Hair loss is much more than a change of appearance, it can be perceived as a loss of self-confidence. However, thanks to innovation and technological advances, alopecia is today no longer a fatality. Hairstetics works every day for the well-being of men and women around the world, who believe their situation is incurable. But what exactly are the causes of alopecia? Is it a natural phenomenon affecting, more or less, everyone?
HAIR LOSS: A NEW PHENOMENON?
Since time immemorial, all civilizations combined, hair has sometimes been a symbol of femininity in women, sometimes a symbol of virility and strength in men. In this way, hair loss is not a new phenomenon, since scientific research has shown that at the time of the Egyptians, there were already mixtures with the objective of maintaining hair on the head. The term “alopecia” comes to us from the ancients who compared hair loss to the spring molt of the fox (“alopex” in Greek).
WHY DO WE LOSE OUR HAIR?
Now that we know that hair loss is not unique to our time, let’s find out what is causing it. Have you ever wondered how it is possible that your brush is filled with hair every day? You must know that we are losing up to 100 a day! This fall is not visible because, on the one hand it occurs on the scalp and on the other hand, new growth occurs immediately. However, if the cycle stops or the hair follicles are destroyed, hair loss appears visibly.
WHAT IS ALOPECIA?
Alopecia is a decrease in the amount of hair that can lead to partial or total loss of it. The life cycle of a hair follicle thus has 3 phases:
- Anagen (2 to 6 years old): the hair follicle grows and is nourished thanks to the blood supply
- Catagen (1 to 2 weeks): the growth of the follicle is stopped, and the dermal papilla separates from the follicle
- Telogen: phase during which we observe hair loss.
It is the thyroid hormones and estrogens that promote the growth of the hair follicle. Dihydro-testosterone, which is an androgenic hormone derived from testosterone, slows it down. Obviously, dihydro-testosterone is at much higher levels in men than in women. It would therefore be an internal disorder that would promote the refinement of the hair follicle, until a potential fall.
Although the causes of alopecia are not fully understood, we know that it can also be triggered by many other factors such as poor nutrition, diabetes, stress, pregnancy, etc.
Fortunately, hair loss is now controllable and can be remedied by the use of new techniques from research and development and medical devices. It is no longer a fatality.
