Diffuse hair loss – uniform loss

Diffuse hair loss is a type of alopecia in which hair is rolled evenly; this distinguishes it from the more common types of this violation, in which hair is most noticeable Teens in some areas of the scalp.

Diffuse alopecia occurs in both sexes, but most often it is diagnosed in women. This disorder can develop in humans at any age, although it is the most common among people of middle and old age.

Usually, people first, notice that on the pillow in the morning remains unusually a lot of hair. During combing and shampooing also begins to lose more hair. Usually women show symptoms of diffuse alopecia and go to the doctor earlier than men, which is not surprising, because women this disease causes especially severe discomfort. However, it is important that both women and men, noting that they began large quantities of hair to fall out as soon as possible was sought medical assistance – in some cases, hair loss is a sign of the emergence of serious health problems.

The normal life cycle of hair

The life cycle of a hair is divided into three phases, and each follicle throughout his life goes from ten to thirty of these phases. Diffuse hair loss is a result of a breach of any of these phases: during which hair (the period of active hair growth), catagen (transitional stage) or telogen (resting stage). The anagen phase lasts from two to eight years, catagen lasts from four to six weeks, and telogen between two to three months. Drop dead hair, which coincides with the end of telogen, sometimes referred to as phase aksogan.

In the normal life cycles of the hair begin and end at different times, so the total number of hairs on a human head remains approximately the same.

Most people head of hair consists of about 100000 hairs, and 15% of them are in the telogen phase. At 100-150 hairs per day, this phase is completed, and they naturally fall, so discover on your hairbrush or a certain amount of hair every day is normal. But the loss of hair in the anagen phase, under any circumstances, is not the norm.

The most common type of diffuse alopecia is loss of hair in the resting phase (this violation is sometimes referred to as telogen effluvium). In patients with this alopecia, anagen prematurely ends and hair are in the telogen phase. In some cases, however, possible hair loss, which are in anagen phase.

Types of diffuse hair loss and their causes

Loss of hair in the resting phase or telogen alopecia. This alopecia can be acute (lasting less than six months), chronic (lasting more than six months) or recurrent. If the trigger factor that caused hair loss – affected person short, alopecia is usually acute, but passes quickly. If the trigger effect for a long time in a row, or if it affects the patient in certain periods, develop chronic or recurrent form of the disease.

Triggers diffuse alopecia in the telogen phase can be:

• Physiological stress, such as severe trauma, surgery, fever, chronic systemic disease, bleeding. The results of observation of many patients say that if these factors cause diffuse alopecia, its symptoms appear within two to three months after the person was first affected by the trigger. Sometimes diffuse alopecia begins in women two to four months after birth;


• Emotional stress. To establish a link between stress and diffuse hair loss is difficult. In itself, the flowing hair is a source of stress, and by the time the patient goes to the doctor, it may be difficult to determine what is cause and what is effect. Written evidence that severe stress can cause hair loss, you can find both old and modern sources. However, evidence in favor of a direct connection between stress and alopecia inconclusive. Most experts believe it is unlikely that everyday stress can have such consequences, but it is possible that a strong emotional shock some people really can cause alopecia;


• Certain diseases can cause diffuse hair loss. Among them – hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism (usually alopecia caused by these violations, reversible hair begin to grow normally after the level of thyroid hormones stabilized), amyloidosis, liver failure, chronic renal failure, inflammatory bowel disease. There are cases when telagana alopecia developed in people suffering from various autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis, as well as chronic infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus and secondary syphilis. Some skin diseases, for example, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and contact dermatitis can also cause diffuse hair loss in telogen phase;


• Deficiency of vitamins or minerals can sometimes cause diffuse hair loss. Causes of alopecia can be a lack of iron, zinc, vitamin D-this vitamin is essential for normal growth of cells), protein, fatty acids, substantially limiting the number of calories consumed. In rare cases, alopecia causes lack of Biotin. Diffuse hair loss caused by these reasons, there has been people living in poor regions and unable to eat normally, and those who for a long time adheres to strict diets. The reasons for the deficit of nutrients can also be malabsorption syndrome and some diseases of the pancreas;


• Medications can be a cause of hair loss, which begins, on average, twelve weeks after the start of treatment, and continues until graduation. During a visit to the doctor about diffuse alopecia should tell him about all the medications you are taking, including non-prescription drugs – some of them can also cause hair loss. Most often, however, causes diffuse alopecia become drugs that are sold by prescription, for example, combined oral contraceptives, androgenic drugs, retinoids, beta blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, anti-convulsants, antidepressants, anticoagulants, such as heparin and warfarin.

When diffuse telogen alopecia, regardless of what it was called, the person falls, on average, 25% more hair than usual. The resumption of normal hair growth is noticeable only in 4-6 months after eliminating trigger alopecia.

Diffuse loss of hair in anagen phase is usually more pronounced than telogen alopecia. This violation may result in loss of up to 80% of hair in a relatively short period of time. Appears this alopecia is also very fast – hair begins to fall out after a few days or weeks after exposure to the trigger. After elimination of the reasons of such alopecia hair growth resumes in a few weeks since the elimination of its causes.

The most common and well-known trigger anagen alopecia is chemotherapy. Most patients hair loss begins 1-2 weeks after the start of chemotherapy, and is most noticeable after one or two months. Can hair fall not only on the head, and other parts of the body, including eyebrows and eyelashes. Other triggers of this type of alopecia can be: the effects of radiation (it can also cause telogen alopecia or complete baldness), poisoning by heavy metals and boric acid.

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