grows back from the hair root. A person loses an average of 100 hairs per day. If hair loss significantly exceeds this number, it is referred to as pathological hair loss.

If the affected scalp hairs fall out together with the roots, they do not grow back. The hair becomes sparse or bald patches of skin develop. The overarching technical term for excessive hair loss is “effluvium”.

Causes

Hair loss can be caused by hormonal changes, primary illnesses or as a side effect of medical procedures. Doctors differentiate between endogenous and external triggers.

In addition to causes such as drug intolerance when taking medication, psychological factors and deficiencies due to an unbalanced diet can also harbor risks. Hair loss can also be caused by mechanical factors.

Risk factors

The probability of developing age-related hair loss is 80 percent higher in men than in women (50 percent). The predisposition is hereditary.

People who are being treated with cytostatics (cancer drugs) and radiation are often affected. Such drugs inhibit cell growth, including that of the hair. A lack of hygiene and over-stressing also damage healthy hair. This includes, for example, aggressive soaps and shampoos or overly tight (plaited) hairstyles.

Symptoms

You will mainly notice the condition when washing or combing your hair, when a noticeable amount of hair falls out. Over time, the hair becomes thinner and the scalp clearly stands out. Complete baldness can occur in some cases. There are different types of hair loss:

The symptoms of hair loss are similar for all forms of the disease. A doctor will determine the exact cause and effective treatment options.

Pictures of hair loss

Course

A hair loss disorder can be permanent or reversible. In both cases, hair loss usually starts gradually and increases until the trigger is either eliminated and subsides or stops on its own.

• Reversible hair loss: Although the hair falls out, the hair follicles are not permanently damaged. Hair growth is merely inhibited. Reversible effluvium has a variety of causes. If these triggers are only temporary and subside after a while, the hair will soon grow back normally. Hair loss begins unspecifically and gradually and is therefore usually only noticed after a delay. As a rule, the entire head of hair is affected and the damage is not localized. However, there are also spontaneous healings of circular hair loss. In this case, the course of the underlying disease determines the regeneration of the hair.
• Irreversible hair loss such as androgenetic effluvium begins in men from the “receding hairline” or at the back of the head. In women, the hair becomes thinner from the middle parting.

Diagnosis

The first point of contact for hair loss is your family doctor, who may give you a referral to a dermatologist or endocrinologist. Doctors have various methods at their disposal to track down the cause of the condition.

The doctor will first clarify the possible causes of the hair loss in a patient consultation. Further diagnostic steps include recording the daily hair loss by simple counting:

• Examination of the consistency of the hair and its anchoring in the scalp
• Checking the scalp for inflammation
• Analysis of blood values
• Trichogram, the microscopic or computer-assisted hair root examination
• Scalp biopsy of a tissue sample of the skin including hair

Treatment

Depending on the type of clinical picture diagnosed, the doctor can initiate various therapies:

• In the case of androgenetic hair loss , topical tinctures with the active ingredients minoxidil or alfatradiol or hormone preparations stimulate hair growth again.
• Diffuse hair loss can also be alleviated with these remedies. In addition, deficiency symptoms should be remedied through a change in diet or dietary supplements and the primary disease treated.
• Circular hair loss as an inflammatory disease is treated with cortisone. Alternatively, drug-based autoimmune therapy promises success.

Prevention

Basically, you can counteract non-genetic hair loss or hair loss caused by primary diseases with a balanced diet. Ingredients such as the following are beneficial for hair growth:

• Iron
• Biotin
• Calcium
• L-cystine
• Thiamine nitrate
• Extracts from birch leaves and millet

Also try to avoid risk factors such as stress or UV radiation. Habits such as smoking or frequent hair coloring can promote hair loss. Special shampoos with caffeine or birch extract strengthen the hair.

When do I need to see a doctor if I have hair loss?

If you notice that you are losing a noticeable amount of hair or areas of your scalp and beard are thinning, you should consult a doctor to find out the cause. If detected early, many forms of hair loss can be treated and underlying, hidden diseases can be treated.

Questions and answers

Can I get a sick note for hair loss?

Sick leave due to hair loss itself is not common. If the effluvium manifests itself as a symptom of a primary illness, sick leave due to this is conceivable on a case-by-case basis.

Why does hair loss occur during pregnancy?

Fluctuations in the hormonal balance of pregnant women can affect the supply of hair follicles and lead to temporary hair loss. For this very reason, hair loss is a common side effect of thepill.

How is hair loss inherited?

It used to be widely believed that hair loss was only inherited from the father’s side. More recent research proves the opposite. Many of the genes responsible for the predisposition to hair loss are located on the X chromosomes and are therefore passed on by both parents.

Sources

• https://www.aerzteblatt.de/archiv/179396/Diagnostik-und-Therapie-von-Haar-und-Kopfhauterkrankungen
• http://www.gesundheitspark.de/sp_179_81_339-definition-zu-haarausfall.htm
• https://www.haarausfallwissen.de/faq/haarausfall-welcher-arzt/
• http://www.vitanet.de/krankheiten-symptome/haarausfall/diagnose
• https://krank.de/symptome/haarausfall/
• https://www.gesundheit.de/krankheiten/haut-und-haare/haarausfall/haarausfall-bei-frauen