The Three Types of Female Alopecia
Advertisements
Alopecia is the medical terminology used to describe hair loss. It is an especially distressing condition in women, since it is less publicized and socially accepted than male alopecia. There are three major types of female alopecia: androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata and Telogen Effluvium.
The most common type of female alopecia is androgenetic alopecia, which is when women have thinning or diffuse hair loss at the top of the head while keeping their front bangs. What happens in this specific type of female alopecia is that hair follicles become sensitive to hormones and therefore the follicles produce less hair. The growing cycle of the hair is shortened and, because of this, the production of hair moves slower (and can, at some point, cease in the area).
Causes for androgenetic alopecia are commonly hormonal. While it is not a sole cause, stress can aggravate this type of female alopecia. Androgenetic alopecia by definition means related to hormones and genetics, since there seems to be some pattern of heredity (although this is widely disputed). The most common treatments are the popular Rogaine, Tricomin Therapy Spray and Nizoral. Also, antiandrogens are popular amongst those concretely diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia rather than any other kind of female alopecia. These drugs reverse the actions of the hormones in the body and can help stop hair loss.
When female alopecia presents with patchy hair loss it is called alopecia areata. Aside from the hairless patches, this type also has “exclamation point hairs” that narrow closer to the scalp, hence the name. This type of hair loss can happen quickly or slowly. Alopecia areata happens due to inflammation of the hair follicles which then lose their supply of nutrients and therefore go into the shedding stage prematurely.
Causes of alopecia areata are mostly unknown, but it is thought generally that this female alopecia subtype is caused by stress, allergies, infection, genetics, poisoning by environmental exposure to toxins or trauma. The treatment for mild cases includes corticosteroid injections and treatment for extensive cases includes topical contact sensitization therapy (chemical creams that may reverse the process). There is also an ointment called Anthralin. It is important to mention that it is rare for this specific type of female alopecia to be reversed.
The third and most typically harmless variation of female alopecia is telogen effluvium which is rapid, but temporary hair loss. It can get dangerous, however, when telogen effluvium triggers another subtype that lay dormant in the body and ends up being a permanent condition. With telogen effluvium, instead of the usual loss of 100 hairs per day, it can go up to 400 lost daily. Apart from hair loss, telogen effluvium can also be accompanied by pain in the scalp similar to the pain of hair being ripped out (this is called trichodynia).
Telogen effluvium usually happens because of stress, illness, recent childbirth or crash dieting. The causes for this female alopecia can be divided into physiologic, injury/stress and drugs. Physiologic causes include postpartum hair loss, which is a natural condition. Typical stress factors include eating disorders, nutrient deficiencies, recent surgery or illness, infection or just plain stress. Drugs that are commonly associated with temporary female alopecia are anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, heavy metals, birth control pills, thyroid medications and antikeratinazing agents. Treatment of usually involves removing the underlying cause for the temporary hair loss which should solve the problem.
It is important to understand that female alopecia is a versatile condition with many types with different symptoms and causes for each one. Going to a doctor for a solid diagnosis is advisable and female alopecia is usually treatable with the affected female being able to lead on a healthy and normal life.
Alopecia is the medical terminology used to describe hair loss. It is an especially distressing condition in women, since it is less publicized and socially accepted than male alopecia. There are three major types of female alopecia: androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata and Telogen Effluvium.
The most common type of female alopecia is androgenetic alopecia, which is when women have thinning or diffuse hair loss at the top of the head while keeping their front bangs. What happens in this specific type of female alopecia is that hair follicles become sensitive to hormones and therefore the follicles produce less hair. The growing cycle of the hair is shortened and, because of this, the production of hair moves slower (and can, at some point, cease in the area).
Causes for androgenetic alopecia are commonly hormonal. While it is not a sole cause, stress can aggravate this type of female alopecia. Androgenetic alopecia by definition means related to hormones and genetics, since there seems to be some pattern of heredity (although this is widely disputed). The most common treatments are the popular Rogaine, Tricomin Therapy Spray and Nizoral. Also, antiandrogens are popular amongst those concretely diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia rather than any other kind of female alopecia. These drugs reverse the actions of the hormones in the body and can help stop hair loss.
When female alopecia presents with patchy hair loss it is called alopecia areata. Aside from the hairless patches, this type also has “exclamation point hairs” that narrow closer to the scalp, hence the name. This type of hair loss can happen quickly or slowly. Alopecia areata happens due to inflammation of the hair follicles which then lose their supply of nutrients and therefore go into the shedding stage prematurely.
Causes of alopecia areata are mostly unknown, but it is thought generally that this female alopecia subtype is caused by stress, allergies, infection, genetics, poisoning by environmental exposure to toxins or trauma. The treatment for mild cases includes corticosteroid injections and treatment for extensive cases includes topical contact sensitization therapy (chemical creams that may reverse the process). There is also an ointment called Anthralin. It is important to mention that it is rare for this specific type of female alopecia to be reversed.
The third and most typically harmless variation of female alopecia is telogen effluvium which is rapid, but temporary hair loss. It can get dangerous, however, when telogen effluvium triggers another subtype that lay dormant in the body and ends up being a permanent condition. With telogen effluvium, instead of the usual loss of 100 hairs per day, it can go up to 400 lost daily. Apart from hair loss, telogen effluvium can also be accompanied by pain in the scalp similar to the pain of hair being ripped out (this is called trichodynia).
Telogen effluvium usually happens because of stress, illness, recent childbirth or crash dieting. The causes for this female alopecia can be divided into physiologic, injury/stress and drugs. Physiologic causes include postpartum hair loss, which is a natural condition. Typical stress factors include eating disorders, nutrient deficiencies, recent surgery or illness, infection or just plain stress. Drugs that are commonly associated with temporary female alopecia are anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, heavy metals, birth control pills, thyroid medications and antikeratinazing agents. Treatment of usually involves removing the underlying cause for the temporary hair loss which should solve the problem.
It is important to understand that female alopecia is a versatile condition with many types with different symptoms and causes for each one. Going to a doctor for a solid diagnosis is advisable and female alopecia is usually treatable with the affected female being able to lead on a healthy and normal life.
Related posts:
- Know About the Female Hair Loss Types and Causes Hair loss problem is a universal problem and there is possibly no one under the sky who never undergoes through this problem in entire life time. Although hair loss is a common issue that has become an embarrassing problem for unisex, but female hair loss pattern largely differs from male ones.Hair is known as an [...]...
- Alopecia Alopecia areata (AA) is a condition affecting humans, in which hair is lost from areas of the body, usually from the scalp. Because it causes bald spots on the scalp, especially in the first stages, it is sometimes called spot baldness. In 1%–2% of cases, the condition can spread to the entire scalp (Alopecia totalis) [...]...
- Why Does Female Hair Loss Occur? Female hair loss usually presents in two types – temporary and permanent. Temporary hair loss in women is also known as telogen, transient or non-genetic, while permanent hair loss is the same as genetic hair loss or androgenetic alopecia. To better understand alopecia in women, it is necessary to first know about the hair growth [...]...
- Female Hair Loss Treatment Female Hair loss treatment Female hair loss typically comes from two types, namely temporary hair loss and permanent hair loss. The temporary hair loss typically follows dramatic events like pregnancy and childbirth, or illness. This is the easier of the two conditions to treat because all it takes is time to heal. Making sure you [...]...
- Female Hair Loss Symptoms and Causes Female hair loss typically comes in two types, namely, temporary hair loss and permanent hair loss. The temporary hair loss symptom typically follows dramatic events such as pregnancy and childbirth, or illness. This is the easier of the two conditions to treat because all it takes is time to heal. Make sure you get a [...]...
- Hair Loss Baldness Alopecia Hair loss is a natural occurrence that is present all over the world with men and women. We lose hair, however sometimes hair loss becomes excessive. Baldness or loss of hair is referred to as alopecia. Alopecia totalis means loss of all the scalp hair. Alopecia universalis means loss of all body hair, including eyebrows [...]...
- Information on Alopecia Areata Alopecia areata (AA) is a non-scarring, inflammatory, hair loss disease that is seen in men, women and children. This condition is commonly manifested by patchy areas of hair loss on the scalp and other body areas. In severe cases, alopecia areata can progress to complete loss of all body hair. While not a life threatening [...]...
- Identify the Cause of Female Hair Loss to Treat Alopecia Hair loss is not always permanent. In fact, some types of hair loss conditions are only temporary especially if the condition is caused by the use of certain medications, due to an illness, menopause, pregnancy and childbirth. If you want to address your hair problem, you must first identify the cause of female hair loss.Temporary [...]...
- Hair Loss in Females: What Causes Female Hair Loss and What You Can Do to Prevent it Hair isn’t described as a woman’s crowning glory for nothing. Hair is often a physical attribute that can make a woman look more or less attractive, and it is one of the reasons why women are greatly affected when they realize they are suffering from it.Hair Loss in Females and Androgenetic AlopeciaAndrogenetic alopecia is the [...]...
- Know About Female Pattern Baldness Female pattern baldness can be termed as a major problem for women. This disease makes women have baldness in a bit similar pattern as men have in male pattern baldness. It can start even in teenage.What can be the causes of this female baldness?There are various causal factors of female pattern baldness among women. The [...]...
