Hair loss in men and women: causes and when to worry

The scalp has around 100,000 hairs, and it is normal to lose up to about 100 a day when we comb or wash our hair. The concern starts when hair loss goes beyond normal.

How do you know if hair loss is a concern?

• You see hair everywhere: on your pillow when you wake up, on the furniture, in the car.
• The hair loss lasts several weeks or months.
• You notice your hair is less dense than it was some time ago, or your part looks wider.
• A receding hairline, thin areas or bald patches appear.

In men

Genetics (androgenetic alopecia). This is the most common cause of baldness in men. It can start as early as 18, although it can appear at any age. Many men with hereditary baldness do not notice the hair loss day by day: they realize it when their hair already looks less dense than before.

It can be inherited from the father's or the mother's side and does not always show up in every generation: it can pass, for example, from grandfather to grandson.

In women

In women, hair loss often has more than one cause and deserves careful investigation:

• Extreme diets without medical supervision. Very strict diets can cause anemia and deficiencies that show up as hair loss. If you want to lose weight, do it with the guidance of a nutritionist.
• Thyroid disease. Hypothyroidism is common in our region. It often comes with hair loss, very dry skin and brittle nails. Sudden hair loss can be a sign of a thyroid problem.
• Diabetes and insulin resistance. These can also be linked to hair loss from an early age.
• Hormonal changes and menopause. Hair can become thinner and fall out more.
• Genetics (androgenetic alopecia). It also affects women. In women, the hair thins mainly on the top of the head.

That is why not all hair loss can be solved with anti-hair-loss shampoos or other topical products. If the cause is internal, it has to be found and treated.

Factors that make hair loss worse (men and women)

• Stress. Read more about stress and your skin.
• Untreated dandruff and scalp irritation.
• Smoking and alcohol.
• Not getting enough sleep.

What should you do?

1. See a dermatologist as soon as you feel your hair loss is more than normal. The dermatologist examines your hair and scalp and orders the necessary tests (for example thyroid, iron, glucose) to find the cause.
2. Do not self-medicate or use home remedies: hair loss can be the first sign of an internal illness.
3. Control dandruff, sleep well, avoid smoking and alcohol, and manage stress with physical activity or things you enjoy.

Treatments

Treatment depends on the cause:

• Treating the internal cause (thyroid, anemia, deficiencies).
• Lotions, creams and medicines prescribed by the dermatologist.
• Platelet-rich plasma for hair.
• A hair transplant for areas of permanent hair loss. It is a precise outpatient surgery: the hair is placed unit by unit, without a hospital stay.

Androgenetic alopecia can be treated when you see a doctor and start treatment early.