Female Hair Loss

Female hair loss classification
The first sign of female hair loss is a hair thinning, generally seen on the forepart and the superior part of the head. In the beginning it seems that the hairdo scratch becomes wider, until it’s able to notice a reduction of the volume and a slow growth of the hair (Degree I). Later, an accented rarefaction creates a kind of transparency allowing one to see the contour of the head through the hair (Degree II). The hair becomes ultra thin, clearer, and fragile (Degree III). In this stage the baldness is installed already. The hair line on the forehead is generally saved, as well as the hair on the posterior region, above the nape of the neck, for being less susceptible to hormonal action. In the anterior line the aromatase enzyme helps protecting the hair from hormonal action.

Types of Hair Loss
The types of hair loss is a complex and extensive subject, therefore we made a simplified classification of the most frequent complaints. The following is the most usual possible causes to these types of hair loss.

Suddenly an intense hair loss begins, persisting for weeks. It usually scares a lot for the fast increase of baldness it provokes, but in general the history of the problem and its sudden start are enough for the diagnosis. Although preoccupying, this case, in general, is not serious. Simply, the hair enters in a cycle agreement, with many hairs entering simultaneously in the fall phase (telogenous). It usually lasts a few weeks. The full backup can be seen a few months later. Commonly, an unchained factor exists, as hormonal change (like after childbirth) or an important stress suffered by the organism (an infectious illness or even a surgery). A less frequent case must be excluded as immunological illnesses, reactions to drugs or even a diffuse case of alopecia areata. But, fortunately, these are the exception. Supplementary food, as vitamins and amino acids and still much patience are in general enough. More complex examinations use to be useless. They can be asked for only to discard other chronical problems.

Located Chronical loss

Perhaps this is one of the most difficult cases because the diagnosis is generally delayed or is gotten in an advanced phase, making the handling difficult once it is less responsive in cases already installed. Reversing the problem is much more complex than to stabilize it when it first appears, or to delay the advance of the process. We are talking about Female Androgenic Alopecia, recently called, Female Hair Loss pattern. The clinical case develops with a gradual hair thinning, in general in the frontal region of the scalp. The hair starts having a slower growth in the front region of the scalp, followed by a hair thinning and reduction of the volume. In a certain point it compromises the density of the hair, conferring "a thin and transparent" aspect. In extreme cases it can evolve for baldness. As strong characteristic, it generally preserves the hair in the posterior region, above the nape (occipital region). Another feature of the female androgenic alopecia (FAA) is its bigger incidence in two distinct age bands: soon after the adolescence and after the menopause. Frequently a there’s a familiar description. One of the great difficulties is to carry through the diagnosis precociously. As the clinical examination can be inconclusive, it can be necessary to carry through a biopsy or a microscopic photograph of the scalp, improving the assertiveness and allowing to initiate the handling as soon as possible. Although the handling is still limited, we know today that many other factors influence the clinical handling response and as it does in the course of the problem itself. Although historically, the masculine genetics and hormones are pointed as the cause, today we are not so sure about it, once the FAA is many times able to be associated to other diffuser patterns or even for a less effective response to the androgens (masculine hormones) blockers, differently from what occurs in the masculine baldness. It is frequent to have other hair cases associates, mainly the ones caused by nutritional deficiencies. There are many treatments available, what shows a certain limitation. That’s the reason why the precocious start of the handling is so important, once these medications have limited effect to reversing the problem, being more indicated to stabilize it. It also gets critical to treat other associated problems, with better therapeutical reply, therefore they will re-echo positively in the evolution of the FAA. Thus, the possible success of the handling inhabits in a global boarding, correlating everything that is involved, also the psychological side and the personal satisfaction with one’s current life style.

It also reads: When we should indicate Hair Restoration surgery for women and when we should not.

It looks a lot like the Located Chronic Loss, for its insidious beginning, with periods of improvement and worsening, but in slow progression. It does not present a well defined incidence peaks, but it uses to appear in the third or fourth decades between 30 and 40 years of age. Different from FAA (Female Androgenic Alopecia), this case is generally diffuser, compromising the frontal hairline and even the region above the nape of the neck (occipital). It is not uncommon to see patients which have association of this case with the FAA, making the diagnosis really complex. A way to see the woman is to see her as an organism that is continuously losing essential nutrient, as much for the menstruation as for the sports activity. As the natural replacement can be insufficient, aggravated for the frequent diets, this must be supplemented. Another important women’s feature is its easiness in accumulating fat, which is not well seen by them nowadays. Therefore, they may end up putting themselves through unbalanced diets, to say the least. When an insane diet is associate to frequent exercises it can evolve quickly for a case of neediness (deficient), or even malnutrition, developing an important hair loss. An important mistake is when the patient wants to diminish her weight considering only the corporal weight, when she would be taking in consideration the muscular mass calculus and the percentage of body fat, in fact the real enemies to be feared. For this is better to see as a nutritionist. Disregarding those important related aspects the patient is risking to lose muscular mass, which is our great consumer of energy, thus explaining why they regain weight when returning to the habitual feeding. Therefore this is not about diet, but about modifying the alimentary culture. Disregarding it we will only damage our organism, especially when going through a radical diet (not balanced nor supervised) associated to sportive practice. It is necessary to understand that to the organism the hair is superfluous and at a moment of "crisis" the body will save it’s limited energy budget to other demands. The patient should be aware that the hair is not only something beautiful to be admired, but many times it is human body’s "shock agent". Thus, to have a pretty hair the minimum necessary is to take good care of the body and mind. If there’s no associated problem, the organism will reward you with a pretty hair. It is just enough, isn’t it?

The hole of feeding

To have a healthful feed, as well as using supplementary food can be important as a secondary hole in hair handling. Not necessarily solving the cause of baldness, but it can contribute a lot on the treatment. If we are to imagine the hair, in the organic point of view, as superfluous to the organism, we will see that any alimentary deficiency is punished with a cut in the systems that are not vital or have no top priority for the organism, such as the hair. For this optics, a nutritional accompaniment and an alimentary supplementation can be highly beneficial. The feeding is not always adjusted or enough: the industrial process reduces the nutritional value of foods, reducing vitamins and staple fibers, that in a certain way exercise the digestive tube, keeping it healthful. To ingest is not the same of absorbing. Besides, in search for a healthy, perfect body, the exercises increase the consumption of micronutrients, oligoelements and proteins of high biological value, rich in essential amino acids. Muscles Eager for nutrients can compete with the hair, disestablishing this delicate balance, so, they must be supplemented. Milk, digested by the adult besides being the insoluble casein responsible for the cheese also contains the soluble casein and lacto globulins, rich in essential amino acids, but not absorbed in the digestive process of an adult. Furthermore, the lactose is a frequent cause of alimentary intolerance in up to 80% of the adult population, causing non-absorptive cases. The adequate supplementation can be gotten with products of ionic-swap whey protein base without lactose, that take the most out of milk, breaking and filtering these proteins, resulting in high absorption, essential AA. The powder can be mixed in juices or water.

In the case of women in fertile phase, there’s an aggravation: the menstrual flow represents a chronic loss to the organism, especially of iron. Theoretically, the organism would have to be capable to counterbalance this loss, magnifying the iron absorption. As we know, this mineral is of difficult absorption, exactly with oral supplementation and what we frequently see, is bordering or low levels of ferritin, compromising the hair. Even when the iron reserves are enough to prevent anemia, this supply can be insufficient for the hair, which demands bigger levels of iron. What happens is as if the organism would give a priority to the hemoglobin production in detriment to the hair, what, biologically makes sense. This is one of the reasons that explain the variations in women’s hair cycle, with frequent effluvia, many times linked to lack of iron. This deficiency can aggravate another problem, the female pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia) or to limit the response of anti-androgynous. Recent studies show that female patients do not respond to the anti-androgynous with low levels of ferritin and must be corrected. Other studies show the importance of the biotin in the hair, as well as the benefit of its supplementation. Zinc, selenium and silicon have their importance. In my opinion, without an adequate and supplemented feed, the therapeutical response is limited.

Nothing substitutes good feeding. Some recommendations that can be useful:

1. The base of a healthful feed is vegetables, legumes, lots of fruit, integral cereals, soy and fish.
2. To drink: mineral water, coconut water, or juice fruit (avoid eating carbohydrates at night). Green-tea, ice-tea or black tea, which is better than coffee. It has anti-oxidant effect and improves the coronary function. Recent research has evidenced that one or two glasses of red wine per day also diminishes the incidence of coronary diseases.
3. The red meat, with high cholesterol must be replaced for fish or soy. The raw red meat can magnify the risk of prostate cancer. To eat fish means variety, trout, grouper, Haddock, salmon, fluke, Tilapia, cool tuna, cool cod, Mullet, etc. The salmon and the sardine are rich in Omega-3, important for the skin and the coronaries. Good fish is fresh and with natural seasoning.
4. Culinary Books: the secret of healthy food is the receipt. While a good burger beef alone is excellent, the fish must be prepared with a variety of ingredients and flavorful prescriptions. The Mediterranean culinary is pretty healthy.
   
5. Avoid animal fat because of its high cholesterol level. The vegetal fat does not contain cholesterol. It is very important to avoid at any cost the hydrogenated vegetal fat“ and the "maleficent trans fat " which hardens the sanguineous vases. It is found in margarine, ice cream, cookies and snacks.
6. The milk cream Substitutes for the soy cream. Run away from fried food, use extra-virgin olive oil.
7. Substitute candies for fruits, rich in vitamins.
8. Great part of vitamins is unnatural for the heat, therefore there’s another reason to eat a lot of fruit. Processed foods "natural type" are not valid. Consume integral cereals and only toasted ones, avoiding the “flakes”. Enrich the cereal with linseed, almonds and chestnut, rich in oligoelements.
9. For weight reduction the carbohydrate must be more ingested in the morning and a little in the lunch, avoiding it at supper.
10. Include a rich, light and varied salad menu in your daily diet. A season based on shoyu, lemon (or balsamic vinegar) and oil leaves are the most flavored one. Eat raw tomato which is good for the prostate.