Hair Loss: Patterns and Causes in Men and Women (I)

by Calvin Choong

Hair Loss: Patterns and Causes in Men and Women Hair loss in adult male and female is not uncommon. Adults lose about 10,000 scalp hairs each and every day. Hair normally lives for around five years. Male and female baldness happen when these hairs do not always get replaced (which they normally would) and gradually bald areas appear. There are a lot of hair loss treatments as well as hair loss remedies in the market today. But how effective are they? Let's have a post mortem of the causes of hair loss and the hair loss treatment available today and find out which products or treatments suit you the most.

The Normal Cycle of Hair Growth and Loss The normal hair cycle growth lasts between 2 to 6 years. Each hair strand grows at the rate of approximately 1 centimeter per month during this phase. As a matter of fact, about 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is in the active growing phase while the rest 10% is in dormant phase. Once a hair strand enters a dormant phase (hair stop growing), it will stay on the scalp for 2 to 3 months, then fall out. It is normal to shed some hair each day (average of 100 strands) as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect both men and women and even children.

Causes of Hair Loss Illness A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary. Hormonal problems may cause hair loss, which more often than not, caused by stress. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes.

Scalp Cleanliness If you have dandruff, you need to get rid of it. Dandruff can be a source of hair loss when it combines with dirt, shampoo chemicals, and excess sebum follicle oil. Over time this combination of chemicals can create a film on your scalp that hardens and start to plug up your hair follicles. Once plugged, your follicles can't support hair growth.

DHT (di-hydro-testosterone) When excessive amounts of testosterone are converted to DHT by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, this DHT accumulates at the hair root where it blocks blood circulation to that hair follicle. This decrease in blood to the hair root weakens it and it loses its health.

Male Pattern Baldness The male pattern baldness form of androgenetic alopecia (inherited hair loss pattern) accounts for more than 95% of hair loss in men. By age 35, two-thirds of men will have some degree of appreciable hair loss and by age 50 approximately 85% of men have significantly thinning hair. About 25% of men who suffer from male pattern baldness begin the painful process before they reach 21. In male-pattern baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head. Most men who suffer from male pattern baldness are extremely unhappy with their situation and would do anything to change it. Hair loss affects every aspect of their life. It affects interpersonal relationships as well as their professional life. It is not uncommon for men to change their career paths because of hair loss.

The Causes of Male Pattern Baldness Most men are genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness. It is the effect of hormones on the hair follicle that produces male pattern baldness. Testosterone, a hormone that is present in high levels in males after puberty, is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. DHT has an adverse affect on the hair follicles. Acting on a hormone receptor on the hair follicle it slows down hair production and produces weak, shorter hair, sometimes it stops hair growth from the follicle completely. This process gradually depletes your stock of hair and is normal hair loss.
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