All About Hair Loss: Part 1

Seunga (Jasmine) Han, PharmD Candidate

Hair Loss

Hair loss is a common concern in adults and has a significant impact on the psychological aspect of an individual, such as self-esteem and mood changes.^1,2 It’s more commonly seen in males than females, and can be categorized based on the presentation or causative factor: generally speaking, there are actually four types of hair loss:^1,2

• Androgenic alopecia
• Telogen effluvium
• Anagen effluvium
• Alopecia areata

Androgenic Alopecia

First, let’s take a look at what androgenic alopecia is. This is the most common type of hair loss seen in adults and is also commonly known as male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness. While we know that it’s a hereditary form of hair loss, we don’t know the exact influence of genetics on this condition. Androgenic alopecia is characterised by thinning and loss of hair that starts at the crown of the head in men and the centre or part line in women.²

Telogen Effluvium

Unlike androgenic alopecia, in telogen effluvium the hair follicles from which hairs grow are lost, resulting in excessive shedding and thinning, followed by hair loss in the pubic and underarm areas in about 3-4 months. This is the most common type of temporary hair loss, that is usually caused by a triggering event, such as:^1,2

• Hormonal changes during pregnancy or postpartum
• Severe psychological stress
• Infection
• Surgery
• Autoimmune disorder
• Endocrine disorder
• Iron deficiency
• Crash diets or sudden weight loss

Anagen Effluvium

Anagen effluvium is when there is hair loss over the entire scalp due to chemotherapy, radiation, or certain medication exposures. Unlike the previously mentioned forms of hair loss, shedding is sudden and severe. However, normal hair growth is restored once the underlying cause is removed.^1,2

Alopecia Areata

Last but not least is alopecia areata – an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that affects the hair follicles and nail matrix. It’s more commonly seen in children and younger adults; however, it can occur at any age. It’s characterized by smooth, round or oval patches of baldness on the scalp. Additionally, it can appear in other hairy areas of the body such as the eyebrows. While Alopecia areata is generally self-limiting and hair growth can occur spontaneously, certain hereditary forms can be chronic.

Tips To Reduce Hair Loss

So what can we do to reduce hair loss? The first step in ensuring optimal growth is to maintain healthy hair and minimize damage with the following tips:

1. Get a regular haircut to remove damaged ends
2. Use appropriate shampoo products based on the hair type
3. Condition your hair regularly
4. Minimize exposure to harsh chemical treatments
5. Avoid excessive brushing
6. Minimize the use of blow dryers, curling and straightening irons

In addition to maintaining healthy hair, individuals may choose to use cosmetic products to make their hair look thicker. Hair extensions, wigs, and hair pieces are another way to cover up hair loss areas. Lastly, follicle transplants have been shown to have limited success, as well as other medical treatments that we’ll cover in the next article.

We hope you took away something valuable from this piece. If you liked this article, keep an eye out for part two of the article where we’ll discuss the treatment options for hair loss. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this article or others, feel free to reach out to us on Instagram, Facebook, or at ask@orbishealth.ca with your feedback. We’d love to hear from you.

RESOURCES

1. DynaMed Plus
2. RxTx