Patterned baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in both men and women, and is the result of genetic and hormonal factors.
All men and women will be affected by patterned hair loss at some stage in their lives. The majority of men have developed temporal recession by their mid 20s and noticeable balding by their mid 50s.
Hair Growth Cycle
The three stages of hair growth are the anagen, catagen, and telogen phases.
Each strand of hair on the human body is at its own stage of development. Once the cycle is complete, it restarts and a new strand of hair begins to form. The growth rate of hair varies from person to person and depends on age, genetics and environmental factors. Scalp hair is known to grow between 0.6cm and 3.36cm per month. The growth rate of scalp hair somewhat depends on age, sex, and ethnicity.
What Causes of Hair Loss
There are numerous causes of hair loss including illness, genetics, hormonal changes, stress, anaemia, fungal infections, and simply getting older.
Types of Hair Loss
Male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia): The most common type of hair loss in men, it affects about half of the male population by the age of 50.
Female pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia): Similar to the male variety, women lose hair in a more generalised thinning manner.
Alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis: Alopecia totalis is the complete loss of hair from the head, alopecia universalis is the total hair loss from the whole body. These types of hair loss can be due chemotherapy.
Alopecia areata: Patchy hair loss is most common in teenagers and young adults, and it tends to grow back in a few months. Alopecia areata can due to problems with the immune system.
Telogen effluvium: Childbirth, illness, or sudden weight loss can cause your hair to thin. Telogen effluvium is often temporary.
Treatments for Hair Loss
Prescription and OTC drugs – topical and oral
Hair transplants
Laser treatment
Quit smoking
Scalp massage
A balanced diet
Reduce stress
