Trial-and-error treatment is not an effective remedy for hair loss. The most successful treatment is based on a correct diagnosis of the cause of hair loss. The fastest and surest way to obtain an accurate diagnosis is to consult a trained and experienced physician like Dr Bonaros, a hair restoration specialist.
Reviewed by Dr Epameinondas Bonaros
Before exploring why some people lose hair, it is important to understand the basics of how healthy hair grows. This process takes place during the following three stages.
Knowing what causes your alopecia enables you to seek effective hair loss treatment. Here are several of the most common types of hair loss conditions.
Sometimes also referred to as female and male pattern hair loss, this hereditary hair loss condition is caused by an excessive response to androgens. It results in overall hair thinning and loss, often characterised by a receding hairline.
Often quite sudden, this hair loss condition takes place when the immune system attacks hair follicles. Generally, alopecia areata causes patchy hair loss, but it can also result in alopecia totalis (complete baldness).
Caused by tension from tight hairstyles like braids, traction alopecia is an acquired hair loss condition. It results in thinning hair, hair loss and damaged hair follicles.
This type of hair loss takes place when inflammation destroys hair follicles. Primary Cicatricial alopecias are considered autoimmune disorders, causing bald spots and permanent hair loss. Examples are Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia – FFA- and Lichen Planopilaris -LPP.
Triggered by stress or a traumatic event, telogen effluvium causes hairs to enter the resting phase of the hair cycle prematurely. It results in temporary hair shedding.
This thyroid hormone deficiency often causes brittle hair and, if severe or prolonged, can result in patients losing hair. However, this temporary hair loss can be corrected with effective thyroid treatment.
This fungal infection is a common cause of alopecia in children and anyone with a weak immune system. It results in patchy hair loss and itchy, scaly skin that can be treated with oral medication.
Radiation treatment and certain types of chemotherapy commonly used to treat cancer can cause scalp and body hair loss. However, this is only temporary, and a patient’s hair grows back a few months after they complete treatment.
From hair growth disorders like androgenetic alopecia to medical conditions like alopecia areata, every type of hair loss is unique. Book an appointment with Dr Bonaros to discover which hair loss treatment options are best suited to you.
Before recommending or undertaking a surgical hair restoration procedure or nonsurgical hair restoration program, your hair restoration specialist will conduct a series of tests and examinations.
At a minimum, these will include :
Most individuals seeking hair restoration have male or female pattern hair loss — a condition that is simple to diagnose and readily treatable. Additional diagnostic tests are not necessary for these patients. This is especially true for biological males, as the diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia in men is generally quite straightforward.
However, if medical examinations indicate that your hair loss may be due to a condition other than male or female pattern baldness, your physician will look for other causes.
The exact scope of a scalp examination will vary between patients depending on a physician’s assessment of what information is needed. Effectively determining your hair loss cause and its progression may include any of the following tests.
Trichoscopy is a non-invasive diagnostic technique for the detailed examination of hair and scalp health.
Utilising a dermatoscope, this digital microcopy method magnifies the scalp’s surface up to 100 times. This allows for real-time visualisation of hair follicle condition, scalp surface, and hair shafts.
Read MoreDuring this test, about 25 to 50 hairs are removed from the scalp by a gentle pull. Typically, only a few hairs are removed with each pull; removing more significant numbers may indicate an abnormality of hair growth.
The extracted hair shafts are examined under a microscope to establish the condition of the hair shaft and bulb (the end of the hair shaft removed from the follicle).
A scalp biopsy is a diagnostic procedure used to pinpoint the causes of hair loss when typical assessments remain inconclusive. It involves the removal of a small piece of scalp tissue under local anaesthesia, which is then meticulously examined under a microscope.
Read MoreNo matter the causes of your hair loss, Dr Bonaros can help you find the perfect treatment plan. Get in touch to book a hair loss consultation and start your hair restoration journey today.
At Dr Bonaros, we often get asked questions like, “Can stress cause hair loss?”, “Can anxiety cause hair loss?” and “Are there specific male and female hair loss causes?” We’ve answered some common queries about thinning hair and hair loss below. Read our answers to discover more about the causes of alopecia.
Generally, the causes of female hair loss are the same as those for males. However, depending on your biological sex, you may be more prone to certain types of hair loss.
Due to their higher testosterone production, biological males have a high chance of developing androgenetic alopecia. This is also true for females suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as this condition can cause an increased production of testosterone. However, PCOS is difficult to diagnose, contributing to the fact that it can be more complicated to determine the exact cause of hair loss in women.
In some cases, female hair loss can involve underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism. A patient’s primary care physician will need to treat this condition before hair restoration can be undertaken. There are also specific hormone-related medications that can cause hair loss in females. A common example includes side effects from birth control pills.
Yes. Although this phenomenon requires more research, there is a distinct relationship between anxiety, stress, and losing hair.
This confirmation leads to several questions, including “What type of hair loss does anxiety cause? Hair loss conditions commonly associated with stress and anxiety include the following.
Depending on the specific situation, these conditions can sometimes result in very noticeable hair loss. However, this is not always permanent, and if your long-term appearance is affected, there are numerous trustworthy medications and procedures available for treating hair loss.
No. There is no proof that caffeine directly causes either permanent or temporary hair loss.
The assumption that it can most likely stem from the fact that caffeine is a vasodilator and diuretic. This means it causes your blood vessels to constrict and can result in dehydration if not consumed alongside enough water.
Both reduced blood flow and lack of hydration can contribute to potential hair loss. However, mild amounts of caffeine are extremely unlikely to have a significant impact on this. In fact, there are even some studies that claim caffeine can promote hair growth. While this research is not definitive, it further emphasises that caffeine is not a direct cause of hair loss.
Dr Bonaros is a leading hair restoration specialist with years of experience in the field. As Scotland’s only full member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) and a full member of the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery (BAHRS), you can trust the expertise of his work.
At the Dr Bonaros hair restoration clinic in Glasgow, we understand that hair loss conditions like male pattern baldness can cause you to lose your confidence. Dr Bonaros provides you with a tailored treatment plan to effectively treat your hair loss and help you regain your confidence.
Are you experiencing hair thinning or loss? Dr Bonaros has experience in treating numerous hair loss causes. Book a hair loss consultation via Zoom below or fill in our Online Assessment Form to discover your ideal hair restoration treatment plan.
Excerpts copied from International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, www.ISHRS.org, © 2004.
Hair Shedding after a Hair Transplant: What You Need to Know It’s understandable to feel concerned when you notice hair shedding after your hair transplant surgery. However, don’t worry, as it’s just a temporary phase.Shedding is often referred to as “shock loss,” and understanding post-transplant shedding helps patients manage expectations,
When we experience hair loss, we tend to think of anxiety as more of a consequence than the cause of the ordeal. Losing your hair does, indeed, often trigger stress and insecurity.
Your diet plays a surprisingly large role in the growth of your hair. Just like eating the right diet can keep you healthy and fit, the right food can help to stimulate hair growth and keep your hair strong and healthy as you get older.
The normal growth rate of scalp hair is one-fourth to one-half inch per month. Hair growth has a cyclic pattern that can be affected by a number of genetic, disease, medication or other factors to cause hair loss.
Traction Alopecia — Causes, Symptoms & Treatments Your hairstyles play a key role in the overall health of your hair. Certain hair practices can put excess strain on your hair follicles, leading to a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia. Read on to find out everything you need
Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) Hair Loss — Causes, Symptoms & Treatments DUPA (Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia) is a relatively uncommon type of hair loss that does not follow a specific pattern. DUPA hair loss causes overall thinning, resulting in a loss of hair density and coverage. Continue reading this article to
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