Women’s Hair Loss Part 3: What Type of Hair Loss Do I Have?

Women’s hair loss is a complex condition with numerous causes.  The intricate nature of women’s hair loss further emphasizes the need for a hair loss specialist with specialized knowledge.   Dr. Edmond Griffin can help you determine what type of hair loss you are experiencing and suggest a proper treatment plan based on your symptoms.  In previous blog posts, we’ve explained who to turn to when hair begins to thin and tests that determine your hair loss cause.  There may be a combination of variables contributing to your specific hair loss condition; therefore, it may be helpful to have a basic understanding of most common types/causes of hair loss:

• Androgenetic Alopecia: Androgenetic alopecia, also called female patterned baldness, is by far the most common cause of hair loss seen at the Griffin Center.  This hereditary alopecia is caused by a predisposition to the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on the hair follicles due to an inherited gene. A positive family history of baldness in either males or females is common. Occurring over a period of several years, this type of hair loss is gradual.

• Telogen Effluvium: In this condition, an increased number of hairs enter the resting phase (telogen phase) of the hair growth cycle so that hair does not grow at a normal rate. This hair loss is most apparent as hair just falls out by the roots in handfuls. Dieting, severe infection, high fever, surgery, stress, and especially childbirth shifts the growing hair into a resting phase resulting in sudden onset of hair loss.

• Anagen Effluvium: This hair loss condition is most commonly associated with cancer patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation, and causes hair to fall out during the anagen, or growing, phase of the hair growth cycle. While most patients re-grow their hair after chemo and radiation are completed, some patients do not completely re-grow due to certain cancer chemo agents.

• Traction Alopecia:  Traction alopecia, most often seen in black patients, is caused by excessive, ongoing tension placed on the scalp. Tight hairstyles such as braids, weaves, and ponytails can eventually pull hair out and permanently scar the scalp. Some patients have sensitive follicles that are easily traumatized, resulting in this loss of hair.

• Alopecia Areata: This hair loss condition, most common in children and young adults, is a disease in which the body forms antibodies against its own hair follicles due to stress, genetics, or immunity.  Often developed suddenly, alopecia areata results in smooth, circular patches on the scalp, eyebrows, or beard. Aggressive treatment with injections and topical medications frequently results in the hair returning within a short time. A positive family history of this condition is common.

• Scarring Alopecia: This condition is a chronic inflammation of the scalp which gradually damages the hair follicles. This permanent condition may appear as localized or wide-spread patchy hair loss, and should be treated as soon as possible to prevent widespread baldness.

• Lichen Planopilaris (LPP):  Scarring hair loss condition in which follicle inflammation causes gradual permanent alopecia.

• Tinea Capitis: Tinea capitis is a fungal infection that causes patchiness and breakage due to inflammation, usually seen in young children. If treated early, the hair re-grows but can result in permanent loss if the inflammation is long lasting or severe enough.

Listed above are some of the more common hair loss conditions.  It’s important to understand that each hair loss case is specific to each man, woman, or child it affects. Dr. Griffin and his team of trained hair restoration technicians are more than happy to help you find a customized solution for hair loss. For more information on The Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research visit our website, and continue to read the blog for more news on hair loss conditions and prevention.

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Women’s Hair Loss Part 1: Who Do I Turn to for My Hair Loss Problems?

Hair loss is supposed to be a problem that only aging men face, right? Wrong. Women also experience hair loss for a multitude of reasons including: genetics (androgenetic alopecia), hormonal changes (i.e. – menopause, birth control, and thyroid conditions), physical or emotional stress, ongoing illness, anemia, rapid weight loss, and certain medications. In fact, according to Dr. Edmond Griffin, female hair loss patients at his practice have tripled in the past decade. Since women’s hair loss is such a taboo topic, women struggle to know who to turn to when their hair starts falling out.

Hair loss can be a problem with women on hormone replacement when the hormone replacement includes a small dose of testosterone, particularly if she has genetic pattern hair loss. It is important for these women to use preventative hair loss medicines. Propecia® fills the need for men and will do the same for most women who are past child-bearing years.

Women facing hair loss may start discussing their problems with their hair stylist.  While trained stylists know a good bit about hair in general, they may not be familiar with the conditions that cause it.  A doctor will most likely employ a simple blood test and physical examination to pinpoint the hair loss cause.  But, if your hair loss is not a symptom of a major body system abnormality, you may need to seek the expertise of someone with more specialized medical knowledge.

An endocrinologist, or gynecologist with a strong endocrinology background, is a specialist in hormonal disorders, and may be able to better identify the problem or direct you to a better-suited specialist.  If the condition does not seem directly linked to a hormone fluctuation or imbalance, your endocrinologist may refer you to a dermatologist.  Unlike endocrinologist whose knowledge is very specific, most dermatologists are trained to understand and treat a broader spectrum of issues involving skin, hair, and nails.   Women suffering from hair loss should seek a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in hair loss disorders, specifically, female-pattern hair loss.

If you’ve exhausted medical opinions, a trichologist, or hair expert (non-medical) may be able to provide non-medical approaches for optimal hair growth. A trichologist will give you advice on diet, nutritional supplements, hygiene, and various other approaches.  It’s important when working with a trichologist that you only select one who works closely with a doctor.  Doing so limits the risk of employing a treatment that could negatively affect any existing medical conditions.

Doing research online may also help you answer some questions you have initially.  However, use caution when researching hair loss online because the internet is full of people who claim to have the miracle cure. Because hair loss has so many causes, there is no one cure.

This may all seem like an overwhelming who’s who of hair loss, but Dr. Griffin of the Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research will be authoring a series on the subject of women’s hair loss to enlighten patients with the condition.  Having seen countless cases of hair loss in men, women, and children; Dr. Griffin will take the necessary steps to find a specific solution for you. There are solutions to hair loss: it starts with finding the right doctor.

For more information on women’s hair loss, visit Dr. Griffin’s website and read his blog as he continues to discuss female-pattern hair loss and female hair loss solutions.

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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

Natural (Alopecia) Hair-loss Treatments

Board Certified Dermatologist and Hair Restoration Specialist Dr. Edmond Griffin has dedicated the bulk of his career to researching and advancing the field of hair replacement.  As is detailed on his website, the causes of hair-loss in men, women, and even children are numerous and include:  genetic predisposition, trauma , reaction to a medication, severe illness, stress, and reaction to hormone fluctuation.  Alopecia (another name for hair-loss), regardless of its cause, can be stressful for patients.

In an effort to maintain his position at the forefront of hair-loss treatment, Dr. Griffin not only researches traditional surgical hair replacement methods such as follicular unit transplantation, but also less traditional means like botanical therapies.  Popular for centuries in many Eastern hemisphere countries, herbal hair-loss applications are showing promise, and growing in popularity among Western hemisphere physicians and patients. In fact, a recently published study in the Journal of Drugs In Dermatology revealed several potential topical, plant-based treatments for Androgenetic Alopecia (Alopecia developed from genetic and environmental factors), Alopecia Areata (Hair-loss resulting from auto immune disorders), and chemotherapy-induced Alopecia.

Procyanidin B-2 (flavonoids found in the skins of young apples) proved a promising treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia patients while garlic and onion were among the study’s hopeful Alopecia Areata treatments.  The extensive study also revealed that, with daily topical application, the caffeine and volatile oils in green tea helped regrow the hair of patients whose Alopecia was induced with the start of chemotherapy.  While the described treatments showed a good bit of promise, the study’s coordinators were particular to note that each treatments long-term potential could not be adequately measured until larger, well-controlled scientific studies could be completed.

Recently, Dr. Griffin has developed a completely herbal topical treatment for patients with hair-loss. This combination formula, produced by reputable compounding pharmacies, has proven successful in trials of female patients who didn’t have any luck with other prescription treatments.

Dr. Griffin also stresses that these potential treatments are just that, potential, and individuals should first utilize the time-tested Propecia®-based therapies to aid in stabilizing hair-loss and promoting hair re-growth.  If you are interested in pursuing a hair-replacement procedure, call Dr. Griffin’s office or visit his website today.  You can also stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in the field of hair restoration by subscribing to his blog.

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Dr. Edmond Griffin featured on CNN as Women’s Hair Loss Expert

If you are familiar with CNN, you are familiar with their “Health Minute” segment, a 60-second long televised segment highlighting an important health issue of the day. This week’s segment was titled, “Treating Women’s Hair Loss.” When looking for a renowned hair loss specialist to provide information on the topic, CNN turned to Dr. Griffin, founder of The Griffin Center for Hair Loss and Restoration and Dermatology Associates of Atlanta.

The segment featured a patient of Dr. Griffin’s, Judy Butler, a real estate broker that was troubled by her excessive hair loss. Concerned about her appearance and frustrated with her progressive hair thinning, Butler even considered scalp prosthesis before she decided to consult with Dr. Griffin.

“What might be very acceptable to men – not acceptable to women,” said Dr. Griffin, when reflecting on Judy’s situation. “Even a slight amount of loss is not acceptable.”

Dr. Griffin says that many women experience hair loss before menopause, but when that hair loss becomes excessive; it is considered a medical condition, known as alopecia. While the root cause of women’s hair loss is often genetic, it can be caused by many factors including a thyroid problem, anemia, reaction to medications, or an autoimmune problem that often requires blood tests or biopsies to diagnose.  According to Dr. Griffin, for each cause of hair loss, there is a different treatment approach that can include everything from oral medications, topical creams, and surgery involving follicular grafting techniques.

For Judy, the recommended treatment was oral medications and topical creams; and she is thankfully experiencing hair growth. However, as the CNN video states, each patient has to be individual diagnosed in order to recommend a treatment plan. If you are a woman experiencing hair loss, contact The Griffin Center to schedule a consultation with Dr. Griffin and discover the best treatment option for you.

Click here to view CNN Health Minute:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2010/01/06/hm.women.and.hair.loss.cnn

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