Hair loss or alopecia is a problem facing many people. For genetic reasons is more common in men. But women may also be affected.
Before moving on, perhaps we should explain that there are two types of alopecia as to the extent that they affect: the diffuse alopecia, which are equally affecting all areas of the scalp and alopecia areata, which are those that only affecting a given area. The latter is what gives rise to local clapas, completely unaffected by all the hair.
The causes of these different are often different. In the case of diffuse alopecia the cause is often related to hormone levels. Alopecia areata in principle not have a hormonal cause. This is often due to situations of anxiety or nervousness kept or the presence of a scar with loss of scalp after an injury, for example. You can also generate an alopecia areata-tineas infection superficial mycoses - (it is a fungus that, like infection that is, is an effective treatment).
What we do in primary care centers when it comes to a patient suffering from alopecia?
In men, whether the onset was gradual, not much we can do at the time of diagnosis. Especially if you have a family history of baldness.
If you have been of sudden onset or in the case of women with diffuse alopecia, the first thing to realize is an analytic where we can assess the existence of iron deficiency anemia and thyroid function, since a hyper / hypothyroidism can cause alopecia .
Anyway, it should be noted that a major medical or surgical stress, a prolonged febrile illness, the birth of a child, or a sudden loss of weight can also lead to diffuse alopecia. In this case, there will be a spontaneous recovery within 6-12 months (not despair).
Furthermore, as almost always in medicine, certain drugs can lead to this type of alopecia. Our recommendation is obviously consult your primary care physician, who will be able to assess the possible causes and solutions.
What about treatment?
As mentioned, the diffuse alopecia caused by significant stress usually recover spontaneously within 6-12 months.
If the cause is iron deficiency anemia, treatment with the mineral solve the problem.
If the issue of his alopecia is a thyroid disorder, the same regulation will solve the conflict.
For alopecia areata may be effective potent topical corticosteroids, or even infiltration of the plate by corticosteroids. However, the alopecia areata are usually reversible spontaneously resolves once the reason that generated them, and it is not usually one that acute stress.
If alopecia areata is about a scar, bad thing, because the scar is not capable of regenerating hair.
In the case of androgenic alopecia, which is one that appears in men the effect of male hormones, there are various treatments, most of them without a great result.
Apart from a balanced diet that provides all kinds of vitamins to prevent deficiency states that may generate an alopecia, there are two treatments. Provide, at this point that neither is funded by the Social Security.
These treatments are:
- Minoxidil Topical: relative effectiveness. It is a vasodilator and therefore its mechanism of action would be to increase the blood supply to the bulge, and thereby avoid the death of it. As mentioned, relative effectiveness.
- Finasteride: proven, it is a substance that prevents the passage of an androgen to a more powerful. Remember that the more androgen is the patient, in general, more alopecia (not always the case, but can serve as a mnemonic). Its main drawback is that it is expensive: a one-month treatment can cost between 60 and 100 euros.
A recurring question is whether the alopecia is hereditary, and if we can do something about it. In fact, the question I've received in recent days is: If my father is bald, "I am bound to lose my hair? The answer you will find in the following article, which purports to explain a bit how genes work in the case of alopecia:
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