Androgenic alopecia in women and men: treatment, causes

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Well-groomed, healthy curls - the dream of every representative of the beautiful half of society. Lack of bald patches, healthy hair is a sign of good man’s health. Stress, hormonal imbalance, improper care, inappropriate medication, unbalanced nutrition, the presence of harmful habits - all this can adversely affect the state of hair, as well as lead to significant thinning of hair.

From the occurrence of such a disease as hair loss, not a single person is insured. This pathology brings a huge aesthetic discomfort to a person’s life, because the appearance of bald patches is not an ornament. The reduction of hair, which leads to baldness, is painfully perceived by people of different age categories. In men, at about 35 years old, and in women at 50 years, androgenic alopecia is often diagnosed.

In the fight against a serious disease, people use a variety of drugs, but since pathology is provoked in most cases by hormonal imbalances, many treatments simply turn out to be ineffective. Treatment of the disease should be comprehensive, but still timely. When the first symptoms of the disease appear, it is necessary to immediately consult a specialist. Androgenic alopecia is one of the most serious forms of the disease, with specific causes, and therefore a special approach to therapy.

What provokes the emergence of pathology

Androgenetic alopecia is a special form, the appearance of which is due to the high sensitivity of the bulbs to dihydrotestosterone - a type of the male sex hormone - testosterone. Under the influence of dihydrotestosterone there is a long spasm of capillaries.

Disruption of microcirculation is fraught with:

dystrophy of hair follicles,
thinning, weakening,
cessation of growth
discoloration of curls,
death and hair loss.

High sensitivity to the hormone is transmitted genetically. Androgenetic alopecia is attributed to hormonal diseases with hereditary predisposition. Pathology in men of an androgen-dependent type develops with thinning of hair in the frontal and parietal zones. In women, with androgenic alopecia, thinning of curls begins with a parting, and then the crown. The thinning of hair is a slow process, but progressive.

At first, the curls lose their luster, become lifeless, then their thinning occurs. The first symptoms of pathology can be seen closer to 30-35 years, and after ten to fifteen years, the formation of visible areas of alopecia is observed. The peculiarity of this form of alopecia is the preservation of the volume and number of hairs in the occipital region. This is due to the lack of sensitivity of the hair follicles of this area to dihydrotestosterone.

The occurrence of androgenic alopecia may be due to the following causes and factors:

Decrease or increase the functioning of the testicles or ovaries for diseases such as orchitis, polycystic, ovarian, sclerocystic appendages.
The presence of adrenal neoplasms or an increase in organ function due to disease.
Hypo- and hyperfunction of the pituitary gland.
The presence of tumors in the glands, which are responsible for the production of sex hormones or their damage.
Genetic predisposition. If one of the blood relatives has been diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia, the risk of the appearance of pathology in the younger generation is automatically increased.
Hormonal imbalance.Fetal bearing, menopause, and other periods of hormonal adjustment in the female body, as well as taking medications with male hormones - all this can lead to the appearance of bald patches. In men, the appearance of baldness is provoked, as a rule, by the use of medications that stimulate the production of testosterone.
Exposure to stress.
The presence of pathologies of the digestive tract.

According to medical statistics, men are more prone to the occurrence of the disease. They, unlike women, androgenic alopecia develops five times more often.

After 50 years of manifestation of androgenetic alopecia, every second representative of the stronger sex and every 4th woman are detected.

The first signs of baldness include thinning, increased dryness, brittle hair, and the appearance of dandruff. Symptoms of female and male androgenetic alopecia are somewhat different.

Manifestations of pathology in women

In addition to the loss of curls in the area of the crown and forehead, pathology in women is accompanied by:

pathological changes in the menstrual cycle,
the appearance of acne,
the appearance of hair in atypical areas - in the area of the mammary glands, back, face.

Alopecia can occur in several types:

Stripes. First, the thinning of the hair occurs in the area of the parting. Further, the spread of the pathological process to the temporal region is noted.
Nests The curls are thinning in the area of the parting, but in contrast to the loss of curl-type curls, the hair follicles are affected in the forehead, as well as the crown.
By the male type. One of the rarest types of hair loss. Accompanied by first thinning the hair and then the appearance of bald patches. The flow of this form is quite fast. Ignoring the disease is fraught with complete loss of hair for three months.

Manifestations of male pattern baldness

Male pattern baldness is accompanied by hair loss exclusively in the parietal and frontal zone. There are several stages of development of androgenetic alopecia.

Stage one. Accompanied by the appearance on the front line of the hair of a slight depression.
Degree Two. Characterized by the acquisition of the frontal-temporal zone of a triangular shape, as well as hair loss in the area of the crown.
Stage Three. Accompanied by the spread of the frontal-temporal bald patches more than two centimeters in depth from the growth line of the hair.
Grade 3b. Characterized by the appearance of a significant thinning of the hair in the region of the crown.
Stage Four. Characterized by thinning hair in the forehead, as well as the continuation of loss in the crown. Both affected areas are separated by a section of healthy hair.
The degree of the fifth. The spread of the pathological process, the continuation of hair loss, and the reduction of the zone of normal hair growth are noted.
Stage Six. Characterized by a combination of the fronto-temporal and parietal region, as well as the spread of the process to the occipital region.
Degree seventh. The hair remains only in the ear zone and a little in the occipital region - on a narrow strip of the dermis.

Androgenic hair loss: how to deal with it using various methods

Baldness, even insignificant, in both women and men is accompanied by a violently emotional reaction.

It should be understood that androgenic hair loss is an incurable disease. The only thing that can be done in this case is to slow down the spread of the pathological process at the initial stages, as well as restore the growth of curls.

Treatment of this form of alopecia will have to be carried out throughout life. Termination of taking drugs is fraught with not only the progression of the disease, but also the complete loss of vegetation on the head.

Doctors do not recommend self-medicating and taking questionable or recommended medicines by relatives or friends who do not have a medical education in the fight against androgenic hair loss.This can lead to disastrous consequences. For the treatment of disease today, special medications and vitamins, laser therapy, surgery for plant transplantation, and alternative medicine formulations are used. Popular today are also various devices for masking bald patches.

Drug therapy

For the treatment of pathology prescribed the use of the following drugs.

Dihydrotestosterone blockers: Finasteride.
Antiandrogen: spironolactone.
Drugs that promote hair growth: Minoxidil.

These drugs are very effective. Their use helps to stop the progression of androgenic hair loss, stimulate the growth of new hairs. You need to take them throughout life.

Often prescribed use of copper peptides: Folligena, Trikomin. These compounds, after penetrating the hair follicles, help to stimulate the production of proteins necessary for the growth of hair, as well as blocking 5-alpha reductase, which turns testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. These funds are made in the form of shampoo and spray. They can be used both for women and men.

Laser therapy

In the fight against such pathologies as androgenic hair loss, laser therapy has long been used. The use of a laser beam helps to enhance the microcirculation in the affected areas, stimulates cell metabolism in the bulbs, as well as strengthening weakened curls, giving them volume, health and shine.

The procedure is carried out in medical clinics. The appearance of the laser system is similar to the cap with the presence of a large number of emitters. The duration of one procedure is a quarter of an hour.

This treatment is carried out twice a week. Course duration - a year. Upon completion of therapy, it is sufficient to carry out one maintenance procedure in 30 days. The effect of the treatment is noticeable after a month. Laser therapy helps to stop hair loss, as well as stimulate the growth of hair.

Hair transplant surgery

If all used methods of treatment of alopecia do not bring results, the use of surgical intervention is prescribed. This technique is quite old. Its essence - hair transplant from a healthy area to the affected. The success of the intervention, as well as its effectiveness, is influenced by the individual characteristics of the organism. Also, the result will depend on the area of the lesion, the site, the age of the patient, the degree of density of the hair.

Masking bald patches

Some people use wigs and trims to hide the highs. Often, the affected areas are hidden by styling as well as haircuts. Another option for masking bald spots is the use of hair thickeners - special cosmetics with microfibres of cotton, keratin or viscose. The fibers stick to the curls and add volume to the hair that hides the translucent portions of the dermis.

The use of alternative medicine

As an auxiliary method of therapy, you can use compositions of natural ingredients. These tools will bring exceptional benefits to hair, they will contribute to the hair follicles, eliminating dandruff, normalizing the functioning of the sebaceous glands, healing, strengthening, and improving the appearance of the strands.

Here are some effective recipes:

It is recommended to rub a gruel of onion into the dermis of the head, hair roots. This procedure will help in enhancing the flow of blood to the bulbs, and even stimulate hair growth. You just need to chop one onion with a fine grater, and then rub the mass into the scalp.
The following composition is quite effective. It is necessary to mix a teaspoon of sea buckthorn oil with six drops of grapefruit, 1 ml of vitamin A and E. The mass is heated, then mixed with Dimexide - 10 ml, and then rubbed with massage movements into the dermis of the head.After an hour you need to wash your hair.
Good results can be achieved by applying pepper tincture. It is necessary to grind one hot pepper, then pour it with vodka - half a glass. The composition should infuse during the day. The prepared tool is rubbed into the dermis of the head once a day. An hour after the procedure, wash your hair.

Androgenetic hair loss is a fairly common and even serious problem. Pathology is incurable. But do not be upset and give up. If you take medication prescribed by a doctor, as well as use of auxiliary methods of therapy, the progression of the disease can be stopped. The main thing is not to ignore the symptoms of the disease and not to abandon therapy.

What are androgens

As already mentioned, these are hormones that are necessary for the normal functioning of the body and its development according to the “male” type. It is thanks to androgens in men:

stronger muscles than women
rougher voice
mammary glands are not developed,
a certain distribution of hair - the presence of a beard, sideburns, chest hair, etc.

In small quantities, these hormones are contained in the female body. They are involved in maintaining normal blood sugar levels, regulate the work of estrogen ("female" hormones) and perform a number of other metabolic functions.

Androgens are conventionally divided into strong and weak. The first group includes testosterone. Its weakened counterpart is dehydroepiandrosterone. Both hormones are important in the development of alopecia.

Why does

The life cycle of a hair is a rather complicated process, which is regulated by a large number of hormones. It can be divided into two stages:

Growth phase It can last from 3 to 10 years. At this time, hair growth is stimulated by various substances, which represent a single term - growth factors,
Phase of involution or fallout. It must last at least 100 days so that there is no cosmetic defect. It is important to note that normally the hair follicle should not be damaged during this stage. Only the root of the hair is subject to decay.

In the skin of the scalp there is a special enzyme (5-alpha reductase), which turns androgens into the active form (dihydrotestosterone). Due to this, they can affect both phases of the hair cycle.

If the amount of hormones increases above normal, or the cells become more sensitive to them, androgenic alopecia occurs. In the first phase, androgens block growth factors, due to which the life cycle of the hair is significantly reduced (up to several months or even weeks). In the phase of involution, an increased hormone content can damage the hair follicle, which is manifested by increased hair loss.

Risk factors for hair loss

Currently, the following risk factors are identified:

Male sex - it is reliably known that this hormonal disease occurs in men 4 times thicker than among women,
Age - after 50 years, every second man and every fourth woman suffer from androgenic alopecia,
Heredity - if a family has this disease or unexplained hair loss by one of its close relatives, the probability of developing this pathology in subsequent generations is about 70-80%,
Hormonal stress - rearrangement of hormonal levels may be the cause of some patients. These conditions include: pregnancy, taking drugs containing male sex hormones, using testosterone stimulants (as doping), etc. This is the most common cause of androgenic alopecia in men,
Damage / swelling of glands that produce sex hormones:
- Hypo- or Hyperfunction of the Pituitary,
- Strengthening the function or tumor of the adrenal glands
- Hypo / hyperfunction of the gonads (testes or ovaries).This group of causes includes polycystic and ovarian scaling, orchitis, ovarite, etc.

If you note the presence of one of the risk factors and the characteristic signs of androgenic alopecia, you should contact the dermatologist, who will prescribe the necessary examination and confirm / refute the diagnosis.

Symptoms of alopecia

The manifestations of this disease are somewhat different, depending on gender, severity of symptoms and the presence of additional symptoms. But it affects only the hair of the frontal and parietal regions of the head. It is these areas of the skin that are most sensitive to male hormones.

In women, the following symptoms may occur:

Hair thinning in parietal and frontal areas. Complete hair loss is usually not observed,
Violation of the menstrual cycle - androgens counteract the female sex hormones, because of which the regulation of menstrual function in women is disturbed,
Acne rash of any localization (typically on the face and on the back),
Hirsutism - hair growth in places atypical for the female body (in the area of the chin, cheeks, chest, back, etc.).

In men, the manifestations of this disease are usually limited to hair loss in the frontal and parietal areas.

Causes of androgenic alopecia

Hair loss is temporary or permanent hair loss on a limited surface, covering the scalp. The most common cause of hair loss is androgenic alopecia. It accounts for about 95% of all cases.

The appearance of this disease is influenced by both genetic factors and the environment. Androgenic alopecia, however, is not fully understood and many factors have not yet been discovered.

Typical androgenic alopecia in men

When catagen decrease metabolic processes in the hair, and, in particular, the connection with the follicle is broken. The catagen phase lasts several weeks. Then the hair goes into the telogen phase, at the end of which the hair falls out. It lasts for several months. These phases in humans are asynchronous.

In a healthy person, 85% of the hair is in the anagen stage, about 15% in the telogen stage and 1% in the catagen phase. In man with androgenic alopecia there is a lengthening of the telogen phase, which is manifested in the trichogramma as an increase in the percentage of telogen hair to 30%, as well as a reduction in the anagen phase.

Studies have shown that hormones called androgens play a big role in hair loss. They are important for the sexual development of men. Androgens are also responsible for important functions in women and men, for example, regulate sexual background and hair growth. In men, baldness is also associated with the genetic sensitivity of hair follicles to DHT, which leads to weakening of the hair and shortens their lifespan.

Despite the fact that genetic factors have the greatest impact on the condition of the hair and their possible loss, we should not forget about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Severe living conditions and stress increase the number of people suffering from baldness, as exemplified by Japan after the Second World War.

Studies have shown that in the postwar period, the number of cases male pattern baldness markedly increased. According to recent studies have shown a greater risk of hair loss in people who use high loads during exercise. This is due to a significant increase in testosterone levels.

Signs of androgenic alopecia

The first signs of androgenic alopecia appear in men from 20 to 30 years, in women a little later - after 30 years. Baldness begins with an increase in the angle of transition from the forehead to the temples, and then there is a thinning of hair on the top of the head. This type of baldness is called male. Women may development as male pattern baldness, and female-pattern baldness.

The first signs of androgenic alopecia in women are manifested by a parting-up resulting from scratching. Symptoms typical of male androgenic alopecia, that is, the deepening of the transition angles from the forehead to the temples, occur in about 30% of women, mostly during menopause.

Androgenic alopecia in women consists in diffuse thinning of hair on the upper part of the head. Very rarely, with the female type, there is complete loss of hair in the head area.

Diagnosis of androgenic alopecia

Diagnostics male pattern baldness is quite simple and does not require additional research. Recognition is carried out on the basis of a clinical examination.

The first step in establishing the diagnosis of androgenic alopecia is an accurate and thorough discussion with the patient of the process of hair loss, its duration, the treatment used so far, about similar cases in the family.

The second step is a medical examination, in which it is necessary to assess the progress of the hair loss process, as well as the presence of changes that often accompany androgenic alopecia, such as: acne, seborrhea, hirsutism. These changes, like baldness, are caused by high levels of androgens in the blood.

The diagnosis of androgenic alopecia in women, in addition to the medical history, requires additional studies of the hair. An important element is the trichogram, that is, the assessment of the appearance of the hair roots and the determination of the amount of hair at certain stages of the life cycle of the hair follicle. A study is also scheduled to study the levels of free and total testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estrogen, TSH levels, thyroid hormone, and ferritin, a protein involved in the storage of iron in the body.

In most cases, the diagnosis of androgenic alopecia in women is made after receiving the results of trichoscopy, but a biopsy may be necessary to obtain complete confidence about the diagnosis. At the same time, on the basis of these studies, it will be possible to exclude other reasons. hair loss.

Treatment of androgenic alopecia

Treatment of androgenic alopecia not always necessary. A lot of people, especially men, accept changes in the appearance of their hair and take no steps to change the current situation.

For other people suffering from androgenic alopecia, various treatment methods are available that allow you to stop or at least limit hair loss.

Acceleration of hair regrowth in hypertensive patients undergoing treatment with a drug called minoxidil was found. This drug most likely expands the blood vessels of the skin and improves local blood circulation, which inhibits the progress of baldness and causes partial hair growth. It is applied topically on the scalp. The effect of treatment appears after a few months and lasts only during the use of the drug. After the cancellation, the hair falls out again.

In women who have an increased level of androgens, use drugs that affect the level and activity of androgens. Zyproterone acetate and estrogens are among the most commonly used. They are part of various birth control pills.

Cyproterone acetate blocks the binding of androgens to receptors. Estrogens increase the level of SHBG protein, which binds androgens. Hormones associated with this protein become inactive, which leads to a decrease in their effects on the body.

However, if the disease has led to the destruction of hair follicles, non-invasive treatments for baldness are not effective. To cover the bare spot, hair transplantation may be necessary.

Treatment male pattern baldness necessary, first of all, for psychological reasons. Few elderly people feel attractive, and hair loss will increase the decrease in self-esteem.

Description of androgenic alopecia

Androgenic alopecia (AGA) - hair loss due to hormonal imbalance, leading to partial or absolute baldness on the body or on the head.

The primary cause of androgenic alopecia is the effect of hormones in the blood on the hair follicle (specifically, androgens - male sex hormones).

The disease is more common in people of mature age. Alopecia occurs in certain areas of the head that are characteristic of alopecia: in women, in the central parting zone, with subsequent extension to the sides, while men have thinning of the hair in the frontal and parietal areas.

Androgenic (or androgen-dependent) alopecia is a slowly progressive disease, sometimes observed for several decades. Gradually, the hair becomes thinner and fall out. With treatment in the initial stages of alopecia, the chance of a return to normal hair density is much higher.

The number of male sex hormones in the blood plays an important role in the treatment of this type of alopecia, which was proved by a medical experiment: when the patient was castrated and the subsequent decrease of androgens in the blood, baldness slowed down or was completed completely. With the onset of hormone replacement therapy and an increase in the concentration of androgens in castrated people, baldness began again.

Development mechanism

Testosterone is initially present in the body of each person. But alopecia progresses only in those people whose hair follicles are particularly sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), one of the more active androgens, synthesized from testosterone. The synthesis of DHT occurs under the influence of a special enzyme - 5-alpha reductase.

Under the influence of active DHT on the hair follicles, capillaries are compressed in the vascular papillae, which supply the follicle that is sensitive to dihydrotesterone. Due to the cessation of nutrition there is a loss of thickness and hair color.

The difference between AHA and androgenetic alopecia is that the latter is a hereditary disease, which is transmitted in most cases through the female line (about 75%), in 20% of cases through the paternal line. Only in 5% of cases the patient becomes the first in the family.

Features of the disease in men and women at different ages

Alopecia of men and women is considered pathological when manifested before 30 years. Unfortunately, androgenic alopecia can also occur at a younger age, at the end of adolescence.

Causes of early anrogenic alopecia in girls can be:

genetics,
taking oral contraceptives
hormone therapy in the treatment of tumors,
pathology of the adrenal glands and ovaries,
other hormonal changes.

In young men 18–20 years old, androgenic alopecia is caused by a genetic predisposition. Alopecia may not be so obvious, but when compared with photos taken 2–3 years old, a shift in the hairline to the back of the head and to the sides of the head is usually noticeable. The forehead becomes higher, there is a thinning on the temporal lobes of the head.

Young people who have androgenic alopecia manifested at the age of 20 have, in the absence of therapy, more pronounced bald patches by the age of forty compared with patients who have experienced AGA in middle age.

Causes and factors of development

So, the main reasons for the appearance of AGA are:

increased susceptibility of the hair follicle to the male hormone DHT,
exceeding the level of male hormone in the blood,
increased activity of 5-alpha-reductase, which contributes to the conversion of testosterone to DHT.

In addition to hormonal disruptions in the body, the beginning of AHA is promoted:

genetics,
endocrine disorders
infections,
diseases of the liver and pancreas,
diseases of the reproductive system
the presence of tumors that produce male hormones,
taking certain medications (steroids, hormonal contraceptives, antibiotics),
inflammation of the skin,
menopause in women
stressful conditions
lack of vitamins and microelements.

Often, the combination of several causes leads to the onset of the disease. The occurrence of androgenic alopecia can be judged by the following factors:

dryness and increased fragility of hair,
dandruff detection
thinning of hair,
the addition of inflammatory and fungal diseases of the skin, for example, seborrhea.

Symptoms, stages and signs of alopecia

The main alarming symptom is hair loss above the average for a person.

So, one day is considered normal loss of up to one hundred hairs or not more than ten for one mechanical effect on the scalp (washing, combing). Exceeding the norm should cause wariness and special attention to the problem.

The development of the clinical picture of the disease occurs in a certain pattern in both men and women. Hair is thinning on androgen-dependent zones, the occipital part in men and women is not exposed to baldness.

The severity of the stages of baldness in women is characterized by the Ludwig scale.

The course of the disease and the degree of alopecia in men is characterized by the Norwood scale.

The most effective treatment of androgenic alopecia in the early stages.

Table: androgenic alopecia course

The appearance of areas of baldness in the frontal-temporal lobe, the shift of the hairline.
Deepening baldness, taking the shape of a triangle. The forehead becomes taller.
The frontal-temporal lobes become completely bald, the thinning of the hair on the top of the head occurs.
Borders are drawn around three zones: parietal and temporal.
The boundaries between the temples are gradually lost, the area without hair is like a horseshoe.
Further expansion of the bald patches on the frontal and temporal lobes is progressing.
At the last stage, the back of the head remains unaffected by alopecia.

Hair loss occurs mainly in the center parting.
In the frontal and parietal parts, there is a significant thinning of the scalp, parting becomes wider.
Diffuse hair loss occurs on top of the head. Complete baldness in women is extremely rare.

It is also possible for alopecia male type, which is especially characteristic of women in menopause.

Diagnosis of the disease: what tests need to pass

The diagnosis is made on the basis of anamnesis (a set of data on the disease), prior blood tests and some additional research. Diagnosis and therapy of androgenic alopecia is performed by a dermatologist or a trichologist and an endocrinologist.

When collecting history takes into account the duration of hair loss and the presence of hereditary predisposition. At the reception there is a visual inspection with an assessment of the health of the hair, scalp and the presence of bald patches.

List of laboratory tests:

general blood analysis,
sex hormone analysis
analysis of adrenal hormones,
analysis to determine the level of thyroid hormones.

Differential diagnostics

First of all, the AHA is different from other forms of non-scar alopecia:

diffuse (uniform baldness of the entire surface of the head),
focal (hair loss on one or several sites).

The method of trichoscopy is to examine the structure of the hair, follicle, bulb, sebaceous glands, as well as the health of the scalp as a whole. The trichoscope is a camera that allows several times to increase individual sections of hair. The resulting images are displayed on a computer monitor and studied by a specialist.

To establish the type of baldness, two areas of the scalp are compared: androgen-dependent and androgen-independent. Using computer diagnostics, the density of the hairline and the difference in the diameter of the hair in each of the sections are calculated.The norm is the excess of the number of hairs by a quarter in the androgen-dependent area of the crown of the crown compared with the androgen-independent area of the head, which is not affected by male hormones.

In addition to tracking the dependence of hair growth on susceptibility to male hormones, trichoscopy can also reveal secondary signs of hair thinning: the occurrence of a fungal infection on the scalp and epithelial scales.

When making a diagnosis at an early stage of alopecia, a phototrichogram method is used (the procedure is performed every three months to determine the degree of baldness, thinning hair and assess the overall condition of the hairline).

Androgenic alopecia is often diagnosed simultaneously with seborrheic dermatitis, also provoking alopecia.

This is possible due to the same cause of the disease - an increased number of male hormones (testosterone, dihydrotestosterone) and a decrease in female (estrogen, progesterone).

Table: diagnosis using computer diagnostics

In the parietal zone, the number of hairs is less or equals to the occipital zone.
Hair is thin, short, there is a substitution of downy hair.

The density and diameter of the hair are reduced evenly on the surface of the head, but the ratio of the number of hairs in the parietal and occipital areas is maintained.
There is an increased number of telogen hair.

Functions of the sebaceous glands are impaired (hyper or hyposecretion).
Found fungal elements.

How to treat androgenic alopecia

High chances to cure androgenic alopecia gives a true diagnosis. If it is established that the cause lies in a hormonal disorder due to the disease (infections, endocrine disorders, tumors and systemic pathologies), then the hairline will recover when it is cured. It is more difficult with androgenetic form of alopecia, in this case, constant therapy is needed, aimed at maintaining hair growth and stimulating the appearance of new follicles.

Drug treatment

The principle of action of drugs prescribed for androgenetic alopecia is aimed at reducing the synthesis of testosterone and preventing androgens from reaching receptors that are sensitive to them.

Drugs aimed at lowering androgenic activity should be taken only with a doctor's prescription. Self-medication is possible only with cosmetics.

Minoxidil

With androgenetic alopecia, currently the most prescribed medication is Minoxidil (Rogaine) with a concentration of 2% for women and 5% for men.

an increase in the duration of the anogenic phase (hair growth),
translation of the “sleeping” follicle from catagen (phase of degradation) to anagen,
increase in size of hair follicle.

The proven effect on hair growth in androgenetic alopecia has been verified by repeated clinical trials.

A significant disadvantage in the treatment with Minoxidil is the further permanent use of the drug. With the abolition of treatment, the hair will begin to thin again.

When using the product, it is necessary to prevent the medicine from getting on the face, hands and other areas of the body where hair growth is undesirable.

In addition, you can not use Minoxidil to 18 years, as well as during pregnancy. The drug is contraindicated in allergies to propylene glycol.

Finasteride

Finasteride is a drug for internal use, usually prescribed only for men. The mechanism of action is based on the inhibition of the activity of the transformation phase of testosterone into DHT, which causes baldness. In medicine, Finasteride is used to treat hormone-dependent tumors.

For women, prescribing Finasteride is possible only with an adequate level of contraception due to the negative effect on the fetus, especially the male. The drug has a large number of contraindications, the reception should be monitored by a doctor.

Estrogenic oral contraceptives (EOC)

Acceptance of EOC for the treatment of alopecia is currently considered an obsolete method, inferior to Minoxidil and its analogues. Estrogens influence testosterone levels. Not the EOC of systemic action, but estrogen for topical administration, have greater efficiency.

EOCs have a positive effect on hair follicles and hair growth only while taking medications. With the abolition may be observed the progression of alopecia in a stronger form than before the start of treatment.

The line of drugs (tablets, shampoo, lotion), containing vegetable active ingredients, including dwarf palm berries extract, the action of which is aimed at preventing hair loss.

The preparation contains phytoinhibitors of substances that promote the synthesis of dihydrotestosterone. At reception the susceptibility of follicles to male hormones decreases. The best effect is achieved with the integrated use of all the tools in this series. Allowed for the treatment of alopecia, regardless of gender. Contraindication is individual intolerance.

Esvitsin - multicomponent drug, has a tonic effect on the body. It contains vitamins, biostimulants, enzymes and trace elements that help to stop baldness. In addition, Esvitsin used in the treatment of seborrheic alopecia.

For successful treatment, the drug is taken orally, and rubbed into the scalp with massaging movements. Esvitsin can be used for a long time, contraindications are individual intolerance, periods of pregnancy and lactation.

A nicotinic acid

The tool refers to the vitamins of group B. In the treatment of androgenic alopecia, nicotinic acid is a secondary drug. Effective only in the early stages of baldness - stimulates hair growth.

Nicotinic acid is available in vials for injection. The solution is rubbed into the scalp daily for ten days, not washed off. For the treatment of alopecia requires at least three courses.

Physiotherapy: use of the Darsonval apparatus and other methods

To choose an auxiliary course of physiotherapy for androgenic alopecia should be the attending physician. Improvement or deterioration of the condition depends on the number of prescribed procedures, intensity, duration of therapy.

The most prescribed for alopecia is electrotherapy. After the course of treatment, the follicles wake up, enters the growth phase more quickly, the hair becomes larger. Under the influence of current increases blood circulation in the scalp, activates metabolic processes.

Electrotherapy can be performed by one of the methods:

galvanization,
electrophoresis
darsonvalization,
UHF field on the area of hair loss,
ultrasound on the neck area.

The most common of these methods is darsonvalization - treatment with impulse currents with a high frequency. When the electrode is exposed to the scalp, the blood vessels expand, and therefore the hair receives additional nourishment and growth stimulation. Darsonval can be bought at the pharmacy and used at home, which is a significant advantage.

In addition to electrotherapy, for the treatment of androgenic alopecia is used:

phototherapy of the scalp (after pre-cutting),
cryotherapy,
aeronization of the skin of the neck area,
heat treatment
massage and vacuum therapy.

Traditional medicine for hair loss

Methods of traditional medicine can not help stop hair loss with androgenic alopecia. It is recommended to consider them as a component of an integrated approach to the treatment of baldness.

The most effective are considered to be recipes, the use of which is an irritating effect on the scalp. As a result, microcirculation improves, new hair growth is stimulated.

Onion medicine

Suitable for normal and dry hair. With the increased fat content of the headgear, alcohol or brandy is added to the bow.

onions 2 pcs.,
Cognac 50 ml.

Chop the onions, rubbing on a grater or using a meat grinder.
Add cognac to onion gruel and stir until smooth.

The resulting mass to rub the areas with signs of baldness every week for six months, making a break for 5-6 days.

Pepper tincture

Tincture has a warming effect, can wake up "sleeping" hair bulbs and provokes the growth of new hair. Results can be seen in a fortnight. It is an inexpensive and effective remedy in the early stages of alopecia.

Cotton swab moistened in pepper tincture.
Apply to problem areas of the scalp immediately after washing.
Half an hour to wash off the tincture. In case of a strong burning sensation, it is recommended to wash it off earlier and dilute the tincture with water before the next application.
The procedure must be repeated in two weeks.

Mustard mask

burdock oil 2 tbsp. l.,
mustard powder 1 tbsp. l

Mix ingredients into a small container.
Leave the mixture for half an hour.

Mask applied to the area of baldness, rubbing fingers into the skin. The duration of the procedure depends on the sensitivity of the skin: the mask lasts until the sensation of burning. The frequency of the procedure: 1 time per week during the month. Then take a break for 30 days. Apply with care on dry hair.

Henna and castor oil

In addition to masks with an irritating effect, traditional medicine advises the use of tools that carry extra nutrition to the scalp. Henna is known for its firming properties, and castor oil contributes to thickening of the hair shaft.

To the standard bag add boiling water to obtain a creamy consistency.
Rub hot pulp into scalp.
Wrap the head with a towel and leave for half an hour, wash off.

Castor oil mask:

The oil is applied before washing the head for half an hour.
Wash off with shampoo.
Mask make 4-5 times a month.

Diet in the treatment of AHA must comply with the principles of healthy nutrition: the rejection of fatty and fried foods, as well as foods high in salt and sugar. In the diet should prevail vegetables and fruits, as well as protein foods. To stimulate hair growth, biologically active supplements with vitamins and minerals complexes are allowed. The most important for the health of hair are the B vitamins, among the minerals you need to pay attention to iron, zinc, sulfur, silicon, calcium and selenium.

When planning a course of dietary supplements, you should consult with your doctor, as it is often impossible to determine the deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals in the body.

Hair transplantation (transplantation) in the androgen-dependent zone

Hair transplant has become a popular procedure for men and women. Transplantation is the transfer of healthy hair from the androgen-independent zone to the androgen-dependent one by excision of follicular groups and their subsequent implantation in problem areas. The procedure is performed by a transplant surgeon, and the first results are visible after 4–6 months.

Treatment prognosis and possible complications, consequences

The prognosis of treatment of androgenic alopecia is favorable with timely treatment and subject to compliance with all appointments and recommendations of a specialist. An integrated approach to the treatment of the disease accelerates recovery.

With non-pharmacological effects, for example, only folk remedies, treatment is impractical and ineffective, because it does not eliminate the causes of alopecia.

Possible complications can occur with improper self-medication. Also, some therapies can cause health problems (for example, side effects from medications or inflammatory processes after hair transplantation).

The most adverse consequence of alopecia is severe baldness, which is not detrimental to health, but causes psychological discomfort, especially for women.

Preventive measures: is it possible to dye hair, do a perm

When making a diagnosis of anodrogenic alopecia, the prevention of hair loss is a constant observation and examination by a trichologist. The causes of AHA are often not dependent on external factors such as dyeing, perm, shampooing, and blow-drying. Androgenic alopecia needs constant therapy with drugs that prevent hair loss by reducing the activity of male hormones.

Hair and scalp care is a secondary prevention that contributes to the beauty of hair, but does not prevent hair loss.

With such prevention, the following measures are relevant:

balancing nutrition
rejection of bad habits,
washing your hair with shampoos without lauryl sulfate and as it gets dirty,
refusal to use a hair dryer,
combing with rare teeth
wearing hats in the cold season,
regular medical examination (in addition, it is necessary to pass tests for the level of male hormones).

Treatment reviews

Guys, I write a review about the drug Minoxidil. Tested on myself 5%. I started the application as soon as I saw the bald spot with a mirror in the barbershop. At first there was a shock. Read reviews, digging the Internet ... stopped at Minoxidil. Everyone will have their own results, all individually. I got results in three months. Initially, there was a terrible itchy head, severe dandruff, was not going to stop. After half a year, I have a normal head of hair, no bald spots through, the bald areas have become smaller. Hair became 20% darker, eyelashes - girls get jealous, long beautiful, eyebrows a little thicker, bristles darken and become more pronounced. Of the side effects, itching of the scalp, dandruff, or rather, as I have already read one of the components of the drug, it dries and exfoliates as dandruff. Increased hair vegetation throughout the body. Began to use at the initial stage of baldness. Good luck to all.

Alexey

I decided to try a new line of shampoos and conditioners from Garnier Botanic therapist, and I was tired of collecting several tufts of hair every morning. I tried shampoo and rinser series "Castor oil and almonds against loss." Initially, I liked the packaging, then I became interested in the composition - I like the smell of almonds, but, probably, everyone heard about the benefits of castor oil) plus shampoos of this series without parabens .. I tried. The shampoo is applied well, pleasant consistency, pleasant smell .. Hair washes, head does not dry - no complaints. I used it several times - the result is not 100% yet, but it is already noticeable, so I think everyone is ahead!) Balsam is also good - hair combed well, shine, soft.

ankazz

Vitamins PANTOVIGAR - recall Saw him for 6 months, when she did not know her diagnosis. Recently I visited a trichologist and I was diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia (according to the results of a phototrichogram). In general, Pantovigar REALLY helped (I will clarify again - I drank BEFORE making the diagnosis, as it is not prescribed separately for AHA, because he alone will not cope with the problem, except as an auxiliary treatment) - hair has become as long as faster to grow, and many new short ones appeared, and not push-type ones, namely dark and elastic, began to fall out less. But they did not grow immediately, but only after 3-4 months of use, so the drug really works, but you must apply it according to the instructions — for at least 4 months — then you will see the result. I do not want to offend anyone, but I urge you not to believe the reviews a la "drank a month, nothing has grown, it means bad." The drug, though not cheap, really helps, you just need to drink for at least 4 months, and all are better. 6. I advise you, I’m warning you right away that the hair begins to grow more actively not only on the head =)

natashko

Darsonval with AHA.I use darsonval courses 2 times a year in spring and autumn. Each course - 20-25 procedures in a day. I do it in the evening, 1 procedure - 10 minutes of tearing in different directions, after which I greet the (bald) balding areas with red pepper tincture with plenty of water (I dilute it with half water beforehand, because it could be a burn). After this "pleasant" feeling of heat on the head. After drying the infusion, I apply Minoxidil (I used Alerana before). The result is that such courses revitalize the hair and stimulate their growth, give a shake. After the course, the hair usually begins to actively grow again on the balding spots. the head adapts and stops responding to darsonval. PS When using darsonval, traditional means (min / fin) have not been canceled, Darsonval is an additional auxiliary, not a common means!

Legion

Ordered Means Minoxidil through the online store. 6 tubes, one per month. In general, for 6 months. I ordered my brother, because he began to go bald a bit. The result was not long in coming, just a little more than a month of use, and the surrounding people began to tell him that the hair had become longer. Moreover, he himself did not tell anyone that he began to use something. They began to notice literally everything: friends, a hairdresser. I heard that as soon as you stop using the tool, the result returns to its original form. Therefore, if you begin to use it, it is already taking into account that you will not stop. We are tuned to permanent use, like daily use of shampoo or toothpaste, for example. The only price is not quite small

Christy D

Pchola

Ampoules for hair RINFOLTIL Espresso Lotion for men. If you really have a problem that is associated with androgenic loss, or whatever, in general with a problem in hormones, then definitely yes! It helps to renew the hair, first there is an active hair loss, which has already passed its cycle and stopped growing, but is still on the head. Then the loss stops, and a lot of new hair appears. At the same time, the total volume of the tail decreases, which made me angry. Because I have no hormonal problems, I just wanted my hair to become thicker, grow faster, and fall out less. But that did not happen! I realized that the thickness of the hair laid genetically. It can not be increased. But to deteriorate easily, with all sorts of colors, irons, and improper care. I used it for 3-4 months, maybe my hair grew faster, but I didn’t really notice it. After the cessation, everything returned to its place, falls out moderately, but the volume of the hair does not decrease, in general was used in vain. No longer will. But for those who really have problems, baldness, etc., I advise you! I think it very well activates the growth of new hair.

Mne_nik_ne_nuzhen

When making a diagnosis of androgenic alopecia, do not despair and give up. Modern medicine has found many ways to help with this disease. Continuous therapy, cosmetic procedures and adherence to a healthy lifestyle will allow you to enjoy the thickness and shine of long hair. Implementation of all recommendations is work, but the result is worth the effort.

Symptomatology

The development of the disease begins with hair structure changeswhich gradually become more subtle, dull and miniature. At the same time, the growth phase is disrupted - hair follicles grow much slower than in patients without alopecia. After destructive changes, the hair eventually falls out.

Features of baldness in different sexes:

Men. Alopecia of the parietal and frontal part occurs in 5 stages with intermediate substeps (Norwood grading). The thinning begins from the occiput and partly from the forehead area.
Women. The process of hair loss is divided into 3 stages (the Ludwig scale) and begins with balding the central parting of the head.As the disease progresses, the areas of baldness gradually disappear.

Increasing the level of androgens in the blood (a common situation with androgenic alopecia) in women leads to the appearance of masculinity, manifested by the appearance of mustache, beard and hard hair on the hands. Full baldness in patients is not observed (although there are exceptions): on the sides of the hair are preserved, the follicles of which are less sensitive to the effects of androgens.

Causes

Hormonal malfunction - the main culprit in the occurrence of alopeciain which androgens adversely affect hair follicles. Male steroid hormones are produced by the testes and adrenal glands, in women, an increase in the level of this hormone is possible after taking certain drugs - antibiotics and drugs against herpes. Diseases of the thyroid gland - hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism also upset the balance of steroid hormones and in the same way lead to problems in the head area.

Other factors in the development of alopecia:

elevated enzyme 5-alpha-reductase and dihydrotestosterone,
frequent stress
alcohol and smoking abuse
diseases of the digestive tract.

Infections and a banal vitamin deficiency can also trigger the emergence of androgenetic alopecia. In women, hormonal disturbances can be disrupted as a result of carrying a fetus, giving birth and taking contraceptives. A negative factor is considered to be frequent aggressive cosmetic procedures associated with the use of perm and hot styling with a hair dryer.

Mechanical injuries of the head are dangerous, especially those that occur with damage to the skin. Infection in the dermis can also lead to the appearance of inflammation, which can destroy the hair follicles and lead to foci of so-called baldness (nesting alopecia). After the destruction of part of the hair thinning can spread to the neighboring areas of the head, using the balding process in full force.

What role does heredity play?

Androgenetic alopecia, already in its name, indicates an initiating factor that affects hair loss. There is a so-called alopecia gene (within chromosome 20) that can trigger a hair loss program.

It is transmitted to all men in the family, if one of the relatives suffered from baldness, and on the maternal line (although the woman herself usually does not suffer from thinning of hair, even with a specific gene).

Despite this fact, the thinning begins only in the presence of adverse conditions, mainly associated with the appearance of disease or being in a stressful state. Treatment of this form of the disease is based on the use of modern technology, while folk remedies are powerless against pathological hair loss.

The ecological situation and nutrition, which can activate alopecia already at the age of 18–30 years old, are of great importance. The long course of chronic diseases, undermining the immune system, usually act as trigger points for triggering pathological changes in the body. For these reasons, androgenetic alopecia is also called hereditary.

With male hereditary alopecia, testosterone concentrations in men may be normal and not exceed critical values.

Disease treatment methods

Considering the role of hormonal imbalance, physicians initially study the patient's analyzes and only then carry out an adequate correction aimed at reducing certain elements in the blood.

The effect is enhanced by combining with a local therapeutic effect on the area of hair thinning. At the same time it is important to pass photo trichogram - a procedure that allows to study the degree of changes in the structure of the hair, as well as the thickness determined by hardware counting the number of bulbs per centimeter of skin.

Diet. Vitamin-mineral complexes, greens, vegetables and fruits are introduced into the diet. The amount of sweet, salty and peppered food is minimized.
Hormonal agents. Women are prescribed medications based on progesterone and estrogen, which reduce the secretion of adrogens in the ovaries. In men, drugs of this group are used with caution, since a decrease in testosterone levels leads to feminization, as well as swelling of the nipples, a decrease in erection, and a deterioration of spermatogenesis.
Stimulants. The local application of drugs that stimulate hair growth helps to speed up the process of hair lengthening and the “awakening” of fallen out. In most marketable drugs used active ingredient Minoxidil. The disadvantage of this therapy is the need to use the funds of this group for life.
Camouflage funds. They do not constitute remedies, but may be useful for patients undergoing recovery. Representing a powder of a certain color, imitating the shade of hair, camouflage is applied to the problem area, which is painted in the desired color. The powdery consistency is washed off after use, and also not blown away by wind due to tight skin contact. More often used by women.
Physiotherapy. Electrophoresis with saturation with beneficial substances, darsonvalization of the scalp, cryotherapy, electrical stimulation, acupressure - various methods of enhancing local microcirculation, which allows to activate hair growth and prevent atrophy of the bulbs.
Hair transplantation. Severe baldness is difficult to treat with conservative methods, the reason is the irretrievable loss of part of the hair. To restore the hair, it is necessary to transplant the bulbs from the hair areas of the head, which are not subject to thinning. Two technologies are available to customers: STRIP provides a one-time transplant of up to 6 thousand bulbs and the FUE method, in which the zones for hair donation can be expanded - up to transplantation from the follicles of the abdomen, hips, and back.

If alopecia is mild or detected at an early stage, then the use of dietary and therapeutic liquid preparations for local application is selected. With a strong degree of thinning, the course is complemented by hormonal and physiotherapeutic methods.

Treatment of female alopecia is easier, because follicle damage is less pronounced than in men.

We advise you to read:

Useful information about autoimmune alopecia can be found in this article.

Restoration of scalp with androgenetic alopecia requires time consuming and combining several therapeutic techniques. To ensure maximum effectiveness of therapy, an experienced trichologist should be chosen who will help you find the right tactics, starting from the condition of the hair in each individual case.

With the defeat of other organs, it is important to eliminate endocrine diseases that are treated with the help of a therapist. It is extremely important to start therapy at the first “bells” that accompany the thinning of the hair, as the disease develops rapidly. Some patients lose most of their hair within a few years, but the prognosis of the treatment is positive, since even when alopecia is neglected, it is easy to return the desired aesthetics with the help of a hair transplant.

Androgenic Alopecia in Women

Any female body contains both female and male hormones. For a woman to function normally, female hormones should dominate in women, but in some cases, male hormones can prevail. Hyperandrogenism - the predominance of male hormones in a woman's body. It can lead to an increase in hair growth all over the body, the appearance of acne, a roughened voice and androgenic alopecia on the woman’s head.

Not every woman can understand the presence of alopecia.In such cases, women diligently try to remove bald patches with the help of folk remedies or drugs on the advice of other women. Women who lead a healthy lifestyle and properly care for their hair should be alerted if abundant hair loss occurs.

In the case of frequent hair loss and turning them into fluff for more than 6 months, be sure to consult a doctor. Doctors trichologist and dermatologist are engaged in this disease. Remember: folk remedies, and self-treatment will never remove the cause of hair loss.

Causes and mechanisms of the disease

Doctors never found a single reason for the suffering of women androgenic alopecia. The name of this disease comes from the fact that the first cause of the disease is a strong sensitivity of hair follicles to androgens. Often this disease is transmitted through inheritance. There are many factors in the emergence of androgenic alopecia in women, here are some of them:

Pregnancy. During pregnancy, the child consumes a lot of nutrients, vitamins and minerals from the mother's body. Often, during pregnancy in a woman’s body, microelements that are too low for the normal functioning of the mother’s body and the child’s body become. Another reason for the appearance may be an unexpected surge of hormones. All these moments can provoke frequent loss of hair of the head. In practice, it is noted that hair loss in a woman begins to occur after childbirth, but some patients need hormone therapy.
Heredity. Quite often, this disease is inherited, from mother to daughter. If a woman's mother or grandmother suffered from this disease, then there is the possibility of the appearance of androgenic alopecia in her too. In this case, prevention should be carried out before the onset of hair loss.
Negative environmental impact. This category implies a bad environmental situation in the place where the woman lives. The effects of various chemical preparations such as hair dye, lacquer, mousse, etc. can also be included in this category.
Excess male hormones in the body of a woman. If a woman has a lot of male hormone in her body, then this can lead to androgenic alopecia. This problem can be solved with the help of hormonal means and control over the patient's condition.

The causes of this disease are much more listed. The above factors are major. There are also factors that complement the list:

The manifestation of stress, emotions,
Use of hormonal drugs,
Use of certain drugs
Invalid hair care,
Endocrine system disease.

Why baldness starts from the top

The skin of a person is significantly different in different places of the head. The area that covers the area of the temples and the back of the head contains a greater amount of enzyme (aromatase). This substance helps high-quality processing of testosterone into estradiol, which does not harm the hair follicle. The crown area has a higher content of dihydrotestosterone, which in turn slows down hair growth. Because of this, hair falls out first from the top.

The effect of heredity on androgenic alopecia

With the help of genetic analyzes, geneticists have found a great connection between the generations of women who suffer from androgenic alopecia. Women who are in this risk group have more receptors on the skin of the scalp that are susceptible to the enzyme, which is responsible for the tendency to hair loss.

Symptoms of androgenic alopecia

All people are daily faced with hair loss, but the limit should not exceed 90 hairs per day. The disease develops over time, the process can take even several years.

To understand that you are sick with androgenic alopecia is not so simple.Symptoms may be different, we list some of them:

Hair becomes thinner
Frequent hair loss, especially in the parting and temples,
Pathology remains after firming masks and special shampoos,
Hair becomes dirty quickly, no matter what shampoo you use,
The appearance of dandruff. Acne is particularly pronounced on the skin of the head,
Some areas of the skin are inflamed, have a round or oval shape,
The presence of hair in unpleasant places, such as on the face,
Rarely a woman may fall eyebrows or eyelashes.

Androgenic alopecia does not bring the whole head to baldness, but all the defects of the hair will be very noticeable. Most often this disease affects women aged 21-30 years.

Diagnosing androgenic alopecia

To recognize the cause of this disease, the appointment of the correct treatment and examination at the trichologist will be small. You will need to do some diagnostics:

Identify hormonal background,
Blood test (general)
Determination of immunity,
Testing for a lack of vitamins in the body,
Microscopy.

After receiving the results of all assigned research, you will make a course of treatment. Pathology can make you fight this disease for life. The sooner you go to the doctor, the sooner you get rid of an unpleasant disease.

To cure this disease for good is almost unreal. Androgenic alopecia is in many cases a genetic disease. To recover you will need a lot of money and patience. If you are interested in a positive result, then you only need a comprehensive treatment: taking medicines, conducting physiotherapy procedures and using traditional medicines together.

Treatment regimen

Anti-baldness drugs are divided into several types:

Growth stimulants
dihydrotestosterone blockers.

Drugs that contain the latter substance reduce the production of dihydrotestosterone, conduct a blockade of poor effect on hair growth.

At this time, many anti-baldness drugs are available that include finasteride. After applying these drugs, the result will be visible only in a few months, on average, about 3-4 months. After 6 months, stable hair growth is reborn.

In case of correct application of the medication according to the instructions, hair growth will recover rather quickly and your hair will take a good look. On average, these drugs can be used from several months to 1 year. If a woman will be well tolerated by the drug, you should increase its dose.

Effective methods and treatments for alopecia

In addition to specialized products that improve hair growth and reduce the production of hormones, you can also use other tools. The best tools include:

Remedies that normalize hormones,
Multivitamin complexes,
Supplements.

The use of massage, laser therapy and cryotherapy is also recommended. Tips to help you get rid of androgenic alopecia:

Observe the mode of work and rest,
Eat right
Include fresh fruits, vegetables and other foods containing vitamins and minerals in your diet,
Do not be nervous,
Avoid thermal and chemical effects on hair.

All these tips will not contribute to the return of lost hair, but will improve the condition of the rest of the hair. For greater efficacy, use several treatments. For example, take medicines and folk together. At home, you can also prepare a remedy for hair loss:

Burr oil. It is effective for the growth and strengthening of hair. To prepare you will need 1 tbsp. spoon of burdock oil, lemon juice, honey, yolk. Combine these components into a homogeneous mass and apply on the hair roots,
A decoction of burdock roots.To prepare you need 2 tbsp. spoons of roots and 400 ml of hot water should be boiled over low heat for about 15 minutes. After preparation, rub into the scalp.
A decoction of nettle leaves. You will also need 2 tbsp. spoons of nettle and 400ml of hot water. Boil for about 15 minutes. It is used as a hair rinse.

How to give damaged hair an attractive appearance

From the advice of doctors:

Pick a hairstyle that will suit you. Do not grow long hair, sparse untidy hair look ugly and focus on the place of baldness,
Be sure to use only the shampoo that suits your hair type and reduces the thinning of the scalp,
You must use a variety of decoctions of natural and healing herbs, followed by shampooing. Carefully rub the decoctions of burdock root and nettle into the scalp,
Several times a week use homemade anti-balding masks,
Ready-made balms and substances that contain natural ingredients will contribute to making your curls shine.
It is advisable to use water with lemon or vinegar to rinse your strands. Need 1000 grams of hot water add art. spoon of vinegar or lemon and mix thoroughly.

When the disease is neglected, you can use a wig or special patches on the hair that will mask your problem areas.

If you identify androgenic alopecia, do not try to restore your hair yourself, this can lead to complications. Contact a specialist, you will be assigned the correct course of treatment. If you are interested and strongly want to recover, you will succeed, just follow the recommendations of doctors and do not self-medicate.

Let's find out the opinion of a professional and see the video.

Androgenic Alopecia: Causes

This type of baldness is caused by male sex hormones - androgens. They are present in the organisms of both the stronger sex and women.

Some authors consider androgenic and androgenetic alopecia as different forms of baldness:

in the first case, hormonal imbalance causes hair loss,
with androgenetic alopecia, hair loss is genetically determined, and there are no deviations in the hormonal background.

An increase in the level of androgens can lead to:

endocrine system diseases
tumors that produce male sex hormones,
gynecological diseases (polycystic ovaries),
taking certain medications (steroid hormones, including corticosteroids, and antidepressants).

Also, hormonal imbalance can occur during menopause, during which the level of female sex hormones decreases.

Androgenic alopecia has more than 90% of cases of hair loss by men. Data on the frequency of this type of baldness among women are significantly different: it is believed that it causes hair loss in women 30-80% of cases.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Androgenic alopecia is a prolonged continuous process.

The main signs of this pathology are a shift of the hairline on the forehead back and baldness of the parietal part of the head.

Distinguish seven stages of alopecia, caused by the action of androgens in men.

There is a slight thinning of the hair along the front edge of hair growth - in the area of the forehead and temples.
The thinning of the hairstyle in the frontal-temporal zone continues, it affects the area within two centimeters from the front line of hair growth. In the region of the crown, the hair is thinning or also falling out completely.
Deep bald patches appear on the forehead and temples, which extend more than 2 cm from the front hairline. Further thinning hairstyle occurs in the region of the crown.
The bald patches on the forehead and temples deepen even more, the thinning of the hair on the vertex continues, but the two zones are separated.
The strip of hair that separates the fronto-temporal and parietal areas becomes narrower.
Alopecia zones on the forehead and on the crown of the head merge.
Complete baldness in the area that covers the forehead, top of the head and crown. Hair remains on the sides of the head and below the neck.

Androgen blood test,
Determining the level of thyroid hormones,
Phototrichogram, which allows you to specify the overall condition of the hair and determine the density of their growth,
A blood test to determine the level of vitamins and trace elements in the body.

The treatment of androgenic alopecia is carried out by a trichologist. After conducting all the necessary examinations, such a specialist will be able to select the appropriate treatment. You may also need the help of an endocrinologist - a doctor who deals with hormonal disorders.

Baldness has steadily progressed over the years, with the hair follicles first reduce their activity, and then die. The sooner the treatment is started, the better the drugs help, therefore, when signs of androgenic alopecia appear, you should not delay the treatment with a doctor.

Drugs in the form of tablets can be used to treat alopecia at any stage of baldness development. Finasteride is most commonly used, which reduces the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone - it is this hormone that has a negative effect on hairline.

Vitamin-mineral complexes are also used for alopecia with which you can improve the nutrition of the hair and slow down its loss - Vitrum Beauty, Special Merz Dragee, Alerana and others.

Preparations in ampoules are applied topically. Due to this, the severity of side effects is minimal. Basic agent for the treatment of androgenic alopecia - minoxidil which is available in ampoules.

Also to prevent baldness are applied funds based on plant extracts, which slow down the process of hair loss and stimulate their growth.

Ointments, creams, lotions and sprays

These remedies are used in the treatment of androgenic alopecia very widely. They allow you to slow hair loss at any stage of baldness.

As with ampoules, the side effects are minimal. Due to this, ointments, creams, lotions and sprays can contain potent ingredients.

In the form of lotions and sprays available minoxidil. Also used tools that provide enhanced hair nutrition, stimulate growth processes and prevent hair loss.

Used as adjuvants that can complement the main treatment at any stage of baldness development. To slow hair loss with androgenetic alopecia apply:

black currant oil
oil enonters,
borage oil,
jojoba oil,
pennic oil.

Another adjuvant for the treatment of androgenic alopecia. Shampoos improve the nutrition of hair follicles and stimulate hair growth. The composition may include a wide range of substances of natural and artificial origin.

To prevent hair loss are used:

Vichy dercos
Rinfoltill Espresso
Alerana
Selentsin Hair Therapy
KRKA Fitoval
Biokon hair strength
Ducray Anaphase and other shampoos.

Surgical treatment

In the presence of large foci of hair loss is shown hair transplantation. Such an operation can restore their growth in areas that have been severely affected by alopecia. During transplantation, the surgeon removes small areas of skin with follicles from areas not affected by alopecia, and transplants them in areas where the bald patches have formed.

Prevention

Compliance with preventive measures helps to reduce the risk of androgenetic alopecia to a minimum.

Take vitamin complexes. Vitamin deficiency contributes to the development of baldness.
Use cool water to wash your hair - hot activates the sebaceous glands, injures the skin and hair follicles.
Avoid hypothermia. In winter, always wear a hat - this will protect the hair follicles and reduce the likelihood of their death.
Use a quality shampoo that suits your scalp and hair type. Cheap drugs can have a detrimental effect on the state of hair.

Treatment of androgenic alopecia should not be postponed. When the first signs of this type of baldness appear, it is necessary to consult with a specialist and start the appropriate therapy. In this case, the process of hair loss can be significantly slowed down, which will keep the hair intact for many years.

A few words about the causes of androgenetic alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia is a fairly frequent diagnosis that is made to men seeking medical help for excessive hair loss or the appearance of noticeable baldness. However, it would be wrong to say that this is an exclusively male problem. Some women also suffer from hair loss for similar reasons. But they, of course, at times less than men. In addition, the nature of hair loss among representatives of different sexes in this case will be different. The main area of damage in male androgenetic alopecia is the fronto-parietal region of the scalp with the formation of a pronounced bald spot. In women, the hair falls mostly over the entire surface of the head more evenly. In some cases, doctors notice a weak tendency to develop the male-type disease.

Be that as it may, if we talk about androgenetic alopecia, the reasons for both men and women will be the same. Androgenetic alopecia with a hereditary factor is the most characteristic and least treatable. This means that if a father, grandfather, elder brother or uncle had a bald spot, then the probability of her appearance in a particular man is quite large.

If you come closer to specific mechanisms that trigger the processes that lead to baldness, then the main culprit is the excessive content in the blood of the main male sex hormone - testosterone. But by itself, testosterone does not represent a great danger to the hair follicles (namely, they suffer from androgenetic alopecia). Its active derivative, dihydrotestosterone, acts as a destructive effect on the hair follicles, which negatively affects the enzyme 5-alpha reductase in the hair follicle. Such an action causes dystrophic phenomena, first in the hair bulb, and then in the hair itself, which without it simply cannot grow.

It is necessary, of course, to note that (and this is very characteristic for androgenetic alopecia), the hair on the site affected by the attack of dihydrotestosterone does not disappear immediately and completely. They continue to grow, but more rare and weak. Doctors call this hair fluff.

If a person does not take any steps to treat androgenetic alopecia, then even after about ten years even his gun hair disappears. This occurs because the hair follicles “open” for the time being gradually close the fibrin and the skin becomes completely smooth.

What are the treatments for androgenetic alopecia?

Treatment of androgenetic alopecia is difficult, requiring the closest medical attention. Anyone who may have started to notice the first signs of hair loss (the first stage is, as a rule, hair loss along the hairline from the side of the forehead) should be warned - in no case do not self-medicate. So you can rather hurt yourself, rather than help. Immediately contact qualified professionals.Only they will understand what is happening in your particular case and prescribe the proper treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

The main difficulty in prescribing therapeutic measures in this case is that doctors have to contend with nature itself. After all, if there is a genetic predisposition, it is necessary to engage in combat with the program incorporated into the body very deeply. But do not despair. Something can still be done.

The most obvious, it would seem, is the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, aimed at reducing the level of testosterone in the body. Hormonal treatment with drugs containing estrogen (female hormone) is used in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in women. At the same time, the balance of hormones is evened out and the hair is restored. For men, this treatment is not always suitable, because it has a number of undesirable side effects in the form of gynecomastia, changes in voice and other forms of feminization.

Among the drugs for drug therapy, minoxidil and finasteride are known. The latter is used only in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia. Of the hardware techniques, laser treatment gives relatively good results, but it also does not always help and not as much as we would like.

Therefore, it must be stated that if we are dealing with the hereditary factor of androgenetic alopecia, then the most reliable and effective way to restore hair will be hair transplant.