let’s talk about the various types of hair loss. Hair loss occurs when the normal hair growth cycle is disrupted. Male pattern thinning, or androgenic alopecia, is the most common cause of hair loss for males. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, over 50 million men are affected by hair loss. Male baldness can occur in a variety of patterns and degrees. Zack Charkawi, M.D. at Men’s Health Atlanta in Johns Creek, GA, will carefully assess your individual thinning pattern before recommending the best possible solution. We are equipped to address the hair loss concerns of both men and women with highly effective and affordable treatments.
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Male Pattern Hair Loss
Androgenetic alopecia, or AGA, also known as male-pattern hair loss, is one of the most common conditions affecting men. In the United States, 35 million to 40 million men are affected by AGA. In some men AGA progresses to baldness over most of the scalp. Degrees of hair loss range from this most severe form of AGA to the least noticeable loss of hair in the front temporal area above the eyebrows. Loss of hair in the front temporal area is usually the first place where hair is lost in male AGA; in some men the loss stops there and never progresses. In other men, hair loss continues into other areas of the scalp. Progression of hair loss is rapid in some men, slower in others.
Male AGA occurs in an array of patterns as illustrated in the Norwood-Hamilton Scale. The Norwood-Hamilton Scale is used by physician hair restoration specialists in assessing hair loss and in planning hair loss treatment. The Norwood-Hamilton Scale illustrates a feature of AGA that makes hair transplantation possible: no matter how severe the hair loss, hair is never lost at the back or sides of the head or on the nape of the neck. These regions are under different genetic control from the gene(s) that affect hair follicles at the front and top of the head. This “preserved” hair at the back and sides of the head is a reservoir of healthy follicles that can be harvested and transplanted to scalp areas where hair has been lost.
Female Pattern Hair Loss
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) occurs in women as well as in men. In women AGA is defined as female pattern hair loss. The patterns of AGA in women are significantly different from the AGA patterns in men. The typical appearance of female-pattern hair loss is diffuse thinning of hair over the top of the scalp. The Ludwig Classification illustrates female-pattern hair loss in increasing degrees of severity. Female-pattern hair loss can begin at any age from teen-age through middle age. There may not be an obvious hereditary association for a woman, but a man with AGA usually has close male relatives with AGA. AGA is the most common cause of permanent hair loss in women; about 50% of women over age 40 have some degree of female-pattern hair loss. Non-AGA causes of hair loss are more frequent in women than in men. Women more than men are also likely to have temporary hair loss that may occur separately or together with female-pattern hair loss. Two common causes of temporary hair loss in women are the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and untreated hypothyroidism. A woman who is worried about loss of scalp hair should consult a physician hair restoration specialist for evaluation and diagnosis. Female hair loss can usually be successfully treated after a diagnosis is established.
Non-AGA Causes of Hair Loss
While androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss in both men and women, it can also be due to a number of other conditions. These conditions may not be recognized until they are diagnosed by a physician hair restoration specialist. Successful Hair Loss Treatment is dependent on correct diagnosis. Some of the most important of these non-AGA causes of hair loss:
- Alopecia areata—a possibly autoimmune disorder that causes patchy hair loss ranging from diffuse thinning to extensive areas of baldness with islands of retained hair.
- Scarring alopecia—hair loss due to scarring of the scalp. A common cause of scarring alopecia is persistent tight braiding or corn-rowing of scalp hair. Over a period of time scarring may destroy hair follicles and result in permanent hair loss. More severe scarring alopecia may be caused by physical cutting-ripping-tearing injury to scalp skin or burn injury.
- Telogen effluvium—a relatively common type of hair loss caused when a large percentage of scalp hair follicles are shifted into “shedding” phase. An underlying cause may be hormonal, nutritional, or drug-associated.
- Loose-anagen syndrome—a condition that occurs primarily in fair-haired persons. Scalp hair sits loosely in hair follicles and is easily extracted by normal combing or brushing. In some cases the condition appears during childhood and improves in later life.
- Triangular alopecia—a loss of hair in the frontal area of the scalp that sometimes begins in childhood. Hair loss may be complete in the frontal area or a few hairs may remain. The frontal hair loss can look similar to early-stage AGA. The cause of triangular alopecia is not known but it can be successfully treated.
- Trichotillomania—compulsive hair plucking. The condition ranges from idly plucking hair while reading or watching TV to ritualistic plucking of hair in specific patterns. Over time, trichotillomania can cause scarring alopecia and permanent hair loss. Hair loss due to trichotillomania usually cannot be successfully treated until underlying psychological or emotional conditions are treated successfully.
- Scalp infections—bacteria, fungi and viruses can invade and damage hair follicles, causing hair loss. The infection must be diagnosed and treated before hair restoration can be undertaken.
Each patient is unique; therefore, results may vary.
Determining the cause of hair loss in men and woman should be left up to an expert. Dr. Charkawi has the knowledge and training to evaluate a hair-loss situation and suggest surgery or Hair Loss Treatment. Schedule a consultation with Men’s Health Atlanta today. Dr. Charkawi and his team are ready to help you. His office is conveniently located to serve patients in Sandy springs, Greater Atlanta, Marrietta, Johns Creek, Cumming, and Roswell, GA.
We offer a private and complimentary Hair Transplant Consultation at both of our locations at Johns Creek Dermatology and Springs Hair Restoration.