Hair is not only a genetic inheritance of our species. Whether it belongs to women or men, beautiful strands call attention in many cultures - including in Brazil. Therefore, any situation that causes the loss of hair can shake the self-esteem of any person. Baldness is one of these problems and, contrary to popular belief, it is not limited to men. According to RonaldoBorges, trichologist and specialist in hair transplantation and capillary medicine, says that women's hair is suffering more and more: "It is estimated that one third of women have some type of baldness, but today there is a series of medications and resources that help to delay the process," he explains.

See also: Care you should take with your hair before going to sleep

What is baldness?

Baldness, also called alopecia, is nothing more than the progressive loss of hair, definitive or not. At first, the loss of hair starts in a discrete way, and gradually evolves, generating flaws in the scalp. There are several types of baldness, which vary according to the cause, region, and other factors.

Types of baldness

Androgenetic Alopecia (AAG)

It is one of the most common types of baldness and is related to family history. in other words, if your father or mother have the condition, you will have a 50% predisposition. if both are bald, the probability increases to 75% the predisposition. "This loss occurs because of the concentration of the testosterone hormone, which also influences hair thinning and subsequent follicle atrophy," explains Borges. byIt can start even in adolescence and, little by little, the hair becomes less "full-bodied" and loses its strength until it falls off completely. See the signs that deserve attention:

• "Entrances" and top of the head apparent: Among women, the loss may be diffuse and less regional, although this is not the rule.
• Expansion of the scalp stripe: If the hair splits are more widely spaced, this indicates a significant hair loss.
• Reducing the volume of the ponytail: In addition, both men and women notice thinner and more brittle hair.
• More visible scalp: especially when wetting the hair.

Alopecia areata

A little different from AGA, alopecia areata causes hair loss in more concentrated areas. Besides the strands, alopecia areata can affect beards, legs, arms and other areas with hair. As a consequence, the skin is left with circular flaws, and usually the hair loss is related to stress. Thus, an emotionally stressful situation is capable of generating this effect in the body. InOn the other hand, the hair will grow back after a while.

Telogen Effluvium

You have probably heard it or even experienced it yourself: you have lost a lot of hair for no apparent reason. However, when you go to the doctor, you find out that the hair loss is due to hormonal changes, stress or lack of nutrients. In principle, these are the most common causes of telogen effluvium, whose diagnosis grew during the pandemic. After all, most people have faced some form of telogen effluvium.There are even several reports of patients who have lost their hair after contracting Covid-19. Despite the few studies linking infection with hair loss, many dermatologists have heard this complaint in their offices.

Scarring Alopecia

In this condition, hair is partially or completely lost after an injury or as a consequence of an autoimmune disease. For example, burns, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and contact with corrosive products are some causes of this type, which is irreversible, because the hair follicles close completely.

Total Alopecia

As the name suggests, it is total hair loss, the reasons for which can be autoimmune diseases, stress, and, again, genetic inheritance, so it can also be total androgenetic alopecia.

How to differentiate hair loss from other types of baldness?

Karine Cade, dermatologist at the Otavio Macedo & Associados clinic, states that there is a fine line in this differentiation: "In baldness, the hairs become thin and fall gradually. In hair loss [telogen effluvium] there is a sudden loss of hairs. A person loses from 50 to 100 hairs a day, which is not always perceptible because there is hair renewal. But when you notice this lossis because this process is not being effective," he explains.

Possible Causes

As you have seen, alopecia has varied reasons that need medical investigation, which stand out:

• Genetic predisposition, stress, and emotional changes.
• Hormonal dysfunctions and the use of anabolic steroids.
• Infections and autoimmune diseases.
• Aging, chemical processes, and vitamin deficiencies.

Diagnosis of baldness

It is not so simple to find out the type of baldness. For this reason, both specialists recommend a thorough evaluation of the strands, lab tests, and an analysis of the patient's history. All these aspects are important to prescribe the best treatment.

After all, can baldness be cured?

The answer is: it depends on the cause. AGA, the most common form of baldness among the population, has no cure, but it can be controlled: "In general, the treatment includes finasteride or dutasteride and minoxidil. Finasteride reduces the amount of the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone) in the organism. DHT, which comes from testosterone, acts on the hair follicles, causing them to atrophy. HowRecently, Anvisa released the use of dutasteride for the treatment of alopecia with better results, because it inhibits DHT by 90%, while minoxidil acts as a vasodilator and promotes increased circulation and nutrient supply, strengthening the hair strands," teaches Karine Cade.

Other treatment alternatives

Ronaldo Borges adds that AGA can be softened with complementary therapies to oral medications, such as mesotherapy, led therapy and micro-needling.Today, the most used technique is FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) or "strand by strand", which is minimally invasive, in which we remove each hair follicle from a donor site of the patient. Then, we transplant follicle by follicle to the recipient site. The result is extremely natural and with high density", concludes Borges.

How to keep hair healthy

• Invest in a balanced diet and avoid excessive alcohol and smoking.
• When you notice an abnormal drop, seek immediate help to find out why.
• Get regular check-ups to monitor your health.
• Use hair products recommended by your dermatologist.
• Finally, trim the ends of your hair every two to three months to keep it looking healthy and free of split ends.

Sources: Ronaldo Borges, anesthesiologist, trichologist, and hair transplant specialist; and Karine Cade, dermatologist at Clínica Otavio Macedo & Associates and member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD).