Alopecia
The term 'alopecia' simply means hair loss. it is used to cover any form of hair
loss, whatever the cause.
Androgenic Alopecia (Male Pattern Baldness) - While always common in men,
this condition was not seen so often in women until recently, although now it
seems to on the increase. It can occur as the result of hormonal changes, but
appears to be getting more prevalent due to the stressful, hectic lifestyles
that women lead today. A tendency to hair loss of this type seems to be
inherited in women, just as it is in men. In women the condition normally
creates extensive hair thinning, rather than actual baldness, though the latter
does occasionally occur.
If androgenic hair loss occurs after the menopause, the cause is usually
genetic. In younger women, however, research has linked this type of hair loss
to stress. Too much stress causes a rise in adrenalin and in the male hormones
known as androgens, such as testosterone,. Alcohol also raises testosterone
levels, so women who drink a lot may also be more liable to suffer from hair
loss, although there is no evidence to prove this.
Hair loss in women usually starts at the front of the hair. on the
temples, then moves across the top of the head and down the sides, although the
hair usually remains thick at the nape of the neck; in men the hair loss does
not affect the sides of the head, but begins on the frontal hairline and then
affects the brown, and from there the two areas ultimately join.
Post-menopausal thinning
After the menopause women's hair can begin to thin, because their levels of
the female hormone estrogen fall in proportion to the level of androgens in the
bloodstream. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can improve this condition, but
it does depend on the type of the hormones used. Estrogen-only HRT is now
recommended solely for women who have had their womb removed; most other forms
of HRT involve taking a progestogen (one of a group of steroid hormones used in
oral contraceptives). Some of these (such as cyproterone acetate and medrosxy-
progesterone acetate) are less likely to cause hair loss, while others (such as
onorethisterone and levonorgestrel) are more masculine in their effect.
These synthetic progestogens tend to be broken down by the body into testosterone,
so they can have virilizing effects, such as thinning the hair and increasing
facial hair. Women who experience these problems with HRT can take natural
progesterone instead, either through skin patches or through creams or gels,
which can rubbed on the skin or inserted in the vagina.
Contraceptive Pills
The contraceptive pill is also sometimes linked to hair loss - again, this
may depend on the type of progestogen used. If a woman experiences hair loss
while she is on the pill, she should switch to a brand that contains one of the
more hair-friendly progestogens. If that doesn't help, she could consider an
alternative form of contraception.
Hormonal Disorders
Some illnesses cause an overproduction of hormones, which in turn may lead to
thinning hair. One such illness is polycystic ovaries; there are at least six
causes for this disorder, which strangely does not always involve the existence
of a cyst.
Treatment of the condition depends on the dominant symptom - among many other
symptoms, there is and increase in a hormone called androstenedione and also in
oestradilo and testosterone, which can result in facial hair, acne and the loss
of scalp hair.
Other illnesses that can affect hair growth, and occasionally cause excessive
growth of hair on the face and body are disorders of the pituitary gland.
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