One of
most worrying aspects of hair loss treatment is tendency of so many people to seek solutions without first determining what has caused their loss in first place.At best, sufferers may waste money on inappropriate 'wonder cures' or even legitimate treatments that unfortunately are not suitable for their particular needs. At worst, some people may be risking their health by self-prescribing powerful pharmaceutical drugs. I don't have a problem with hair loss sufferers saving money by purchasing cheap generic drugs on internet, but I feel strongly that they should at least seek confirmation from their physician that a given drug matches their individual needs.
Before examining most common causes of premature hair loss we need to understand that some shedding of hair is perfectly normal. Hairs grow from follicles that are tiny organs in skin designed to grow a single hair that follows this repetitive cycle:
1. Lengthy growth period (Anagen Stage) - this phase usually lasts between two and seven years with an average growth rate of six inches (15cm) each year.
2. Short transition period (Catagen Stage) - this period of transition lasts for roughly two to four weeks. During this phase hair shaft becomes detached and moves upwards within follicle.
3. Resting period (Telogen Stage) - this phase lasts about three months allowing hair to detach itself prior to falling out.
At this point a new hair begins to grow thus repeating normal cycle of hair growth. Unfortunately a number of factors can interfere with natural hair growth process leading to forms of hair thinning or premature baldness.
Androgenetic alopecia is most common cause of hair loss, probably accounting for as much as 95% of pattern hair loss for both men and women. It is usually associated with aging and develops in predictable stages over varying periods of time. Each follicle follows a genetically programmed growth cycle with some follicles coded to remain active for a shorter time than others. This results in development of hereditary baldness patterns that are so familiar to us all.
For this type of baldness to occur, following factors must be present:
1. A genetic predisposition for hair loss to occur (as explained above).
2. The presence of male hormones.
3. Aging - in other words, enough time for first two factors to exert an influence.
All men and women produce male hormones such as testosterone and DHT. These have a useful role to play in both sexes but obviously occur in widely differing concentrations. It is higher levels of androgens found in males that explains why this form of hair loss affects men more than women.
