Hair loss treatment: The six main causes of hair loss and how to treat them effectively

This Morning: Liz Earle discusses supplements for hair loss

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Hair loss has many causes so there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to treating it. Treatments are therefore tailored to the specific causes of one’s hair loss. According to data from the online pharmacy Dosfarma, there are six main causes of hair loss, all of which come with targeted treatments.

Genetics

One of the factors that most influences hair loss in men is genetics.

Doctor Miguel Sánchez Viera and Doctor Juliana Machado of the dermatology team at the Instituto de Dermatología Integral, stated that “the main cause of hair loss in men is the so-called androgenetic alopecia, which affects up to 75 percent of men at some point in their lives.

“Most of the patients who present androgenetic alopecia have a family history of this condition, although it is not a condition that occurs in all cases”.

They added: “It is a slow and progressive hair loss, in which the hair loses thickness until it disappears and bald patches become visible in certain areas such as the crown of the head.”

One of the most effective solutions for treating androgenetic alopecia is minoxidil.

Juan Desmonts, pharmacist and founder of Dosfarma, explained that “minoxidil is the great revolution in the fight against baldness”.

The Dosfarma founder added: “Its effect is mainly preventive and, above all, decelerating, because it slows down hair loss. It is important to start the treatment when the hair is still intact in order to take full advantage of its benefits. Its side effects are very few, although at Dosfarma we always recommend consulting your pharmacist or doctor first”.

Stress

Another factor behind hair loss is stress and anxiety. According to Toni Santos, director of the Aderans|Bosley clinic and Doctor Cristina Pérez Castaño, medical director of the same clinic “stress causes abnormal hair loss, even paralysing its growth. Its symptoms are excessive hair loss (more than 100 hairs per day) out of season and constant for more than a month”.

They recommended treating this hair loss with “growth factors to reactivate these follicles to normal activity, combined with proper hair hygiene and nutrition to prevent relapse”.

DON’T MISS
High cholesterol: Two visual clues on your face to spot [INSIGHT]
The timing of your evening meal could signal your stroke risk [TIPS]
Cancer: Warning signs of a tumour growing in your body [ADVICE]

It’s also important to address the underlying causes of your stress.

Try talking about your feelings to a friend, family member or health professional. You could also contact Samaritans, call: 116 123 or email: [email protected] if you need someone to talk to.

Seasonal hair loss

In spring and especially in autumn, it is common for hair to fall out more.

Experts say that it is a process of hair renewal, because, although you notice that you lose many hairs, there are also many others that are in the growth phase.

However, experts from the Instituto de Dermatología Integral warned “it is a process that should not last more than three months and in which you should not lose hair density, the scalp should not start to lighten or appear more dandruff or grease than normal”.

If you notice any of these symptoms, it is a good idea to consult a dermatologist who is an expert in trichology, says Dosfarma.

“Otherwise, you can rest assured that the problem will resolve itself, but it is not a bad idea to resort to hair nutricosmetics to accelerate the hair renewal process.”

Autoimmune diseases

Some autoimmune diseases also cause hair loss. The experts at the Aderans|Bosley clinic told Dosfarma that the most common are “alopecia areata, cutaneous lupus erythematosus and, recently, we have observed some cases of frontal fibrosing alopecia in men, a type that seemed to be exclusive to women. Unfortunately we cannot solve many of these alopecias because they become scarring alopecias and have no solution, but identifying them correctly is the first step so that our patient does not waste time and money on solutions that will not solve the problem”.

Covid

One of the side effects of Covid is hair loss. It usually appears two to three months after the disease has passed.

According to Toni Santos and Cristina Pérez Castaño, from the Aderans|Bosley clinic, “post-Covid alopecia affects more than 20 percent of those who have had the disease and, unfortunately, according to the latest published studies, it is persistent in 25 percent”.

They added: “The treatment we are performing is a hair hygiene protocol with specific micronutrients, together with the infiltration of a drug-mesotherapy with growth factors, with optimal results.”

Ageing

The passage of time is also responsible for hair loss.

According to Doctor Miguel Sánchez Viera and Doctor Juliana Machado, of the Instituto de Dermatología Integral, it is known as “senescent alopecia, and is directly related to age”.

They continued: “Hair, like skin, ages with age, becomes thinner and more brittle and falls out more.

“Revitalising treatments such as hair mesotherapy help to give it more density before it falls out.”

Source: Read Full Article