HEREDITARY HAIR LOSS
NOT ALWAYS GENETIC
by Tony Pearce RN.
Specialist Trichologist, National Trichology
Services
As a Trichologist* specialising in
female hair loss, I have treated thousands of women
across the world for thinning scalp hair.
The trends I’ve observed in many women has led me to
believe – despite prevailing medical opinion – there
are two forms of so-called "genetic" thinning
in women (female androgenetic alopecia). One is
manageable but not presently curable, whilst the
other may potentially be abolished.
It’s long been known that female patterned hair loss
is a similar but clinically separate condition from
that of male genetic balding. The hormonal
conversion up to the most potent male hormone
dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which has a miniaturising
affect on the hair follicles across the top of the
scalp, is different in males and females. So too the
progression of the problem; androgen-sensitive (male
hormones are termed androgens) hair follicles
in women are randomly affected, thus
thinning of the scalp hair occurs rather than
complete baldness. Unlike males, afflicted women
generally retain their frontal hairline margin as
well.
True genetically inherited female androgenetic
alopecia is an autosomal recessive hereditary trait
affecting numbers of women within an extended
family. The woman will recount a family history of
her mother, grandmother/s, sisters, aunts or female
cousins with a comparable thinning hair problem.
These women tend to exhibit the condition after
puberty or in their early twenties, particularly
following childbirth. Other than low iron levels or
poor dietary habits, they tend not to have
any associated issues to their androgenetic
alopecia.
The majority of women presenting with patterned hair
thinning show (in my opinion), an acquired patterned
alopecia due to the cascading affects of disordered
hormonal pathways, frequently originating from
problems such as oestrogen dominance, insulin
resistance, or ‘leaky gut’ syndrome.
These women are 35 years + (but can be younger);
mostly around or early post-menopausal and relating
a common history of menstrual difficulties,
pre-menstrual mood disorders, weight gain,
diminished libido, sleep disturbance or headaches.
Their salivary hormone profiles (SHP) will be in
imbalance - usually ‘oestrogen dominant relative to
progesterone – even when the oestradiol level itself
is low.
In the very complex way the body’s hormones
influence each other, oestrogen dominance in women
results in sub-optimal thyroid function. The adrenal
glands respond to this by increasing testosterone
output, with ensuing loss of scalp hair in an
androgenetic pattern.
Amplified facial/body hair (hirsuitism) often
accompanies patterned alopecia because follicles
across the top of the scalp are androgen
sensitive – causing follicle miniaturisation and
hair shaft thinning (vellus hairs), whilst
facial/body hair is male hormone (androgen)
dependant – leading to increased growth.
Finally, stress as a cause for hair loss is often
prematurely diagnosed by some practitioners, who are
either unsure of what to look for or what to ask.
Nevertheless severe or protracted stress from
emotional, physical, chemical, or dietary causes can
wreak havoc on many of the body’s vital hormones.
Adrenal gland production of cortisol is raised in
times of acute stress. When this is prolonged,
excess cortisol affects production of the hormones
themselves and their target tissue sensitivity.
Hormones that regulate ovarian/testicular function (gonadatrophins)
in the respective sexes are decreased, resulting in
lowered oestrogen and testosterone levels.
The pituitary gland’s production
of growth and thyroid stimulating hormones are
blocked by the indirect influences of excess
cortisol, diminishing and disordering the conversion
of the thyroid hormones from inactive to active.
Successfully treating women for
hair loss problems requires careful review of their
medical, nutritional, hormonal and lifestyle history
undertaken in an organised and sequential way. Some
specific baseline blood and SHP pathology (where
appropriate) should be undertaken before
deciding on a treatment regime. This will provide a
clearer representation of what other areas are
influencing the primary problem, and treating the
cause of the condition rather than just the
symptoms can then be undertaken.
*References for this article
available on request.
*A qualified Trichologist has studied and
successfully completed a recognised Trichology
Educational Program.
About the Author: Tony Pearce is a Specialist
Trichologist and Registered Nurse. He is a founding
member of the Society for Progressive Trichology and
the official lecturer for Analytical Reference
Laboratory (ARL) for hair loss and hormone imbalance.
In Australia he can be contacted on +61 2 9542 2700,
or through his website at
www.hairlossclinic.com.au.
Copyright Anthony Pearce
Copyright
Anthony Pearce 2005. *References for this article
available on request
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