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Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy consists of administering drugs
that destroy rapidly producing cancer cells. Cancer cells are
some of the most rapid producing cells in the body. But other
cells, such as those that form the hair shaft and nails, are also
rapid producing. Unfortunately, while chemotherapy drugs destroy
cancer cells, they can also destroy those cells responsible for
normal hair and nail growth. Usually hair loss is rapid and in
large quantities during chemotherapy treatments.
Adequate hair growth may take six months to
a year after chemotherapy treatment is completed. At first hair
may be different in texture and color than originally, but in
time normal growth will return. As hair grows back, it should
be shampooed twice a week with mild shampoo. The scalp should
be massaged to remove any scaling. Avoid high heat from blow dryers
and other styling aids, and keep hairstyling to a minimum. Any
chemical treatments, including permanents and coloring, should
be avoided for at least a year after regrowth has started so that
the scalp has time to heal. Following some of these hair care
tips will ensure that the new hair looks and feels its best.
Telogen effluvium
Telogen effluvium is usually a temporary hair
loss when the hair follicles go into a resting state. Possible
causes of telogen effluvium are:
- Physical stress - surgery, illness, anemia,
or rapid weight change.
- Emotional stress - mental illness or death
of a family member, for example.
- Thyroid abnormalities.
- Medications - high doses of vitamin A,
blood pressure medications, gout medications.
- Hormonal causes - pregnancy, birth control
pills, or menopause.
Traction alopecia is the loss of hair caused
by physically stressing and putting tension on the hair. Certain
hairstyling including hair weaving and corn rows that were done
too tightly can cause this type of hair loss.
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Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata, a disease of the body that
causes hair loss, affects approximately two million Americans.
Alopecia areata causes patchy hair loss. Two other forms of this
disease are Alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis. Alopecia
totalis is the condition that causes the loss of hair over the
entire scalp; Alopecia universalis is when the condition of hair
loss spreads over the entire body, even including eyebrows and
eyelashes.
Although the causes of Alopecia areata are unknown,
there is evidence that it could be a breakdown of the immune system
resulting in what is called an autoimmune disorder. This is when
the immune system thinks that the hair follicle is a foreign body,
and attacks it. There is also the possibility that heredity plays
a factor, because studies have shown that for one out of five
people with alopecia areata, someone else in the family also had
it. Ongoing research will help to discover the causes of alopecia
areata, so that better treatments can be used.
Androgenetic alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is the modern medical
term for either male or female pattern baldness. Androgenetic
alopecia represents close to 95% of all hair loss. This type of
hair loss can be defined in two parts. First, andro- means to
consist of androgens which are various hormones that control the
appearance and development of masculine characteristics such as
testosterone. Second is genetics, or the inheritance of genes
from either the mother or father. Age added to genetics creates
a time clock that signals the hair follicle to produce an enzyme
named 5-alpha reductase. When testosterone is present in the follicle
and it combines with the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, it produces
DHT. DHT attacks the hair follicle, causing it to shrink, finally
causing the hair to fall out and not grow back.
Anagen effluvium
Anagen effluvium is the condition where hair
loss is caused by internally taking certain medicines that can
poison the hair follicle, keeping it from growing. One of the
most common medicines that causes this type of hair loss is chemotherapy
agents.
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