There are nearly 100 diseases that cause hair loss as a disease. The most common of these diseases are male pattern hair loss (MPH), female pattern hair loss (FPH) and hair loss we call telogen effluvium. The most common causes of hair loss are hormonal imbalance, thyroid disorder, unbalanced diet, use of various drugs and anemia.
Male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia)
The most common known hair loss disease is male pattern hair loss. Although it is called male pattern hair loss as a name, it is also frequently seen in women. There are 2 main factors that cause the disease. The first is the genetic basis. Similar spills can be seen in the family and first-degree relatives. The second main reason is hormonal. It is thought that the main cause of hormonal hair loss is the 5-Alpha Reductase enzyme, which converts the male hormone testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) shows its effect by binding to androgen receptors on hair follicles. DHT causes shortening of the life cycle of hair follicles. In each cycle repetition, the hair gets a little weaker, and as the process is repeated, weakening, thinning and shedding occur in the hair.
Hair development is genetically determined before birth. The reason for hair loss is the hypersensitivity of hair follicles to DHT. The higher the ratio of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to testosterone, the faster the hair loss process. As it is understood from this, male pattern hair loss is not related to the amount of male hormone, but to what level of DHT is produced.
In this disease, over time, the hair strands become thinner, their color becomes lighter, they become sparse, and eventually the hair follicle completely disappears. The father’s absence of hair does not mean that his child will also experience hair loss. Hair loss follows a condition that occurs by the accidental fusion of genes from both parents.
The hairy area on the nape between the two ears is defined as “permanent hair”. Since these hair follicles are not genetically sensitive to DHT, they do not shed for life. Even in the last stage of male pattern hair loss, hair loss on the nape and sides does not occur. Since the hair in this area is not sensitive to DHT hormone, they are not affected by the disease.
