Alopecia in women - what is it? We will answer this question in the presented article.
general information
Alopecia is a pathological condition characterized by hair loss, which subsequently leads to their substantial thinning or complete disappearance on the head or certain parts of the body.
For a long time, such a problem of baldness was observed mainly in males. But in recent years, representatives of the weak half of humanity began to suffer from it.
What are the causes of alopecia in women, what is it and how to treat this disease? We will tell about this a little lower.
Kinds
As in men, alopecia in women (a photo of the disease is presented in this article) is divided into different types. The most common of these are the following:
- androgenic alopecia;
- diffuse alopecia;
- focal hair loss;
- cicatricial.
Consider the features of each type in more detail.
Androgenic alopecia in women
This form of baldness is characterized by thinning of the hair, which leads to their loss in the middle parting with further spread to the side zones.
The reasons for the development of this condition lie at the gene level. Hair loss occurs due to the damaging effects on the hair follicles of a sex hormone such as testosterone. It is believed that the propensity for alopecia in 75% of cases is inherited from the mother.
Treatment
Androgenic alopecia in women is treated in the same way as in men. To do this, use drug therapy and transplantation.
Diffuse
Alopecia in women - what is it and how to treat it? First you need to identify the form of this disease.
Diffuse baldness is characterized by uniform hair loss. Such a pathological condition occurs as a result of a failure of the cycles in their growth and development.
Due to the fact that this type of baldness is a consequence of the disturbed work of the whole organism, it is sometimes called symptomatic.
How often does diffuse alopecia occur in women? Reviews report that women are more susceptible to it than men.
Currently, anagen and telogen types of diffuse alopecia are distinguished. The first can cause hormonal disorders, nervous stress, prolonged use of antibiotics, surgery, strict diets, etc. As for the second type, it occurs when the body is exposed to faster and stronger factors (for example, radioactive radiation, poisoning with strong poisons, chemotherapy).
Therapy
As a rule, after the disappearance of the cause of this form of baldness, hair loss is restored within 4-8 months. Therefore, all therapy for diffuse alopecia is aimed at finding and eliminating the factors that caused it.
To restore thick hair, doctors recommend the use of various growth stimulants, therapeutic balms, sprays, masks and physiotherapy.
Nude baldness
Alopecia areata in women, the treatment of which will be presented later, is a pathological hair loss due to damage to the cells of the nervous system and immune defense factors.
For such baldness, the appearance of several rounded foci is characteristic. Also, in conjunction with nesting baldness, patients may experience damage to the nail plates.
Experts argue that the cause of the development of such a pathological condition is a genetic predisposition.
Alopecia areata in women: treatment
There are a number of methods and tools for treating such baldness. However, it should be noted that they have not been officially approved.
The most common method of treating alopecia is the use of corticosteroids in various forms (for example, in the form of injections, creams, oral preparations). Also, drugs that stimulate the formation of their own corticosteroids are often used.
Cicatricial alopecia
Cicatricial alopecia in women - what is it? A distinctive feature of such a disease is irreversible damage to the hair follicles, as well as the appearance of scar or so-called connective tissue in their place.
Various infections, including those of a viral, bacterial, or fungal origin, which cause inflammatory processes around the hair peritrichi, can serve as a cause of hair loss.
Experts say that with the timely treatment of such diseases, hair can be preserved.
For what other reasons can cicatricial alopecia occur (what is it in women, we described above)? Quite often, such baldness occurs due to physical injuries, including injuries, chemical or thermal burns.
Method of treatment
For the treatment of already formed cicatricial alopecia, there is only one method. This is a surgical operation. If the bald spots are not too large, then they are removed, and then healthy follicles are transplanted onto them.
Diagnostics
How is alopecia diagnosed (what is it in women, we told in the presented article)? To begin with, you should contact an experienced trichologist. The doctor must conduct a thorough examination of the hair of the skin and head, and then send it to the following tests:
- sex hormone levels;
- thyroid hormone levels;
- trichogram (that is, a study of the density of hair per one square cm of the head using a micro-video camera).
Based on all the data obtained, the trichologist must make a diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Traditional medicine recipes
How should alopecia in women be treated at home? Experts say that such methods only help if baldness was not caused by serious pathologists in the body or various infections.
The most popular, simple and affordable folk remedy for alopecia is the juice of garlic and onions. They are carefully rubbed into the affected areas of the skin, and after 2-3 hours, rinse with water using shampoo.
No less affordable for the treatment of baldness are masks with the use of linseed, olive, castor, burdock and camphor oil. They are rubbed into the scalp, and then covered with a bathing cap and left in this form for several hours. Over time, the hair is thoroughly washed.
For a long time, tincture of red pepper has been known for its firming effect. Rubbing this product into bald areas every day effectively accelerates the appearance of new hair. However, it should be noted that such drugs are contraindicated for allergy sufferers and people with sensitive skin.
According to experts, androgenetic alopecia is the most difficult to treat. No advertised masks and shampoos can restore hormonal balance. Therefore, with such a disease, you should consult a doctor.
Hair transplantation
In the event that no medication or folk methods help to restore the lost curls, then doctors recommend transplanting them.
There are two types of hair transplant operations . Let's consider them in more detail.
- Strip method. This method is characterized by a hair transplant using a skin flap that was cut from a donor site on the back of the head. Such a flap is cut into grafts, which contains 1-3 bulbs, and then transplanted.
- Seamless or follicular method. This is the most modern transplant method. For its implementation, the hair follicles are extracted from the donor zone using a special tool. With insufficient hair on the back of the head, the chin, legs, chest, inguinal region and others can be used as such a site.
Today, hair transplantation from the donor zone is the only and perhaps the most effective method of restoring thick hair and treating alopecia. According to experts, transplanted hair takes root in 95% of cases.