Introduction to Hair and Hair Loss

Hair Loss , affecting a person’s emotional well-being ,a medically harmless condition. Hair Loss can occur  in any age , from Children  to  young men to  post-menopausal women may experience thinning of hair and various hair loss conditions. 

What is Hair

Hair , an outgrowth of filamentous cells.  The human body is covers by follicles that produce hair , leaving palms of the hands and soles of the feet.  From the deep skin layers , grows the hair from the hair follicles .The main component of hair fibre is keratin.

  

Stages  of  Hair  Growth

There are different types of hair at different stages in life, and in different parts of the body.

1st Stage  :  The very first hair are the lanugos, the hairs that begin growing in the third or fourth month of foetal life and are entirely shed either before or shortly after birth.

2nd Stage : In early months an infant shows the appearance fine, short, unpigmented hairs called down hair, or vellus. Vellus covers every part of the body except the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, under surfaces of the fingers and toes, and a few other places.

 

3rd Stage : Then during puberty , the sex hormones influence the growth and distribution of hair on the body . During this time Vellus hair get supplemented by longer, pigmented hair, called Terminal hair that develops in the armpits, genital regions, and, in males on the face and sometimes on parts of the trunk and limbs.

On the scalp, hair is densest and longest. By increasing age and size of the body the hair follicles density reduces .Human hair grows at a rate of 10-13 mm/month.  

What is hair made of

Well, hair is primarily composed of a protein: keratin. This keratin is resistant to wear and tear. Keratin makes up the main part of the epidermis (skin), teeth enamel, nails, hair. Hair also comprises of  :  Approx 50 % Carbon ,  Approx 20 % Oxygen ,  Some nitrogen, hydrogen, sulphur .Also contains some fats, vitamins, and even a bit of water.

Functions Of  Hair  

• The most important function of  hair is of insulating against cold by conserving body heat.
• The differing colours and colour patterns in hair coats also serve purposes of camouflage and of sexual recognition .
• Specialised hairs called vibrissae, or whiskers, serve as sensory organs for certain nocturnal animals.
• It helps transmit sensory information and creates gender identity.
• Each hair follicle has tiny sensory nerve fibres at the base. Hair is also a touch receptor that is very sensitive.
• Hair is important to the appearance of men and women. It is also the only body structure that is completely renewable without scarring.  

What is hair loss

Hair loss is decrease in the density of hair or thinning of  hair on the scalp. Alopecia is the medical description of loss of hair from head or body, sometimes to the extent of  baldness. Alopecia tends to be involuntary and unwelcome.  It may result  from illness, functional disorder, or hereditary disposition.

Some common causes of excessive hair loss : 

• Surgery
• Hormonal problems
• Pregnancy
• Medication
• Infections
• Diseases
• Local exposure to toxins like Over use of chemical based shampoos, soaps, lotions.
• Scalp carelessness: Unhygienic measures in scalp care may lead to hair falling.
• Certain Hairstyles or Treatments  : Dietary cause of hair fall or poor nutrition causing hair fall.
• Disruption of the hair growth cycle.
• Psychological factors like Emotional Stress ,Sadness or Depression.

Alopecia – Medical Term for Hair Loss

Alopecia, is a set of disorders which involves the state of hair reduction  where it would normally grow, especially on the head , leading to baldness. The most common form of baldness is a progressive hair-thinning condition that occurs in adult humans

Facts about Alopecia

»        Alopecia can affect people of any age.

»        It can affect any part of the body.

»        This condition can progress very rapidly leading to complete loss of scalp hair in a very short .

»        It has phases of remissions and relapses .

Alopecia Areata

When hair loss occurs in only one section , then it is known as Alopecia Areata. Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of  hair from the scalp and elsewhere on the body. The person’s own immune system attacks the hair follicles , resulting in round, smooth bald patches on the scalp.

Some of the features related to alopecia areata:

»  Hair falls out in small patches leaving bald spots about the size of a small coin

»  There may be single or multiple such patches.

»  The bald spots may remain static or may spread to involve larger areas of the scalp.

Depending upon the progress of  Alopecia Areata , it  can further be classified into :::: 

»  Alopecia Areata  Monolocularis: A single bald spot on the scalp makes it up. It  may progress to multiple spots.

»  Alopecia Areata Multilocularis: The patient presents with multiple bald spots .

»  Alopecia Areata Totalis: It is one of the severe forms .There is total loss of hair on the head.

»  Alopecia Areata Universalis: HairLoss from all over the body .

»  Alopecia Areata Barbae: The bald spots are limited only to the beard region in this type.

Depending upon the presence of infection on the scalp , Alopecia Areata can further be classified into ::::

»  Non-scarred alopecia areata: Here there is no infection of the scalp and so easy recovery.

»  Scarred alopecia areata/Cicatrical Alopecia  : A lichen infection of the scalp which may cause irreversible damage to the follicles and the skin of the scalp looks like a scar .Scarring Alopecia is also known as Cicatrical Alopecia

Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata

Diagnosing alopecia areata is easier to detect because the look of the patches itself is so peculiar. A smooth Bald Patch clearly visible on close examination of the lesion. By simply pulling the hair  , if the hair is pulled out from the bald patch easily , means the lesion is active and more hair fall is expected  . This is  ‘Hair pull test’ .To determine  the inflammation of the hair follicles , dermatologists take a small skin biopsy for microscopic examination.

                                              

A little knowledge of the hair loss and it’s causes along with a brief overview of Homoeopathy and its treatment may prove useful to many.