The hair has a crucial role aesthetics, both for women than for men. Whatever the cause of hair loss, she often worried about the person who is affected.There is also now a number of increasingly important consultation for this symptom, because of the growing esthetic demands, but also because of new treatments available fall, more effective.
The normal growth of hair
Hair is composed of two parts: the stem and root. The rod is made of keratin, a protein also entering into the composition of the nails and manufactured in the deep part of the skin. The root, bulbous, burrows into the dermis and allows adhesion of the hair to the scalp. A pilosebaceous follicle, comprising a sebaceous gland (which produces sebum) and a muscle-pilo arrector (which draw the hair on the head when strong emotion!) Is attached to the hair. Hair has an average 100,000 to 150,000 hair, with a density of 250 to 300 hairs per square centimeter. The hair normally grows 1 cm per month on average and its lifetime varies from 2 to 6 years. It is normal to lose 25-100 hairs per day. At the same person, there are hair growth phase and other phase of fall: this is explained by the existence of a hair cycle consisting of three periods. The longest phase is the "anagen" or growth phase of hair, which lasts about three years. The next phase 'catagen' or resting phase, very short (2-3 weeks). The cycle ends with the phase "telogen" or falling phase, about 3 months. All the hair does not lie at the same stage at the same time: more than 75% of hairs are in growth phase, 1% are in the resting phase and less than 25% fall in line.Hair growth is usually subject to various influences, like the seasons, genetic factors, hormonal factors (these are the male hormones or androgens, which are involved here). Finally, as the whole body, the hair is aging: the hair cycles are shortening and after 50 years, the hair grows more slowly.
Hair loss (alopecia or) on all or only part of the scalp, may be related to many causes: hormonal drug, disease or physical or chemical.
Diffuse hair loss reaction
Certain events can cause acute diffuse alopecia. It may be a high fever and prolonged shock of surgery, a major hemorrhage, an acute deficiency, a serious accident or a major shock psycho. Fortunately, these hair loss is always reversible in a few months. Include the special case of childbirth, which causes hair loss a few weeks after birth in 30 to 50% of women. It can be quite large and last a few weeks to several months. But again, no definitive risk of baldness is to be feared. In case of progressive diffuse alopecia installation (over two months), it is necessary to seek a general cause, including hormonal or deficiency, more common in women. Indeed, the causes of these chronic and diffuse alopecia are dominated by hypo-or hyperthroïdies and iron deficiency. When these conditions are concerned, they are most often associated with other clinical signs that guide the diagnosis. In any case, it must be confirmed by blood tests (looking for anemia, determination of serum ferritin, thyroid). These are alopecia reversible with treatment of the cause, but may still be entangled with other factors contributing to hair loss, such as androgenic alopecia. Some medications may also be implicated in the onset of diffuse hair loss, because they interfere with the hair cycle. Thus, anticancer drugs induce mitotic or almost always alopecia. Others, however, are occasionally responsible for hair loss. It is always reversible upon discontinuation of treatment.
Circumscribed hair loss due to disease
Many diseases can be responsible for hair loss circumscribed. They are sometimes reversible (not scarred), in attacks such as the scalp caused by perms, the use of curly hair straighteners. Careful with too tight braids or buns too learned. If the hair falls out, leaving hairless patches, alopecia areata should be suspected or ringworm, always justify a medical consultation. Indeed, these conditions are not so rare, since they cover about 2% of the population, mostly teenagers and young adults. This hair loss is sudden and progresses in patches. In addition, the fall can affect other hairy areas. In other cases, hair loss and scarring are called are then final. Is the case of certain infectious diseases (fungal, bacterial, viral, parasitic), tumor (skin cancer, lymphoma), lupus erythematosus, lichen planus or when the injuries are burns or radiation ionizing.
Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause
Androgenetic alopecia is hair loss related to age and varies from one individual to another depending on genetic factors. In men, androgenetic alopecia baldness starts with the hollows or temporal gulfs, followed by a decline in the hairline. In other cases, the top of the skull is bald and a little bit tonsure appears. Hair loss is progressive and worsens in stages. It respects the sides and nape area. The scalp is normal. In addition, the hair tends to be refined. Women are not spared and it is estimated that approximately 10-20% of them suffer from androgenetic alopecia. Women are increasingly affected by this problem, but that we know precisely the cause. This increase could be related to androgenic activity of some oral contraceptives. Stress may also play a role in this increase, women have a more stressful lifestyle than before. The method of baldness is different in women, hair loss is more diffuse and mostly affect the top of the skull.
The diagnosis must be done by a professional scalp
To assess whether hair loss is normal or pathological, the doctor can perform two simple tests: the test of traction or Trichogramma. The first is to exert gentle traction on a lock of hair into three different areas (fronto-temporal, parietal and occipital). If three or more hair stand out, this is not normal. The Trichogramma involves taking a lock of hair still in three different locations, to examine under a microscope and counting the number of hairs in anagen and telogen phases. The ratio between the number of anagen and telogen hair is abnormal if less than three.
Beware of promises of miracle cures!
So many commercials touting the merits of various lotions fall and varied, it is important to note that their effectiveness is zero and therefore it is unnecessary to waste time and money to try these miracle products ... Treatment with sulfur amino acids (cystine) or vitamins (vitamin B5 and biotin) may be indicated in the course of seasonal hair loss. To treat androgenetic alopecia, only two drugs have some efficacy: minoxidil and finasteride. o Initially, minoxidil was used as a treatment for hypertension, but it proved to promote hair growth. It has an action fall within 70% of cases and causes a discrete or moderate regrowth in 40% of cases. This treatment is however quite restrictive, since we must apply to the scalp night and morning. Moreover, its beneficial effects cease immediately after cessation of applications. o Finasteride is a drug that is indicated only in humans, to stabilize androgenetic alopecia unsophisticated: it is taken orally and fall action, assessed in clinical studies, was obtained in 80% and discrete or moderate regrowth in 60% of cases. By cons, efficacy on advanced has not been established. It should be noted that neither of these drugs is reimbursed by Social Security.
When alopecia is installed, surgery may be the best solution
The technique most frequently used is the hair transplant. It involves taking in the region of the crown, which does not balding, a small strip of scalp. Cut into small fragments of one to three hairs, they are then implanted in the bald area.This method provides a very natural look. Performed under local anesthesia, the procedure is painless. Other techniques are also used: No lifting of the crown: detachment of the crown to the back up o the scalp reduction: the hairy areas are loosened around the bald area, then brought together by suture o the installation of flaps: a pivot strip of scalp taken at the crown and placed on the front of baldness.
However, surgery also has its limits. Thus, a large bald does not regain his hair since the donor area is too low relative to the surface of baldness. The price is also a deterrent. The cost of a session micrografts varies between 10,000 and 30,000 francs, knowing that at least three sessions are needed.
No comments:
Post a Comment