Androgenetic Alopecia is usually caused by hormones and is one of the causes of hair loss for women. It is similar to male pattern baldness, except for the fact that the hair will fall out all over the scalp without causing a receding hair line, and it does not follow a pattern. This condition does not usually cause complete baldness. This condition does not just affect women and men, but chimpanzees and orangutans.
Causes
The main cause of androgenetic alopecia in women is genetics. There are also environmental factors which can contribute to the hair loss. Hormones also play a factor in contributing to the loss of a woman's hair. The hormone dihydrotestosterone can cause the hair follicles to become sensitive. Once the hair follicles become vulnerable to damage, the hair will begin to fall out. Then, once the hair follicles become damaged, the hair will not grow back.
If you have a family history of hair loss, there is a chance you can try to regulate the hormone levels. Talk to your doctor about having your hormone levels checked. You should do this before your hair begins to fall out.
Prevention
Androgenetic alopecia is not always preventable, but there are some things you can do to help keep the hair you do have.
- Be careful when styling your hair. Heat can make the hair brittle and cause it to fall out, so try to avoid blow drying your hair everyday. This is not always an option for many women. If your blow dryer has a cool heat option, try using it instead of using high heat. Then if you use a curling iron, set it on a low heat setting. Also, try avoid using too much hair sprat or styling products. You will also want to avoid pulling the hair too tight. This can cause more damage and cause the hair to fall out faster.
- Try using a scalp stimulating shampoo. These shampoos can help increase the blood flow to the scalp and possibly increase the hair growth.
- Trying to keep a healthy lifestyle may also help to keep the hair and scalp healthy. This includes making sure that you maintain a healthy diet by eating right and exercising. Iron also plays a big role in the hair production. Making sure that your diet includes iron rich foods may also help.
Treatment
There are treatment options available for people who suffer from hair loss. The most invasive treatment option is a hair transplant. During a hair transplant, the doctor will take hair from another person or part of the body and place it into the hair follicle. This can be a painful procedure and may not work for your situation. There are also many other less invasive options, such as chemicals that are placed on the scalp or medications which can be taken orally. If you suffer from hair loss and would like treatment, talk to your doctor about the right treatment for you.
Androgenetic alopecia is a hair loss condition which can affect not just women, but men and animals. If you suffer from this, talk to your doctor about ways to prevent this and about treatment for this condition.
