Hair Loss
Causes of hair loss are 2 types: permanent “scarring” or “non-scarring” on the scalp.
Scarless Hair Loss
Telogen effluvium, androgenetic alopecia (male pattern shedding) and alopecia areata (ringworm) are among the causes of scarless hair loss.
Telogen Effluvium
It is a form of shedding observed with the transition of many hair follicles to the resting (telogen) phase in the growth (anagen) phase of the hair. It can be seen due to metabolic diseases (especially thyroid diseases), iron, vitamin (biotin) and mineral (zinc) deficiency, hormonal reasons, after medicine use (isotretinoin), post-pregnancy, trauma and stress.
Androgenetic Alopecia
It is also defined as male pattern hair loss. While its incidence increases with age in men, the incidence increases after menopause in women. As a result of genetic predisposition and increased hypersensitivity of hair follicles to androgen receptors at the tissue level, it occurs clinically with thinning of hair follicles, miniaturization and thinning of hair. It manifests itself as a thinning of the vertex (in the top region) and withdrawal in the frontal anterior hairline in male patients, and a widespread thinning and thinning in the form of a crown in female patients. Pinch-active hair loss is not observed in patients during examination.
Alopecia Areata (Ringworm)
It is observed as round hairless areas that start suddenly on the hair. Although it is often on the scalp, there may be hair loss in beard and other body areas (eyebrows, eyelashes, trunk, legs) where hair is observed. Alopecia areata is considered an autoimmune (triggered by the immune system) disease and may be associated with other autoimmune diseases. Therefore, it is important to evaluate patients in terms of type 1 diabetes, especially Hashimoto thyroiditis, and pernicious anemia. In the treatment of ringworm, besides the lotions containing cortisone, steroids and similar drugs that stimulate the hair follicle are injected intradermally into the skin.
Scarred Hair Loss:
Scarred hair loss is mainly seen in folliculitis decalvans, pelade, lichen pilanopilaris and some collagen tissue diseases.
It is important to determine the type of hair loss and to provide iron, zinc, hormone, vitamin and mineral support for the underlying disease (iron deficiency, thyroid disease, vitamin-mineral deficiency). In patients, keratin containing food supplements that support the hair follicle, treatments that trigger hair growth such as topical minoxidil, procapil, saw palmetto containing serum, lotion and shampoos should be added to the treatment. For a faster and more effective result, vitamin cocktails (B1, B2, B6, B12, panthenol), mesotherapy products containing dutasteride and minoxidil can be injected intradermally into the scalp, which directly target the hair follicle (nourish the hair follicle, increase blood supply, revitalize). PRP (platelet rich plasma-thrombocyte-enriched plasma) applications (4-6 sessions with 2-week intervals) applied in combination with mesotherapy give successful results in hair loss.