FEMALE
HAIR LOSS
Find out now what causes hair loss, what types of hair loss there are and why a complex problem requires a holistic solution.
Female hair loss
In Germany over 6 million women suffer from hair loss. Often this loss is hormonal and is caused by changes in the body during pregnancy and the menopause. However, also unfavourable influences such as stress, smoking, too little sleep or an inadequate diet can lead to thinning and loss of hair. Our dermatologists and hair experts have therefore developed pilusan® forte - the innovative product against hair loss, for more hair growth.
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Types and causes of hair loss
Hereditary hair loss (androgenetic alopecia)
Hereditary hair loss (androgenetic alopecia, alopecia androgenetica or congenital hair loss) is the most common type of hair loss. About 60 to 80% of men and 20 to 30% of women suffer from this type of hair loss.
Almost every 4th adult is therefore affected by this form of hair loss. However, the hereditary form of hair loss is treatable!
Cause
Hair loss in this form is caused by the body's own hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is the active form of testosterone and is produced in the conversion by the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. Hereditary hypersensitivity of the hair follicles to DHT leads to hair loss. In most cases, the corresponding genes are inherited from the maternal side.
DHT and PGD2 cause the blood vessels that supply nutrients to the hair follicles to degenerate. This causes the follicles to atrophy increasingly. Furthermore, the growth phases of the hair are shortened and the resting phase is prolonged. The hair cycle becomes shorter and shorter.
As a result, regrowing hair not only grows back shorter and thinner, but also falls out earlier.
Without intervention, this process repeats itself, with the hair growing back more weakly in each new cycle. If the hair roots do not receive any nutrients after a few years, the hair growth stops completely.
Menopause
Hot flushes, sweats, trouble sleeping. Are the most common symptoms associated with menopause. Hair loss is also common, or the hair becomes visibly thinner.
At this point many women are faced with the question of whether taking a hormone preparation is the right choice?
Cause
This failure is caused by changes in the female body. These are caused by a drop in the estrogen level.
Due to the drop in the estrogen level, the male hormones, including DHT, are now proportionally more present in the female body.
An increased sensitivity to these male hormones consequently leads to hair loss. This hair loss is therefore often attributed to androgenetic alopecia.
Pregnancy
Especially women suffer from hair loss during puberty, after pregnancy, after stopping the contraceptive pill and with the beginning of menopause.
Cause
Among other things, estrogen production in women plays a major role in hair growth. If a woman's hormone balance changes, e.g. after pregnancy or with the beginning of menopause, hair loss can occur as a result.
During pregnancy, the female body produces additional oestrogen, which leads to many positive effects. Among other things, the growth phase of the hair is extended.
After giving birth, the female body no longer produces this additional oestrogen. The hairs enter the resting phase and fall out more often (diffuse loss).
The body's own reaction (sensitivity to DHT) to the altered hormone balance can also lead to hair loss (androgenetic alopecia).
Stress
Stress is one of the most common triggers of hair loss in women. Due to stress, the body produces various messenger substances which can cause hair loss.
Cause
Messenger substances, e.g. noradrenaline, and other free radicals cause inflammation of the hair follicles.
This stops the growth phase of these hairs, they enter the resting phase and as a result they fall out after about 3 months.
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Growth cycle of a hair in detail
Every hair goes through a hair cycle, which is divided into three phases: anagen, catagen and telogen. Then the hair falls out after about 2-6 years. Hair consists of a visible part (hair shaft and hair tip) and the hair root, which is surrounded by the hair follicle under the scalp. The hair follicle regulates hair growth.
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Anagen: Growth Phase
About 80-90% of our hair is in this phase, which takes about 2-6 years. The hair grows here on average about 10 mm per month.
Catagen: Transition Phase
In the approximately 2-week phase, the cell matrix stops cell production. The hair separates from the hair root and is pushed against the scalp, in this very short phase is only about 1% of our scalp hair.
Telogen: Rest or Failure Phase
This phase, lasting about 2-6 months, completes the hair cycle. On average, about 18% of our hair is in this phase.
Early Anagen: Renewal Phase
Following the telogen phase, the hair papilla renews itself so that the hair root can recover. The resumed cell production ensures the formation of new hair.