Hair loss is not an uncommon issue. Both men and women, and often children, experience hair loss. What causes this and how prevalent is this problem? When is hair loss a cause for concern?
A single hair follicle has the ability to “grow” hair throughout an individual’s life. Clinically, controlling the hair development cycle is of great importance, as most patients with hair pathologies experience issues due to disruptions in this cycle, rather than primary defects in hair follicle formation. Human hair goes through three phases of development: anagen – the growth phase, catagen – the regression phase, and telogen – the resting phase, followed by another anagen phase, repeating throughout life. Each hair follicle is genetically programmed to produce 25-27 hairs, with each hair having an “individual plan,” causing different hairs to be in various stages of the development cycle at the same time.
Shortening the anagen phase and an early onset of the catagen phase leads to common hair loss conditions such as androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, etc. During these conditions, there is an increase in the number of hair follicles in the telogen phase (by 20% or more), which can be confirmed through a trichogram. This becomes noticeable to the patient a few weeks later, manifesting as a significant increase in hair loss. The scalp contains about 100,000 to 150,000 hair strands, and it is normal for a person to lose 50 to 100 strands daily.
A trichogram is a microscopic examination of hair strands that allows us to assess the extent of hair loss and/or the effectiveness of treatments. It helps determine the percentage of hair in the anagen (growth) and telogen (shedding) phases, identify the type of alopecia, track the progression of hair loss, and evaluate treatment effectiveness. In cases of fungal or bacterial hair damage, a microbiological study is conducted.
Today, over 90% of the world’s population experiences microelement deficiencies, with 30% showing diseases related to the imbalance of these minerals. This necessitates the determination of microelement levels in the body. Among diagnostic biosubstrates (blood, urine, nails, tooth dentin, and saliva), hair has the highest informativeness for assessing the accumulation of toxic substances and essential microelements in the body.
Hair analysis for microelements (concentration of microelements in hair) is indispensable for patients with skin diseases (neurodermatitis, acne, vitiligo, dermatitis, psoriasis, seborrhea), hair loss, allergies, metabolic disorders, endocrine diseases, immunodeficiency, and others. Spectral analysis of hair determines the levels of essential and toxic elements (Fe, Se, Ca, Cu, Zn, Co, Cr, Mo, Mn, K, S, Br, Cl, As, Pb, Cd, Hg, Sr, Bi, Zr, Ti, Sb, Ag, V, Ni, Rb, Ba, Sn, Ga, Ge, Tl, Y, Nb, In, W) in the body.
Due to the specifics of hair loss problems, the hair growth and shedding cycle and the structure of the hair follicle are often associated with or caused by endocrine issues, specifically hormonal imbalances: high levels of testosterone, high levels of cortisol due to stress, and low or high levels of thyroid hormones.
Addressing hair loss problems requires a comprehensive approach. In the process of treating hair loss, involving a dermatologist along with an endocrinologist and a nutritionist ensures a deeper understanding of the problem, accurate determination of the cause of hair loss, and consequently, more effective treatment.
Remember, the treatment of hair diseases is strictly individual and effective only after an accurate diagnosis is made. Hair loss treatment is much more effective if we follow a healthy lifestyle, consume high-quality food products, boost immunity, and protect ourselves from various diseases.
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