Dr Amoha Bhatia, a cosmetic surgeon from New Delhi answers a few of our queries on baldness and hair loss.
How much hair loss per day is normal?
About 25-100 hair falling each day is normal. This happens because hair roots undergo 3 phases which are Anagen Phase (Growth phase), Catagen Phase (Intermediate phase) and Telogen Phase. 90% of all roots stay in anaphase phase and 10% of roots are in catagen and telogen phase. Anagen phase lasts for 3-5 years. In this phase roots are healthiest and thickest. Catagen is intermediate phase which lasts for 1-2 weeks. Telogen is the resting phase where roots being weakest shed the hair and goes in inert state.
What are the common reasons for hair loss?
There are many causes for hair loss. In case of men it's usually genetic predisposition (male pattern hair loss). Other causes are:
- Stress
- Smoking
- Post-Pregnancy in women
- Diseases like - thyroid disorder, PCOD, fungal/ ringworm infection
- Alopecia areata (autoimmune disorder)
- Environmental causes
- Chemical applications etc
Is hair loss the same as baldness?
No. It is not the same, hair loss can lead to baldness if not treated on right time.
Is hair loss hereditary?
Instead of hair loss, we should ask if baldness is hereditary. Yes. Genetics is one of the common causes. It is seen if the father has baldness then there is a 90% chance that his son will have it too. Male pattern baldness (MPB) is the most common type of baldness. In this hair are lost from the top and the front of the scalp. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a sex hormone is the main culprit for MPB. It binds with the receptors present on the hair roots of the front and top part of the scalp and causes them to weaken and shrink. This decreases the diameter of the hair as well as ultimately leads to the death of the roots. This hormone is present in all the males but all males are not bald. The roots are only susceptible to DHT if receptors are present on it. Receptor presence is determined genetically. Female pattern baldness is also seen but DHT is very low in females, hence not so common.
What is Alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata is a genetic autoimmune disorder. In this hair are lost in clumps. In this disorder, the body's immune system fails to recognise the hair roots and mistakenly attacks them. It is seen on the scalp as well as other body parts. The clumps or patches lost can be of any shape but usually seen in oval or round shape. It is broadly classified as scarring and non-scarring. In scarring type the hair loss is usually irreversible and is associated with fibrosis and inflammation. In non-scarring type the hair loss is reversible as hair roots are not permanently lost.
Alopecia totalis refers to total loss of hair from scalp, alopecia areate universalis refers to complete loss of the hair from the body.
Treatment is limited to usage steroid and immunomodulators. Recurrence is very common.
Which is the most common type of Alopecia?
Most common type of baldness is ANDROGENIC ALOPECIA. It is 70% more common than any other type. It is also known as Male Pattern Baldness. In this type hair roots are lost from the top and the front of the scalp. Hair roots at the back and the sides of the scalp remain intact. This is because the receptors which are susceptible to DHT are absent on the hair roots of the back and the sides. It is mainly hereditary and may be triggered by stress, change in environment, chemical use etc. FDA recommends only Minoxidil and Finesteride as treatment at early stages. At later stage where there is total loss of roots, hair transplant or restoration is recommended.
Are there any home remedies to reverse hair loss?
Home remedies don’t really help.
Related Reading: The Impact of Stress on Skin
How does hair restoration work?
Hair Restoration is a process of redistribution of hair follicles which are not prone to fall to area where there are hardly any follicles.
Is it effective for everyone with hair loss?
It is a very successful procedure with success rate of 100%. (Please see the PatientsEngage advisory below1)
How much does hair restoration cost?
It can range anywhere from Rs 50,000 to Rs 3 lacs depending on the experience of the surgeon and grade of baldness.
1. PatientsEngage Advisory: Although hair restoration is a fast growing practice and gaining much favor with the celebrities and socialites. People should be warned that not everyone is eligible for it, especially people with widespread baldness, lack of donor hair, geriatric population and patients undergoing chemotherapy. Several side-effects can also be seen post such a procedure. These include bleeding, localised infection, bruising around the eyes, scalp swelling, itching, inflammation of hair follicles, etc. As with any cosmetic surgery, be well informed of all aspects of the procedure and seek medical guidance to avoid unwanted surprises.
Dr Amoha Bhatia is a cosmetic surgeon from New Delhi and currently works at Enhance Clinics.
