Hair loss is a permanent loss of hair on the head. Normally, everyone loses between 70 to 100 hairs per day. The hair roots remain in the scalp, so the lost hair can grow back.
The loss is temporarily limited and is not visible because of the regrowing hair. The editorial staff also recommends: Hair loss in womenWith real hair loss, the hair roots are lost and regrowth has therefore become impossible. There are two types of hair loss: Effluvium means unnaturally increased hair loss, which can, but does not have to, result in alopecia.
One speaks of alopecia when there is generally less hair on the head. Either the man in question has abnormally thinning hair or hairless areas of the scalp can be seen. Of course, there are treatment options, but before doing so, it is always necessary to make a diagnosis to determine the cause of hair loss in men.
- Effluvium (derived from the Latin term for failure)
- Alopecia
Types of hair loss
There are several types of hair loss, the causes and appearances differ considerably. The most common type of hair loss among men is androgenetic hair loss (AGA for short). This type of hair loss is often referred to as hereditary hair loss.
The well-known receding hairline is in almost all cases the first sign of this androgenetic hair loss, which occurs at the temple. In Austria, on the other hand, one speaks of “Hofratsecken”. The cause is a hypersensitivity of the hair follicles to the steroid hormone dihydrotestosterone.
Dihydrotestosterone is the active form of testosterone and is constantly produced by every man. This reaction of the body is genetically determined, and is therefore also passed on within the family. Dihydotestosterone is found throughout the body, including in the scalp.
The hair follicles on the forehead and in the area of the upper head are very sensitive to the hormone, while the hair follicles in the neck and temple area are not at all sensitive to it. The dihydrotestosterone accumulates in the hair follicle and dramatically shortens the hair growth phase. Men with a circular bald head or receding hairline therefore have no fewer hair follicles than a man with full hair, their follicles are only atrophied.
Hair does not have time to develop and grow, so it remains very short and fine, practically invisible. Similar thing happens to the hair in the areas of the face that are not populated by beard and scalp hair. There are also hairs here, but so fine that they are hardly visible.
Hair follicles in the temple and neck area are, as already mentioned, insensitive to the hormone and can therefore be used well for a transplantation. Even if they are transplanted to the forehead and upper head, the hair follicles will produce dense, long hair as usual. Dihydrotestosterone is the active form of the hormone testosterone.
Testosterone is converted into dihydrotestosterone with the help of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme is firstly particularly important in the growth and development of male foetuses and later takes on a leading role in the development of male teenagers. To counteract male androgenetic hair loss, researchers have identified 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.
After they are taken, the conversion of testosterone is inhibited and thus the hair follicles can resume their work (the blockade by dihydrotestosterone then logically dissolves. )Alopecia areata is a pathological, circular hair loss, which occurs in 80% of patients in the scalp hair and beard. Alopecia areata is an inflammatory hair loss disease.
It occurs most frequently between the ages of 20 and 30 years and leads to circular, hairless areas in the scalp and beard hair. The bald spots are sunken and not covered by scales or similar. Often men who suffer from Alopecia areata also have changes in the fingernails, especially grooves and rough spots can be observed.
Circular hair loss is the result of an autoimmune reaction of the body. Autoimmune reaction means that the body fights against itself. Cells that are responsible in the body for destroying intruders are programmed incorrectly in their maturation phase and now attack the hair cells instead.
These are recognized as “intruders” and are marked and digested by the phagocytes, the body’s “garbage collector”. This first causes an inflammation, then the entire tissue is degraded. Under these circumstances hairs can no longer grow.Normally Alopecia areata stops by itself, the hairs grow back sometime.
It only becomes problematic if the disease progresses. This can lead to total hair loss. Therefore, a visit to a dermatologist is never wrong.
This disease is diagnosed by taking a biopsy. In the laboratory it is examined for typical pathogens. The currently most commonly used therapy consists of applying a solution containing glucocorticoids.
The glucocorticoids have an immunosuppressive effect. Since hair loss is caused by an overactive immune system, the aim is to stop the cells and allow the hair to develop in peace. The therapy lasts for several months, during which the solution is applied regularly.
Drugs that suppress autoimmune reactions of the body without major side effects are currently being researched and would be a proven remedy for hair loss. At the moment, immunosuppressants are still afflicted with so many side effects and are so expensive that an application for hair loss would not be justified under any circumstances. Diffuse hair loss is the last type of hair loss to be mentioned.
It means that hair falls out all over the head, so the loss is not limited to a certain region. Causes for this are thyroid diseases, iron deficiency, hormonal disorders, massive stress or certain infectious diseases (here, as a typical example, shingles would be mentioned). Since the causes are so diverse, it is very difficult to make a diagnosis. There are numerous other types of male hair loss, but the three mentioned above are considered the most common, while the other types are found in negligible numbers.
