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Alopecia is nothing more than a scientific term for “hair loss”. Non-scarring/permanent hair loss is mostly caused by either male hormones (androgenic alopecia) or an autoimmune condition (alopecia areata).
What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that affects anagen hair follicles. The name of the condition is a broad term that includes more specific types of the disease such as alopecia totalis, the loss of all hair on the scalp, and alopecia universalis, the loss of all hair on the body.
Typically, alopecia areata is characterized by bald patches of hair on the scalp, with about six to seven million people, adults and children alike, affected in the U.S. If the condition presents at or before 10 years of age, it is usually associated with lupus and atopic dermatitis.
The body’s immune system is one of the main causes of alopecia areata, attacking hair follicles and prompting an early transition of hairs into the telogen phase, thus resulting in hair loss.
Certain genes, down syndrome, thyroid disease, and a family history of the condition all may increase the risk of alopecia areata.
Treatments include True Hair Therapy™, oral minoxidil, steroid/triamcinolone injections, which can suppress the immune system from attacking hair and allowing it to regrow, as well as topical creams, ointments, and chemicals.
What is Male and Female Hair Loss caused by?
Both male and female hair loss is caused by male hormones.
For males, hair loss often presents with a receding hairline and loss of hair on the top of the head. The rule of the 50's: over 50% of males over the age of 50 will suffer from hair loss.
For females, androgenetic alopecia starts with a receding hairline and can eventually lead to thinning starting on the central parting hair line. After the age of 50 and usually after menopause, about 40% of women show signs of hair loss, which is a slightly lower rate compared to males.
From a genetic standpoint, some patients have hair follicles that are more sensitive to dihydrotestosterone, a potent form of the male hormone that shortens the growth phase of the hair cycle. This can be inherited both from the mother as well as from the father.
What are some new hair loss treatments for alopecia?
A newer treatment option is platelet-rich fibrin therapy, a medical treatment that involves drawing blood, processing it, and injecting it into the scalp to stimulate hair growth. But here at true dermatology, we do much more. In fact, we take hair loss treatments to a whole another level with True Hair Therapy™ that not only increases our ability to achieve hair growth but also our ability to reduce side effects commonly associated with popular hair loss treatments such as finasteride and dutasteride.
