Age is not really important, what is important is the type of alopecia. Depending on the type of alopecia we face the presentation at one age or another. For example, common or androgenetic baldness (the most common) will depend on the genetic load of the individual.
This baldness can appear in young people, with an important genetic load or, most frequently, after the age of 40. Also in postmenopausal women, which is a frequent stage of alopecia, closely related to pregnancy, childbirth, surgery, a restrictive diet… And then there are other types of alopecia, such as alopecia areata, which appear in children or young adults.
What types of alopecia are there?
The most common alopecia is known as common baldness and is androgenetic alopecia. It appears mainly in men and depends on the genetic load, as indicated by its surname. It is also commonly seen in post-menopausal women.
Another type of alopecia is telogen effluvium, which occurs when there is some process in the metabolism that alters this balance. When there has been a childbirth, restrictive diet, iron deficiency anemia… these are cases that cause sudden and sudden hair loss.
The third type, less common, is autoimmune alopecia, such as alopecia areata. This is an autoimmune process of the organism in which the body’s defenses act against something of its own in the wrong way.
What are the main causes?
In androgenetic alopecia or common baldness, apart from genetic and hormonal causes, the process by which it occurs is called miniaturization of the follicles. In general it appears in the same area, the frontotemporal, which are the entrances. Also in the vertex area, which would be the crown of the head. What happens in these follicles is that slowly and due to the effect of the male hormone, dihydrotestosterone, the hard terminal hair we have in this area of the scalp is miniaturized, atrophying, becoming thinner and thinner until it atrophies and disappears.
In the case of telogen effluvium, what happens is that the metabolism is altered and more hairs fall out than normal during the hair loss phase. We all lose between 120 and 140 hairs per day and in case of effluvium many more would fall.
What treatments are available in each case?
The treatment of androgenetic alopecia is aimed at preventing this process of miniaturization of the follicles in the area. This begins with a topical treatment, with minoxidil, applied in solutions or foams, with a daily friction or massage.
Then 5 alpha reductase inhibitors are added, inhibitors of the effect of that dihydrotestosterone, which are oral treatments, finasteride or utrasteride, and they have to be taken for a prolonged period of time. In addition, there are some more current treatments that help a little more, added to the previous treatment, such as platelet-rich plasma.
For more information on the treatment of alopecia contact a specialist in Dermatology.