Hair today, gone tomorrow, now a health concern among women too

Two generations ago, balding was of concern only for men in their 40s. However, today even young men in the college going years are beginning to see the receding hairline.

Dr S Murugusundram, secretary, The Hair Research Society of India, says that while genetics play a major role, even stress contributes to the condition.  He explains, “Premature balding is largely due to poor diet patterns, lifestyle and when coupled with stress, excessive hair loss is inevitable. It is normal to lose as much as 100 strands per day, but beyond that it is cause of concern. I have seen boys as young as 11 years suffering from androgenetic alopecia.” Androgenetic alopecia, a common form of hair loss prevalent among men and women, is also known as male pattern balding. This can progress to become partial or complete baldness. This form of hair loss is linked to hormones called androgens, particularly an androgen called dihydrotestosterone.

Dr Murugusundram says that androgenetic alopecia that follows a different pattern in women has for long been underreported. “Today, we see a number of younger women skipping breakfast, which again has a direct impact on hair loss. Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome (PCOS) is prevalent even among 14-year-old girls and it has a direct bearing on hair growth. Other factors include anaemia. They may have normal haemoglobin count, but a ferritin test can reveal a different story. Similarly, calcium deficiency and poor protein intake also contribute to the condition,” he adds. However, when compared to men, women are more prompt to act upon excessive hair loss.  Dr Deepika Lunawat, consultant dermatologist, Fortis Malar Hospital, says, “Unlike men, who come at the advanced stages of hair loss like grade two or grade three, women tend to take up the case as soon as they see abnormal loss of hair,” she says.” Other contributing factors for excessive hair loss among women are procedures like hair straightening and use of hair colours. I wouldn’t say that they should stop going for it completely, but it would definitely help if they do it less often,” she says.

While hair tonics and those oils that promise hair growth are abundantly available, it doesn’t work in all cases. Dr Jayanthy Ravindran, who runs Tamira, an aesthetic and cosmetic surgery centre in the city, “No doctor can stop hair loss, if it is genetic.  It can be postponed by changing the impact hormones have on hair follicles. In cases of thyroid issues or severe case of anaemia, the condition can be treated by correcting it and supplying the necessary nutrients. But whatever maybe the reason, we need at least 4-6 months to see results,” she says. Dr Jayanthy also adds that a technique called Platelet-Rich Plasma or PRP which can help in reversing hair loss can work for many. “Under this method, the concentrated blood plasma is used to stimulate hair follicle growth. At the moment, research is underway to understand why it yields varying results,” she says Switch on the television during prime time and you see a number of products that promise hair growth, but are these sure shot solutions? Dr Deepika says,” Some of them contain peptides that accelerate hair growth, but they don’t work in isolation.”

At any time on a healthy human scalp, about 80% to 90% of the hair follicles are growing hair. These active follicles are in what is called the anagen phase. The remaining 10% to 20% percent of scalp hair follicles in a resting state called telogen, when they don’t produce any hair fibre. Telogen effluvium is an extremely common condition, according to dermatologists. If the number of hair follicles producing hair drops significantly for any reason during the resting, or telogen phase, there will be a significant increase in dormant, telogen stage hair follicles. The result is shedding, or TE hair loss.