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 significant thinning or complete disappearance on the head or certain parts of the body.
For a long time, this problem of baldness was observed mainly in males. But in recent years, representatives of the weaker half of humanity have also begun to suffer from it.
What causes alopecia in women, what is it and how to treat this disease? We will tell about this below.
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Just like in men, alopecia in women (a photo of the disease is presented in this article) is divided into different types. The most common ones are:
- androgenetic alopecia;
- diffuse alopecia;
- focal hair loss;
- scar.
Let's consider the features of each type in more detail.
Androgenetic alopecia in women
This form of baldness is characterized by thinning hair, which leads to hair loss in the central parting area 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 effect on the hair follicles of such a sex hormone as testosterone. It is believed that the tendency to alopecia in 75% of cases is inherited from the mother.
Treatment
Androgenetic alopecia in women is treated in the same way as in men. For this, drug therapy and transplantation are used.
Diffuse
Alopecia in women - what is it and how to treat it? First you need to identify the form of this disease.
Diffuse alopecia is characterized by uniform hair loss. Such a pathological condition occurs as a result of a failure of cycles in their growth and development.
Due to the fact that this type of baldness is the result of impaired functioning of the whole organism, it is sometimes called symptomatic.
How common is diffuse alopecia in women? Reviews report that the fairer sex is more susceptible to it than men.
At present, anagen and telogen types of diffuse alopecia are isolated. The first can be caused by hormonal disorders, nervous stress, prolonged use of antibiotics, surgical operations, strict diets, etc. As for the second type, it occurs when the body is exposed to more rapid and strong factors (for example, radiationradioactive, poisoning with strong poisons, chemotherapy).
Therapy
As a rule, after the disappearance of the cause of this form of baldness, lost hair 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 using various growth stimulants, therapeutic balms, sprays, masks and physiotherapy.
Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata in women, the treatment of which will be presented below, is an abnormal hair loss that occurs 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, together with alopecia areata, patients may experience damage to the nail plates.
Specialists say 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 remedies for the treatment of such alopecia. However, it should be noted that they have not been officially approved.
The most common treatment for alopecia is the use of corticosteroids in various forms (eg, injections, creams, oral medications). They also often use drugs that stimulate the formation of their own corticosteroids.
Cicatricialbaldness
Scarring alopecia in women - what is it? A hallmark of such a disease is irreversible damage to the hair follicles, as well as the appearance of scar tissue or the so-called connective tissue in their place.
Alopecia can be caused by various infections, including those of viral, bacterial or fungal origin, which cause inflammation around the hair peritrics.
Experts say that with 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, this type of baldness occurs due to physical trauma, including wounds, chemical or thermal burns.
Method of treatment
There is only one method for the treatment of already formed cicatricial alopecia. This is a surgical operation. If the areas of baldness are not too large, then they are removed, and then he althy follicles are transplanted onto them.
Diagnosis
How is alopecia diagnosed (what is it in women, we told in the presented article)? The first step is to consult an experienced trichologist. The doctor is obliged to conduct a thorough examination of the hair of the skin and head, and then refer to the following tests:
- sex hormone levels;
- thyroid hormone levels;
- trichogram (that is, the study of hair density per square cm of the head using a microvideo camera).
Based onof all the data obtained, the trichologist must make a diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Recipes of traditional medicine
How should alopecia in women be treated at home? Experts say that such methods help only if baldness was not caused by serious pathologies in the body or various infections.
The most popular, simple and affordable folk remedy for alopecia is garlic and onion juice. They are carefully rubbed into the affected areas of the skin, and after 2-3 hours they are washed off with water using shampoo.
No less affordable for the treatment of baldness are masks using 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. After a while, the hair is washed thoroughly.
For a long time red pepper tincture has been known for its firming effect. Rubbing this remedy on 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 medical or folk methodshelp to return the lost curls, then doctors recommend transplanting them.
There are two types of hair transplant operations. Consider them in more detail.
- Strip method. This method is characterized by hair transplantation 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 way of transplantation. For its implementation, hair follicles are removed from the donor area using a special tool. If there is not enough hair on the back of the head, the chin, legs, chest, groin area and others can be used as such an area.
Today, hair transplantation from the donor area 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.
