The hair follicle is one of the most complex and smallest organs of the human body. It is the only
organ that shows life-long cycles consisting of growth (anagen), regression
(catagen) and rest (telogen) periods.
Causes of hair loss
Many hormonal factors cause hair loss. thyroid and sex hormones) or nutritional factors, drug use, exposure to chemical substances, systemic and local skin diseases and psychological stress are held responsible. For this reason, it is very important to conduct a thorough questioning of the patient with hair loss, to investigate medication use, illnesses and weight loss in the last 6
months - 1 year, to learn hair-related procedures, and to take family history.
We support our diagnosis with physical examination after the history. A detailed
examination is performed to determine whether the hair loss is local or diffuse (common), whether the scalp is normal, whether there is any deterioration in the hair structure, and how many hair strands are palpable in the hair pulling test.
Diet and hair loss
A very strict diet may cause diffuse hair loss approximately 1-6 months after starting. The relationship between diet and hair loss
is not fully known. It has been shown that inadequate protein intake causes hair loss. Hair loss is reversible after stopping the diet. Zinc malabsorption or acquired zinc deficiency can cause severe hair loss. Insufficient dietary zinc intake alone will never cause diffuse (general) hair loss. Therefore, correcting asymptomatic zinc deficiency
does not reduce hair loss. Hair loss is observed in biotin deficiency, a decrease in hair loss is detected 2-4
weeks after the start of treatment, and a complete stop is detected after 2 months.
Anemia (Iron deficiency)
Anemia ( Iron deficiency, whether anemia or not, is accompanied by diffuse alopecia in 72% of women. Studies have shown that ferritin levels must be above 40microg/litre for optimal hair growth. It has been shown that hair loss occurs before anemia occurs following the decrease in serum iron levels.
Postpartum hair loss
One of the well-defined forms of hair loss is postpartum. (postpartum) alopecia. It has been shown that there is an increase in the proportion of hair in the growth (anagen) phase during the 3-9
months of pregnancy, and that after birth, anagen (growth) hair decreases and telogen (resting) hair increases. Especially from the 6th week after birth, the rate of telogen hair reaches its highest level. For this reason, postpartum hair loss usually begins between 1 and 4 months and lasts less than six months. In most patients
if there is no accompanying androgenetic alopecia (familial hair loss), hair loss usually
returns to normal.
Androgenetic alopecia (familial inherited hair loss = baldness)
Androgenetic alopecia differs in men and women in terms of time of appearance, frequency of occurrence, and the way alopecia develops. In men, first the front hairline gradually recedes and eventually an 'M' shaped opening appears. This is then followed by dilution in the crown region. In 15% of men, these two areas merge and in the end, only some hair surrounding the scalp remains. The genetic hair loss pattern in women is slightly different from that in men. The hairline
is preserved, general hair loss occurs in the midline of the scalp, and complete baldness does not develop in the crown area. In both sexes, the onset may occur at any time after puberty. Generally, the onset is between the ages of 20-40
. It is clinically noticed at the age of 17 in men and at the age of 25-30 in women. Most men are not aware of increased hair loss, they just see that their hair is gradually disappearing. In women, there is thinning of the hair on the scalp, front hairline and edges. It is important. In men, the risk of androgenetic alopecia increases as the number of family members experiencing hair loss (baldness) increases.
Treatment methods
In patients with general hair loss, hair loss can be stopped when the cause is eliminated. So
If there is a hormonal cause or anemia, it is necessary to correct these problems with medical treatments. Additionally
food supplements containing supportive proteins and vitamins for hair have been started. We also apply hair mesotherapy to stop hair loss, strengthen thinning hair and protect existing hair. With the mesotherapy method, we administer medications and vitamins that will strengthen the hair follicle to the root of the hair at regular intervals (15 days - 1 month) through a very fine-tipped needle. With the same method, PRP
(we turn the blood we take from the patient into a platelet-rich serum) treatment can also be applied to the hair follicles. After at least 5 sessions of application, we continue with maintenance (protective) treatment at 1-3 month intervals.
The main purpose of treating patients with androgenetic alopecia in its early stages is to prevent further hair loss and prevent thinning. is to return. Drug treatments used orally or topically must be used without interruption and require at least 1 year to see effectiveness. Accompanying hair
mesotherapy should also be applied.
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