Answers to Common Questions about Hair Loss Causes

Q.) What causes hair loss?

A.)Although genetic predisposition is the most common cause of hair loss in both men and women, there are numerous other factors to consider such as medical conditions, hormonal imbalances, medications, excessive weight loss, chemotherapy, radiation, and traumatic injuries (including burns to the scalp) that can also cause hair loss.

Q.) How is the cause of my hair loss determined?

A.) As highlighted in our previous women’s hair loss series, a dermatologist can help you identify the cause of your hair loss. The single most important thing when determining hair loss is the doctor’s experience. First, he or she will start by asking a round of questions to better understand your condition. Then he/she  can order or perform tests which may include hair pull test, hair shed/pull collection, scalp biopsy, and blood tests.

Q.) Isn’t male patterned baldness the same thing as female patterned baldness?

A.) Both male and female patterned baldness(androgenetic alopecia) are caused by a predisposition to the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on the hair follicles due to an inherited gene. However, the pattern in female pattern baldness is different than that of male pattern baldness, meaning though the causes of these types of hair loss are similar, the rate and areas in which patients of opposite genders notice hair loss are still very different. › Continue reading

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Causes of Alopecia Areata Related Hair-loss: Is It Genetic?

Alopecia is the medical term that is used most often to convey any type of hair-loss.  There are numerous types and causes of each respective type of alopecia.  Alopecia areata most commonly refers to hair-loss in men, women, and children whose symptoms are perfectly round, smooth, bald patches on the scalp or body.  These symptoms sometimes, but very rarely, present themselves along with other auto-immune disorders such as: thyroiditis, diabetes, and vitiligo.
While not previously attributed directly to genetics, a July study released by Columbia University and published in The New York Times links 8 genes to the hair-loss condition alopecia areata.  According to the study’s report, one of the genes, ULBP3, was found in high concentrations within the hair follicles of the study’s alopecia areata patient participants and is thought to be the “messenger” gene that signaled the body to assail its hair and signal its fall-out.
While scientist can’t yet attribute all of alopecia areata’s symptoms to actions of these genes, they are hopeful that the study has revealed a promising discovery about the condition that may facilitate development of future medical treatment options for hair-loss:  the alopecia areata related genes behave much like the genetic messengers involved in other auto-immune conditions such as type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
Therefore, dermatologists and hair-restoration specialists like Dr. Edmond Griffin may soon be able to better treat the historically unpredictable condition and its symptoms more effectively.  If you’re interested in learning more about hair-loss or the treatment of hair loss visit The Griffin Center for Hair-Loss Restoration and Research’s website, subscribe to their blog, or become a fan on Facebook.

Tags: Alopecia Areata causes, auto immune disorders and hair-loss, children's hair loss, genetic hair loss in Atlanta, hair loss treatment, men's hair loss, The Griffin Center Atlanta, womens hair loss