The hair says it all. The way we cut, style and dye it often represents who we are. But it’s more than just aesthetics. It also has many important functions: for example, preventing heat loss from the skin or (in the case of eyebrows) preventing sweat from entering the eyes.
Hair can also be a reflection of what happens inside our body. Many diseases can alter the quality and appearance of our hair. Paying attention to your appearance can give us clues about the state of our health.
The hair cycle
Some of the tiniest organs in our body are the follicles, which produce and nourish hair. Hair can only grow where follicles exist.
Hair growth is a complex process. Each tiny follicle goes through different cyclical stages. The first corresponds to active hair growth (“anogen” phase), before it stops (“catagen” phase). The hair is then lost or shed from the follicle (the “telogen” phase).
Many factors, from genetics to hormones to age, can affect these follicles and their growth.
Excessive hair growth
Hypertrichosis is a condition in which excessive hair grows all over the body. In most cases, this is a reaction to starting a new medication, such as phenytoin, which is used to treat epilepsy. But it can also be due to diseases such as anorexia and AIDS.
Some conditions also cause hair to grow in places where it shouldn’t. In newborns, the appearance of tufts near the base of the spine may indicate occult spina bifida. This occurs when the lower vertebrae of the spine have not formed properly, leaving the delicate spinal cord covered only by skin.
The reasons for these conditions and their ability to trigger hypertrichosis remain poorly understood.
Hirsutism is another condition in which hair grows excessively, but in a typically male pattern: on the face, lips, chest and arms. This is due to androgen hormones, specifically testosterone, which at high levels promotes hair growth in these regions. This can be seen in polycystic ovary syndrome.
Hair loss
Hair may also begin to fall out in abnormal amounts, becoming thinner or absent in certain regions of the body. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia and it can be localized or generalized. The causes of alopecia are multiple and include infections, iron deficiency anemia, low thyroid hormone levels, and medication use (including chemotherapy).
Age, sex and genetics are also to blame. Male pattern baldness occurs at the hairline and crown. It is influenced by the hormone testosterone, which shortens the hair growth phase and makes it finer. Most men with male pattern baldness will begin to notice hair loss at the age of 20-25.
For its part, female pattern baldness usually affects the front hairline first and causes hair thinning rather than complete loss. The role of testosterone is more debatable in women, but it is attributed to a hormonal cause, since weight loss is more common around and after menopause.
Hair loss can also be caused by pulling. Tight styling can cause traction on the follicle and loss of hair integrity. Some people may also pull out their hair out of habit. This is called trichotillomania.
Treatment of hair problems
Helping your hair grow back can be as simple as treating the underlying disease causing it. Another treatment to consider is the medication minoxidil. It was initially developed for hypertension, but it was noted that it also promoted hair growth. This may be due to a direct effect on the hair follicles or an improvement in blood flow to the scalp. These uncertainties may explain why some patients experience good improvement and others do not.
Hair transplants are also a possible remedy, as they relocate hair crops to bald areas. There are two ways to perform them: several small “perforated” grafts or a larger strip of skin can be repositioned. The grafts are taken from the patient’s own hairy skin: this is an example of an autograft.
Sometimes the presence of hair in visible areas is not desirable, and there are certain treatments to stop excessive growth. Aside from traditional hair removal methods, the birth control pill and other medications that regulate the influence of hormones on hair (such as finasteride) may be considered in cases where the cause is a hormonal condition (such as polycystic ovary syndrome). .
Analyze your own hair
To get a better idea of the health of your hair, you can perform a simple at-home test yourself, known as a hair pull.
Select a group of 30 to 50 hairs (a small clump) and run your fingers from the base of the scalp to the ends. It is not necessary to pull hard; Gentle traction is enough to remove hair that is falling out. Notice how many you have ripped out.
Typically, a single pull will release one or two hairs, but this can vary from person to person. If there are more than ten, it is likely that the scalp is shedding more hair than normal. This could be indicative of alopecia, although a closer inspection by a dermatologist can help you know if your hair loss indicates a more serious problem.
Changes in hair may not simply be due to age or hairstyle. There are many patterns of growth and decline that you should be aware of. Pay attention to any differences you or your groomer notice.
Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original.
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