30 Million Women and 50 Million Men in the US Suffer from Hair Loss

How and when a person starts losing their hair is as unique as every individual represented in those national statistics. Hair loss affects men and women of all ages and can have a significant effect on an individual's self-esteem. Among men, thicker and fuller hair is a symbol of masculinity. For women, long and healthy hair represents femininity and attractiveness. So, it is understandable that battling hair loss is a confidence killer.

The term, Alopecia, refers to the full spectrum of hair loss; however, there are specific causes and types of alopecia:

• Androgenic Alopecia - or hereditary hair loss is the most common culprit of hair loss. In fact, 95% of people experiencing hair loss suffer from androgenetic alopecia or pattern baldness.
• Telogen Effluvium or Stress-Related Hair Loss – has gotten a lot of attention during the pandemic.  This type of hair shedding frequently occurs after an emotionally distressing event, major surgery, post-partum, or after having a sustained high fever. The shock causes follicles to enter the resting phase (telogen) of the hair growth cycle resulting in hair loss.
• Alopecia Totalis – is when a person loses all the hair on their scalp.
• Alopecia Universalis – while more rare, it is when hair is lost over the entire body including the scalp hair and facial hair.
• Alopecia Areata – is an autoimmune disorder and presents as patchy hair loss and can come and go.  African American and Hispanic women are more likely to experience this type of hair loss than their Caucasian peers. There are other types of hair loss in the autoimmune family such as Hashimoto’s disease and Lupus.
• Scarring Alopecia -- Cicatricial Alopecia the most common form of scarring alopecia is caused primarily by inflammation that damages or destroys the hair follicle and replaces it with scar tissue.   A scalp biopsy is required for proper diagnosis.

Thankfully, the experts at Ziering Medical understand the various causes of hair loss and which treatments are best suited to restoring our patients' hairlines and their self-image.  Some forms of hair loss may not be treatable with surgical hair restoration, but they may respond to a combination of growth factor injections and red light therapy. Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) is a non-surgical option that helps camouflage the loss and may be an appropriate option for some.

To learn more about your hair loss and what treatment options are right for you, schedule a consultation with a Ziering Physician.