Pathological hair loss, or alopecia, significantly impairs the quality of life of patients, and therefore requires professional help from specialists. The causes of hair loss are often associated with diseases that are quite complex in terms of diagnostics, requiring both medical and cosmetic correction.
estet-portal.com reminds that in case of alopecia, the right choice of cosmetic products for hair care and scalp often provides an effective treatment for pathological hair loss.
More about this was told by – MD, dermatovenereologist, member of the Ukrainian Association of Dermatovenereologists, Cosmetologists, American Academy of Dermatology Natalia Reznichenko and – MD, professor, obstetrician-gynecologist of the highest category, member of the Association of Obstetricians-Gynecologists of Ukraine Galina Reznichenko.
What are the most common causes of hair loss
Alopecia is a pathological hair loss that results in partial or complete loss of hair on the skin of the scalp and/or trunk.
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There are different types of hair loss, which differ in their causes, manifestations, speed of occurrence, location of foci of baldness, and, accordingly, require certain approaches to correction. Alopecia can be congenital or acquired.
Congenital alopecia are hereditary diseases. They are often accompanied by deformation, thinning or complete absence of nails; thickening, dryness, peeling of the skin; can be combined with diseases of the internal organs. For example, the photographs show a mother and son with one of these hereditary diseases - Clouston's syndrome.
Unfortunately, modern medicine does not have the ability to treat congenital alopecia.
Acquired alopecia occur during life and are associated with the influence of internal or external adverse factors. Alopecia areata, diffuse, toxic, androgenetic alopecia are considered acquired.
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Scarring alopecia constitute a separate group. They are irreversible due to the destruction of hair follicles and their replacement with fibrous tissue. Cicatricial alopecia can be both the result of physical injuries and the result of severe systemic diseases. All cases of scars on the scalp (except for post-traumatic ones) require a mandatory consultation with a dermatovenereologist. Examples of cicatricial alopecia are shown in the following photos:
Patient S., 52 years old. Diagnosis: systemic lupus erythematosus, cicatricial alopecia. Sick for 20 years. Scarring could have been prevented with timely medical attention and treatment.
Patient K., aged 50. Diagnosis: Little-Lassuer syndrome, cicatricial alopecia. In addition to atrophy, nodules of pink-violet color are noted on the scalp
Diffuse alopecia: causes of hair loss and treatment options
Diffuse (uniform throughout the head) hair loss can be caused by various factors. Depending on the phase in which the hair falls out, there are telogen and anagen alopecia.
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Telogen effluvium is characterized by gradual hair thinning. It can occur as a result of natural causes - in infants 6-8 weeks after birth or in women 2-4 months after birth. This hair loss stops spontaneously, and new hair growth is noted after a while.
However, telogen effluvium may appear as a result of exposure to pathological factors.
These include:
• stress - acute and chronic;
• infections accompanied by fever (flu, pneumonia, tuberculosis, intestinal infections, etc.);
• taking certain medications (retinoids, cytostatics, anticonvulsants, etc.);
• deficiency of vitamins and microelements (primarily iron and zinc);
• protein restricted diets;
• chronic diseases (pathology of the thyroid gland, oncological diseases, hepatitis, HIV infection).
The main thing in the treatment of telogen alopecia is finding out the cause of hair loss and its elimination. Therefore, for diffuse hair loss, the following diagnostic measures are recommended:
• careful history taking (questioning the client about the possible causes and factors preceding hair loss);
• Trichoscanning and trichogram;
• complete blood count to determine the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin;
• biochemical blood test to determine the concentration of serum iron, serum ferritin, serum iron-binding capacity;
• examinations for hormone levels (TSH, T3, T4, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, progesterone, prolactin, estradiol, LH, FSH);
• according to indications - consultations of doctors (neuropathologist, obstetrician-gynecologist, endocrinologist, therapist, hematologist, oncologist).
Treatment of telogen diffuse hair loss without fail implies the use of special vitamin complexes. Such complexes, on the one hand, prevent hair loss, making up for the lack of vitamins and important trace elements in the human body, and on the other hand, accelerate the growth of hair and nails, improve their structure.
Cosmetic care for stressed skin: step by step treatment program
In addition, in the treatment of alopecia it is impossible to do without adaptol, which, having a sedative and anti-stress effect, eliminates the most common cause of hair loss - a state of acute or chronic stress. With increased hair loss, a long-term use of Adaptol (several months) is recommended.
is characterized by the sudden loss of large amounts of hair caused by exposure to radiation from chemicals and drugs. With this type of alopecia, the hair falls out quickly, 1-3 weeks after the influence of the provoking agent. X-ray exposure, heavy metals (mercury, lead), poisons (arsenic, thallium), certain drugs, mainly used for the treatment of oncological diseases (vinblastine, vincristine, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide) are most often in the form of provoking factors.
In case of sudden rapid hair loss, hospitalization of the patient in the department of dermatology (and sometimes toxicology) is recommended to determine the provoking factor and conduct detoxification therapy.
Cosmetic correction of hair loss in diffuse alopecia
Correction of diffuse telogen effluvium requires proper scalp and hair care. An indispensable cosmetic product for reducing hair loss and stimulating their rapid growth is the innovative therapeutic and prophylactic shampoo-cream BIOGENA MELLIS BETA, presented by
Intercosmetic Group. It is recommended for the treatment of diffuse and androgenetic alopecia. The action of BIOGENA MELLIS BETA shampoo is due to the unique composition.
• beta-sitosterol (the main component of the shampoo), contained in the oil extracts of some plants (such as sawmill, pumpkin, sesame, black cumin), is able to inhibit 5-alpha reductase and thereby eliminate androgenetic alopecia;
• rosemary oil, which stimulates blood circulation in the skin, prolongs the life cycle of hair, has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antioxidant effects;
• manuka honey, intensely hydrating and soothing itching, acting as a "natural antibiotic" to control scalp bacterial flora.
The way to use it is to apply it on a damp scalp with massage movements until a rich foam is formed, after which the shampoo is washed off, and then reapplied and left for 5-10 minutes.
At the end of the exposure time, the shampoo is washed off and the hair is dried. It is recommended to use the shampoo 2-4 times a week.
Possibilities of hair cosmetics for androgenetic alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is caused by the action of androgens on the hair follicles and occurs in individuals with a hereditary predisposition.
The main links in the mechanism of androgenetic hair loss are an increased level of androgens and high activity of the 5α-reductase enzyme.
Occurs in post-pubertal age and is characterized by thinning and thinning of hair in the frontal and parietal areas of the head.
It should be remembered that with androgenetic alopecia in men, foci of complete baldness can form, while in women only hair thinning is observed.
This type of alopecia never captures the temporal and occipital zones. To establish the diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia, only characteristic clinical signs are often sufficient. However, sometimes in women there is a need to exclude hyperandrogenism.
For this purpose, the levels of hormones – free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, progesterone, prolactin, estradiol, luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones, as well as ultrasound of the pelvic organs and adrenal glands.
Points of application of cosmetics in the treatment of acne If hyperandrogenism is suspected, women are advised to consult an obstetrician-gynecologist. The main symptoms of hyperandrogenism (in addition to androgenetic alopecia) are seborrheic dermatitis, acne, hirsutism, hypertrichosis, irregular menstruation.
Treatment of androgenetic alopeciain women involves the use of combined oral contraceptives to eliminate the symptoms of hyperandrogenism. For men, in the absence of contraindications, finasteride is recommended (only after consulting a urologist). External correction of androgenetic alopecia consists in the use of 2% (for women) and 5% (for men) minoxidil solution. In addition, an important point in the elimination and prevention of androgenetic alopecia is the use of BIOGENA MELLIS BETA shampoo. Its high efficiency in the correction of androgenetic alopecia is associated with the presence of beta-sitosterol, a powerful inhibitor of 5α-reductase.
By inhibiting the 5α-reductase enzyme, BIOGENA MELLIS BETA shampoo has both a curative and a preventive effect in androgenetic hair loss. Recommended for permanent use.
Choice of cosmetic care for combined causes of hair loss
For seborrhea and seborrheic dermatitis, shampoos with antifungal activity should be recommended, since this pathology has an increased growth of fungi of the genus Malassezia on the scalp.
BIOGENA MELLIS MED shampoo has an anti-seborrheic effect. Its unique formula combines three complementary ingredients:
• Ciclopirox Olamine,
• etidronic acid,
• quaternized honey.
Ciclopirox olamine and etidronic acid complex patented by pharmaceutical company Valetudo. It is recommended for desquamative lesions of the scalp accompanied by itching.
Follow us onInstagram! This means that BIOGENA MELLIS MED shampoo shows its effect against various diseases accompanied by peeling in the head area. These include psoriasis.
The possibility of using BIOGENA MELLIS MED shampoo in various diseases of the scalp is extremely important, because sometimes (in the presence of inflammation and flaking only on the scalp and the absence of rashes on smooth skin) it is very difficult to distinguish between psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis.
Cyclopirox olamineis a powerful antifungal agent that inhibits the activity of Malassezia by binding iron ions necessary for the survival of yeast-like fungi.
– it is a chelating agent that enhances the antifungal activity of ciclopirox olamine. Quarterized honey is known for its restorative, moisturizing and protective properties. Gives hair softness and silkiness.
The use of BIOGENA MELLIS MED shampoo consists in applying it to wet skin and hair with massage movements until a rich foam is formed, after which the shampoo is washed off and reapplied for 10-30 minutes to provide a therapeutic effect. It is recommended to use 2-4 times a week.
Features of hair loss in alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is a chronic hair loss resulting from the influence of various factors on the hair follicle, often occurring against a background of complete health. It is characterized by the appearance of hairless round or oval lesions on the skin.
Each day face serum is an effective means of rejuvenation It is possible that they increase in size, merge with the formation of extensive foci of baldness up to the defeat of the entire skin. Most often, such foci occur on the scalp, but eyebrows, eyelashes, the mustache and beard area, and the trunk can also be affected.
Treatment of alopecia areatainvolves the use of drugs that improve microcirculation, vitamins, microelements (iron, zinc), biogenic stimulants, nootropic drugs. In addition, intralesional injections and oral corticosteroids are recommended, but be aware of the possible severe complications of hormone therapy and the short duration of its effect. In most cases, after the end of hormone intake, the hair in the pathological foci falls out again.
In the presence of foci of baldness with clear boundaries, one should be alert for trichotillomania – a mental disorder in which the patient unintentionally and unconsciously pulls out his hair. Trichotilomania is manifested by the formation of hairless lesions in which new hair growth can be seen. They can grow to a length of 2.5-3 cm, after which they are often pulled out again by patients. An example of trichotilomania is shown in the photo. Such patients should be treated exclusively by a neurologist or a psychotherapist.
of the company "Intercosmetic Group", often provides not only prevention, but also an effective treatment of pathological hair loss.