In Dr. Amina’s Clinic, most often cases of hair growth problems are hormone-related hair loss (androgenetic alopecia), stress related hair loss (telogen alopecia) and patchy hair loss (alopecia areata).
Androgenetic alopecia: Androgenetic alopecia is a common form of hair loss in both men and women. In men, this condition is also known as male-pattern baldness. Hair is lost in a well-defined pattern, beginning above both temples. Over time, the hairline recedes to form a characteristic “M” shape. Hair also thins at the crown (near the top of the head), often progressing to partial or complete baldness. In women, the hair becomes thinner all over the head, and the hairline does not recede. Blood test is recommended in women to assess the hormone level. Genetic and environmental factors likely play a role in causing androgenetic alopecia.
Telogen alopecia: In some cases, it is a sudden hair loss that caused by an emotional or physical shock, extreme stress and serious illness. Hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause also have a big role in this type of hair loss. Telogen Effluvium knows causes includes: Malnutrition, hormonal birth control, endocrine disorders, and several types of medications like anticoagulants, oral retinoids, thyroid medications, anticonvulsants, and beta-blockers. This is a non-scaring, temporary form of hair loss, which will in most cases recover spontaneously after a few months
It is normal to lose up to 100 hairs each day as a result of the normal hair cycle… Excessive sun exposure may also be the trigger for telogen hair loss.
Alopecia areata: This patchy hair loss is a common form of hair shedding in both children and adults. It can arise spontaneously or be triggered by stress. Hair loss occurs very suddenly and can be localized with only one or just a few patches, or it can be quite widespread, sometimes even affecting whole body hair. The good news is that majority of cases, the hair grows back after some time. We can’t predict when this will happen, but we can certainly offer a topical and/or systemic treatment to try and start the process or prevent further spreading.
During the consultation, your dermatologist will first gain comprehensive insights into the patient’s problem, family history, and other health conditions causes different types of hair loss, hair thinning, and other hair fall-related issues. Afterwards, recommend a treatment that best address the problem. It’s important to know that due to the length of the normal hair growth cycle, it will take at least 2-4 months for any disturbance to respond to treatment. Success takes patience and perseverance.