A
Alopecia Areata (Auto Immune Disorder)
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disorder where the patient ‘s white blood cells attack hair follicles causing hair loss in patches anywhere on the body that typically grows hair. This type of hair loss is usually temporary and will eventually grow back.
Androgenetic Alopecia (Genetic Hair Loss)
Male Pattern Baldness
Male pattern baldness is genetic hair loss of varying degrees, which affects the top of the head or the crown but not the sides and back of the head (the safe zone). Contrary to misguided hair loss myths, this type of hair loss gene can be inherited from both sides of the family and can even skip a generation.
Female Pattern Hair Loss
Much like male pattern baldness, female pattern hair loss is genetic hair loss of varying degrees, which affects the top of the head or the crown but not the sides and back of the head. The only difference is, the majority of women do not experience complete baldness. Instead, hair begins to thin just behind the frontal hairline and extends to the crown.
C
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment which that attacks quickly dividing cells. This includes hair follicles which is why those undergoing chemotherapy often lose their hair. Hair lost during chemotherapy is most often temporary but may affect color and texture of hair.
D
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
Dihydrotestosterone is the hormone that blocks the absorption of vital nutrients to the hair follicle, which interferes with growth cycles of the hair and causes baldness.
G
Genetic Hair Loss
See Androgenetic Alopecia
H
Hormonal imbalances
Any hormonal imbalance can cause hair loss such as that which occurs during menopause or during and after pregnancy.
Hair Pulling
See Trichotillomania
M
Medicines
If you start any new vitamins, hormone therapy or medications be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist if there are any hair loss related side effects so you will know what to expect. Vitamin A, for example, causes hair loss as well as hormone treatments, birth control pills, blood pressure medication and more.
Menopause
The decrease in estrogen and progesterone can cause thinning or diffuse hair loss in women.
P
Pregnancy
Hair loss after pregnancy is caused by a sudden decrease in female hormones after an extended period of heightened female hormones.
R
Radiation
Those who undergo radiation for cancer treatment will lose hair in the area treated.
S
Scarring
Hair loss can occur when there is any type of scarring on the scalp, which reduces the blood supply robbing hair follicles of valuable nutrients. Scars can be due to burns, cuts or even hair transplant surgeries. Scarring can also occur when a person wears tight ponytails or braids (se traction alopecia).
Smoking
Smoking causes blood vessels just beneath the surface of the skin to contract, which interferes with much needed blood flow to hair follicles. Smoking can be counterproductive after a hair transplant when the newly transplanted hair is so vulnerable. That is why Sante Medical recommends that patients eliminate cigarettes from their lifestyle.
Stress
Long-term stress due to a traumatic event or illness may cause changes in stress hormones or eating and sleeping habits, which can affect hair growth cycles. Hair lost due to stress is usually not permanent unless the patient has pattern baldness, which can be accelerated by a stressful event.
T
Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia is hair loss due to pulling of the hair which causes scarring. Tight ponytails or braids usually cause this type of scarring.
Trichotillomania (hair pulling)
Trichotillomania is a mental disorder where the patient purposely pulls out his or her own hair.