What are the most popular hair diseases?

Every day a person loses about 50-100 hairs. With about 100 XNUMX of them, these are not noticeable changes. As we age, human hair becomes weaker and more prone to falling out. However, when obvious imperfections begin to appear on the head, this is a clear signal that something serious is happening. Hair problems and diseases affect people regardless of their age and gender. They have various causes in the form of stress, genetic conditioning or improperly performed care procedures. Other diseases and ailments associated, for example, with improper hormonal balance, can also cause hair loss. Each of these diseases is unpleasant and can also be associated with experiencing many unpleasant things on the part of society.

Basic information about hair

Hair structure

The hair consists of two parts - the root and the stem. The root is the fragment that is in the peel. It consists of three layers: core, bark and cuticle of the hair. In addition, at the bottom of the root there is a bulb, consisting of a matrix and a hair papilla. The matrix is ​​where the melanocytes exist. The color of the hair of their owner depends on the amount of paint produced in them. A wart is made up of a group of connective tissue cells. Permanent hair loss is caused by the destruction of this particular part of the hair. The stalk is the part of the hair that is visible to humans because it is located on the surface of the skin. It consists of the hair core, cortex and sheath and is caused by keratinization of hair matrix cells. Hair grows from the hair follicle, which is a cavity in the epidermis. Here is the root of the hair and the place of attachment of the paranasal muscle. The paranasal muscle is responsible for lifting the hair and causing the so-called goosebumps. Its reduction is a response to stimuli sent by the nervous system, and also increases the secretion of sebum. Hair follicles are surrounded by a large number of nerves and blood vessels.

Hair Growth

In order for hair to grow properly, it is necessary to maintain the correct interaction between the papilla and the hair matrix. Hair on the head grows at a rate of 1 centimeter in about 1 month. Their average thickness is 70 µm. Growth is not continuous and is divided into three stages. Growth, or anagen, takes about 3-6 years and affects 80-85% of all hair. It consists in the division of hair matrix cells. The next stage is involution, otherwise known as catagen, or the transition period during which the hair follicle slowly becomes keratinized and moves upward. This takes about a few weeks and covers about 1% of the hair. The last stage is rest, that is, telogen, which lasts about 2-4 months. It covers 10-20% of the hair and deals with the loss of old hair and the appearance of new hair. Hair development and growth depend on many factors, including genetic and hormonal conditions. They are responsible for the excess hair or hair morphology that determines the type of hair in a given human race.

Diseases associated with alopecia

The most common causes of hair loss

• malnutrition leading to a deficiency of vitamins and minerals;
• improper care, i.e. the use of unsuitable products for this type of hair and their inappropriate use;
• mechanical factors such as hair rubbing against pillows in infants and improper hairstyles that weaken and stress the hair, such as a tight ponytail worn for long hours;
• poisoning the body with toxic substances, such as mercury or arsenic;
• genetic conditioning;
• endocrine diseases, i.e. problems with the production of androgens, or hair weakness due to disorders of the hormones present in the thyroid gland;
• infectious diseases and frequent weakness of the body;
• skin diseases - psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis;
• diseases of the scalp - lichen planus, limited scleroderma;
• hair diseases - mycoses;
• systemic diseases - lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus erythematosus;
• the use of chemotherapy in the presence of tumor diseases;
• taking certain immunosuppressive drugs, antithyroid drugs, and some anti-clotting drugs.

Excessive hair loss, alopecia

This is one of the most common scalp hair problems. It affects men more than women and is, as the name suggests, excessive hair loss. This is noticeable by the significant thinning of the hair and the appearance of bald patches over time. It can lead to permanent or temporary alopecia, and also cover the entire scalp or in a limited area. Alopecia can be cicatricial with or without scars.

Male androgenetic alopecia

It is a disease that affects every person. It usually starts after age 40, although it can also appear in teenagers. It most often occurs in people who struggled with seborrhea or oily dandruff during adolescence. The earlier it appears, the faster and more extensively it progresses. Androgenetic alopecia is genetically inherited as an autosomal dominant gene. Androgens, or sex hormones, cause sensitive hair follicles to stop "holding" individual hairs. Alopecia begins with sprinkling of the frontal corners and crown. The higher the likelihood of baldness, the more relatives I and II. degree of suffering from this disease. If you want to cure a disease like androgenetic alopecia, you must consider that this process is continuous, because it involves genes that cannot be changed. If you stop taking your medication, your hair will grow back. What drugs are used mainly solutions of minoxidil and finasteride. Thanks to them, the hair stops falling out, and also becomes thicker and stronger. Best results are achieved after 2 years of use.

Androgenetic alopecia female pattern

Androgenetic alopecia is much less common in women than in men. It usually appears around the age of 30. It manifests itself in the expansion of the so-called part above the head. When a woman is postmenopausal, the amount of estrogens in her body decreases, so androgens begin to dominate and contribute to the appearance of alopecia. In women, androgenetic alopecia is manifested primarily by excessive hair loss. However, it can also appear and act "more strongly" due to detergents contained in hair care products. If you want to cure an ailment, you will have to consider a long process that is not always effective. In the treatment of this disease in women, 2% solutions of minoxidil are also used. Hormonal contraceptives are also useful.

Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata occurs in 1-2% of the general population and is associated with disorders of the immune system, as well as with concomitant autoimmune diseases. Often people suffering from it also suffer from skin conditions such as atopy or atopic dermatitis, or are people with Down syndrome. Alopecia areata occurs not only on the scalp, but also, for example, on the face (eyebrows, eyelashes) or in the genital area. This may be permanent or temporary, and there may be relapses. The symptom of alopecia areata are predominantly oval or round foci. The skin in the lesions is ivory or slightly reddened. Along their edges, the hair often breaks. There are several types of alopecia areata - diffuse alopecia areata (hair loss over a large area), alopecia serpentine (hair loss around the head, especially at the temples and back of the head), generalized alopecia, that is, total alopecia (hair loss over the entire head, including the face) and universal alopecia (hair loss all over the body). The method of treatment for alopecia areata depends on the area affected by the disease. If it's just a small area, there's a chance it will go away without the need for treatment. However, in this case, zinc is recommended to be taken orally for several months. Treatment also includes corticosteroids in the form of solutions or creams, as well as cyclosporine. If you stop taking both medications, there is a good chance that your hair will fall out again. In the fight against alopecia areata, photochemotherapy is also recommended, i.e. irradiation of affected areas and topical drug therapy (dipcyprone (PrEP) and dibutylester), which can lead to complete hair regrowth.

trichotillomania

It is a mental illness often caused by stress or fear. It consists in the mechanical removal of diseased hair by: pulling them out, rubbing, pulling out and pulling out, too short a haircut. Trichotillomania is most common in children and adolescents (this group accounts for up to 60% of patients). It is caused by excessive stress, overexertion and anxiety associated with puberty. Women get sick several times more often than men, as they are much less able to cope with problems and unnecessary worries. In adults, the disease is most often caused by other diseases, stress and mental disorders. Trichotillomania is noticeable by the appearance of irregularly shaped lesions in the fronto-parietal region, with visible fresh bleeding from the hair follicles. Treatment usually includes psychological or psychiatric counseling and the use of lotions and anti-itch shampoos for children and, in the case of adults, antidepressants.

Other diseases of the hair and scalp.

• excessive hair1. Hirsutism is a disease that affects women in childhood, manifested by excessive hair growth in places characteristic of male hair. It is caused by excessive action of androgens. 2. Hypertrichosis - excessive hair growth throughout the body or only in certain places. It most often appears in childhood or adolescence. Depending on the case, this may be an acquired or congenital disease. Usually men are ill.
• anemia - manifests itself in thin, brittle and weakened, as well as excessively falling hair. This is due to a deficiency of vitamins and nutrients.
• Себорейный дерматит and atopic dermatitis, both diseases proceed in the same way. They are manifested by excessive greasiness and dandruff, as well as profuse hair loss.
• Dandruff - It can be dry or wet. Manifested in the shedding of dry epidermis. It can be a genetic, hormonal or fungal disease.
• Parted hair - most often this is caused by improper care, leading to irreversible destruction of the hair cuticle.
• Greasy hair This is caused by an overproduction of sebum, which can occur for many reasons.