Hair loss

Every day we lose between fifty and one hundred hairs, which is completely normal and is explained by the three phases of the hair cycle .

• A growth phase or anagen: it is long and lasts from 3 to 6 years.
• A catagen phase that lasts a few weeks and is characterized by the cessation of hair growth
• A telogen phase that lasts between 2 to 6 months and corresponds to hair loss.

All of our hair is therefore not in the same phase of the hair cycle and growth is therefore continuous.

When the number of hairs lost per day exceeds 100, or if a specific area loses more hair than others, this can lead to a diagnosis of alopecia or baldness .

Some hair loss is localized: we speak of localized alopecia . Among the causes of localized alopecia, there are infectious causes such as ringworm.

Diffuse hair loss is mainly found in the context of telogen effluvium.

In addition, hair loss can be temporary or permanent.

Androgenetic alopecia remains the most common cause of male pattern baldness.

• The genetic heritage: the hereditary character is very often found in the majority of male baldness . Diagnosis is clinical, hair loss most often affects the forehead and temples first before spreading to the upper part of the skull. In women, baldness is a very rare situation and should motivate the search for a hormonal pathology at the origin of hyperandrogenism .
• Telogen Effluvium: In women, this is a common cause of hair loss. It follows a pregnancy , a psychological shock, significant stress or an infection. Most of the time, it is followed by normal hair regrowth but can sometimes persist over time.
• Certain treatments such as chemotherapy.
• Certain dermatoses such as alopecia areata or ringworm. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune, non-contagious disease that causes localized and irreversible hair loss . Ringworm is an infectious disease that causes localized and reversible hair loss.
• Hormonal disorders , among others thyroid.
• Vitamin deficiencies that will need to be diagnosed and treated.