Four Reasons Why Your Hair Could Be Losing

Today we will close our discussion of hair loss in women with a few more causes.

Traction Alopecia is hair loss from excessive pulling at the hair roots over a prolonged period of time.  The loss occurs where the hair is pulled in one direction, for example, by a ponytail or a cornrow pattern of braids.  The treatment is usually just discontinuing the particular hairstyles, and in time, the problem resolves.

Tinea Capitis is caused by a fungal infection of the hair shaft.  It is most common in children.  However, it can be found in immunocompromised adults such as AIDS patients and patients receiving chemotherapy.  The presentation is usually a round patch of hair loss associated with pruritis and scaling.  The diagnosis is made with cultures and the examination of scrapings along the border of the lesion.  The usual treatment is oral antifungals.

Trichotillomania is classified as an impulse control disorder.  It involves compulsive and repetitive pulling or plucking of the hair, which leads to noticeable hair loss.  Patients have described feeling tension before pulling out the hair, and the tension is relieved after the hair is pulled out.  This condition is usually managed by a trained mental health professional.

Anagen Effluvium involves an acute loss of scalp and body hair when the growth phase of hair is disrupted.  This occurs mostly with patients on chemotherapy.  Because 80 to 90% of hair is in the growth phase, this hair loss is dramatic and diffuse.  The loss usually begins 1-3 weeks after the chemotherapy is started, and the hair returns 3-6 months after the treatment is finished.  The initial hair that returns may differ from the patient’s usual hair, but these changes are mostly temporary.  Permanent hair loss from this condition is usually rare.

I hope this information on hair loss in women has been enlightening and helpful.

-Dr. P

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