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| MEN AND HAIR LOSS |
| Understanding Male Pattern Baldness |
| Virtually every man in the U.S. will be impacted by some form of hair loss within their lifetime. By the age of 35, two-thirds of American men will experience some degree of appreciable hair loss and by the age of 50, approximately 85 percent of men have significantly thinning hair, according to the American Hair Loss Association. Although the sheer volume of men affected by hair loss is somewhat astounding, Medical Hair Restoration understands that this condition affects everyone differently. We get to the root of hair loss to provide you with all the information needed to make the best decision for you. |
| Leading causes of male hair loss |
| In 95 percent of male hair loss patients, the condition derives from genetics--carrying a gene susceptible to hair loss. Amongst the medical community it’s known as androgenetic alopecia, but is commonly referred to as male pattern baldness. Unlike women, men rarely have diffused thinning on the scalp. Instead, they have more distinct patterns of baldness that advances to the familiar horseshoe-shaped fringe of hair. |
| Research has also found that testosterone levels in some men drop by 10 percent each decade after reaching the age of 30, causing an increased amount of males suffering from thinning hair or baldness. Additionally, there are other recognized causes of long-term and temporary male hair loss that are less prevalent than the familiar androgenetic alopecia. |
| Hair loss scale |
Although hair loss is unique to each individual, doctors have classified male baldness into several categories and have accepted a scale that graphically represents the distinctive patterns of hair loss. It's called the Norwood Classification.
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| WOMEN AND HAIR LOSS |
| Why Women Experience Hair Loss |
| Contrary to popular belief, hair loss is not just a male disease. In fact, women make up 40 percent of American hair loss sufferers. That means there are over 20 million women throughout the U.S. suffering from some form of hair loss. |
| Despite that in about 95 percent of male hair loss patients the tendency is inherited, reasons for female hair loss are far more unique and complex. Hair loss can be triggered by an assortment of factors such as menopause, ovarian cysts, pregnancy, stress, malnutrition, surgery, disease and even taking certain birth control pills. |
| If you’re a woman suffering from hair loss, you are not alone. Medical Hair Restoration understands that this condition affects everyone differently. We get to the root of hair loss to provide you with all the information needed to make the best decision for you. |
| Androgenetic Alopecia (Female Pattern Baldness) |
| Similar to men, a common cause for female hair loss is androgenetic alopecia--also known as female pattern baldness. This hair loss condition usually progresses into thinning hair over the entire top or crown of the head and diffused thinning on all areas of the scalp. |
| Menopause |
| What’s unique to women’s hair loss is that it can be triggered by menopause. In fact, approximately one-third of women experiencing menopause reports thinning hair or permanent hair loss. For those approaching menopause, they will experience a decline in hormone levels that will plummet further during menopause and beyond. The outcome is a decrease in the ratio of estrogen to testosterone, resulting in an influx of testosterone levels that generate hair loss. |
| Telogen Effluvium |
| When a woman’s body goes through a distressing stage, the 90 percent of your hair in the growth phase can suddenly shift into the shedding phase. This condition is most commonly associated with events like pregnancy and child birth, stress, malnutrition, surgery and disease. It’s known to result in losing clumps or handfuls of hair at one time. The good news? Telogen Effluvium may only result in temporary hair loss if highly-stressful situations are avoided. |
| Oral Contraceptives |
| Of the millions of American women who are prescribed birth control pills annually, only a select few are aware that oral contraceptives elicit hair loss for many women who use them. For those who carry the genetic trait susceptible to female pattern baldness or are hypersensitive to hormone changes, birth control pills can induce hair loss while on the pill and even weeks and months after stopping the pill. Thankfully, this usually only creates temporary hair loss but is something to be attentive to. |
| Hair loss scale |
Although hair loss is unique to each individual, hair loss patterns must be determined prior to a hair replacement treatment plan. Since female balding patterns vary, the common classifications are listed in a range from slight to severe hair loss, as the degree of thinning or breaking hair can alter over time. This is called the Ludwig Classification.
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