Androgenetic Alopecia in Memorial Houston, TX
Androgenetic Alopecia in Memorial Houston, TX
Androgenetic Alopecia is also known as male or female pattern baldness. It is a common type of hair loss that affects people at birth. It is a progressive type of hair loss that happens slowly over time. The condition causes you to lose hair on your scalp and prevents hair from growing back.
The condition progresses through seven stages. The early stages usually start in most people in their 30s but may start in some people as early as their late teens.
Causes of Androgenetic Alopecia
Genetics
A major cause of Androgenetic Alopecia is genetics. The condition is hereditary. If your father or mother has Androgenetic Alopecia, you’re likely to have it. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), there’s a specific gene that causes hair follicles in certain places on the scalp to shrink.
The shrunken hair follicles produce thinner, smaller hair shafts (miniaturization). Over time, as more hair follicles are miniaturized, the hair continues to appear thinner and smaller, and the area the hair covers over the scalp decreases. Eventually, the hair follicles will stop growing hair, causing baldness.
Age
Aging can also cause Androgenetic Alopecia. As you grow older, your chances of developing. The condition’s early stages usually start in most people in their 30s but may start in some people as early as their late teens. As you grow older, your hair will continue to appear thinner and smaller and eventually stop, causing baldness.
Hormones
Certain hormones, such as Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an androgen, may play a role in the development of pattern baldness. According to medical experts and researchers, there might be a link between DHT and the shrinking of hair follicles.
Medical conditions
Medical conditions such as certain cancers, thyroid conditions, heart disease, and psoriasis can cause this condtions.
Symptoms of Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic Alopecia is a progressive condition. It progresses through seven stages. The symptoms start subtly in their early stages and become more dramatic later.
- Stage 1: Little or no hair loss. A slight hairline recession may be seen.
- Stage 2: Slight hair loss or hairline recession near the skin between your ears and forehead.
- Stage 3: Deep hairline recession around your temples. Your hairline may have an “M” or “U” shape as it loses hair.
- Stage 4: Very deep hairline recession and hair loss at the top of your head.
- Stage 5: Hairline recession meets the hair loss (bald spot) at the top of your head.
- Stage 6: Complete hair loss or thinning hair at your temples and the top of your head.
- Stage 7: Complete loss of hairline and hair loss at the top of your head. A thin band of hair that goes through the side and back of your head, forming a “U” shape.
Diagnosing Androgenetic Alopecia
Pattern baldness is easy to recognize. You don’t really need to meet a doctor to diagnose it. However, to be double sure about it, you can meet your doctor for a diagnosis.
During diagnosis, your doctor will conduct a physical exam of your scalp and hair. You will be asked questions about your medical history, family history of Alopecia when you started noticing hair loss, and your hair care routine.
A special tool called a densitometer may be used to examine your scalp to measure the thickness of your hair follicles.
Some tests may be conducted to check for infection and the severity of the condition. These tests include:
Blood test
Blood tests may be conducted to help discover any underlying medical conditions that can cause hair loss.
Pull test
This test helps determine the stage of your hair loss. During the test, your doctor will gently pull several dozen of hairs on your head to see how many actually pull out.
Scalp biopsy
This test helps to determine if an infection is the cause of your hair loss. Samples of hair are pulled out from your scalp.
The hair roots are examined under a microscope to check for infection. A scalp biopsy may also be taken to check for skin disease or infection.
Treatment Androgenetic Alopecia in Memorial Houston, TX
Medications
Certain over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as minoxidil (Rogaine), are usually early treatments for Androgenetic Alopecia in Houston, TX. This medication helps to induce hair growth and also slows the rate of hair loss. Minoxidil should be applied to the scalp once daily for women and twice daily for men.
It could take at least six months for you to start seeing results. You should continue using the product if you notice hair growth to retain its benefits.
A prescription oral medication known as finasteride (Propecia) can also be used to treat this condition. This medication prevents the formation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) formation in the scalp, slowing the progression of hair loss caused by DHT and causing hair growth.
It may take a few months for you to start seeing the effect. If you notice hair growth, you need to continue taking the medication to retain any benefits. Stopping the medication can reverse the effects. These medications have side effects that should be taken into consideration before use.
Hair transplant
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure for the treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia. During the procedure, skin grafts that contain healthy hair are harvested from a part of the head that has hair and implanted in areas of your scalp with balding or thinning hair.
Hair may also be removed from areas of your head with hair and implanted into areas of your head without hair. This is a surgical procedure that can cause side effects and complications. The procedure is also expensive and not accessible to most people.
PRP for Androgenetic Alopecia
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is the most effective and cost-effective treatment option for Androgenetic Alopecia.
The procedure involves taking a blood sample from your body and extracting PRP from it. The PRP is then administered to your scalp to stimulate hair growth.
PRP for the treatment of pattern baldness is an effective treatment that stimulates the growth of new healthy cells and tissue in the scalp and hair follicles, which facilitate hair growth. PRP contains growth factors and proteins that trigger tissue growth and repair.
These growth factors and natural proteins repair the scalp’s damaged tissue and rejuvenate the scalp, improving its health and function to allow hair growth.
Effectiveness of PRP for Androgenetic Alopecia
Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Androgenetic Alopecia
PRP contains growth factors and proteins that stimulate the growth of healthy cells and tissue in the scalp and hair follicles, encouraging hair growth. PRP also facilitates the repair of damaged tissue in the scalp to encourage hair growth.
It triggers the body’s own cell repair response, improving the health and function of the scalp and hair follicles to encourage healthy hair growth.
Substantial evidence from various studies suggests that PRP for hair growth and thickness in people with androgenic alopecia. It has become a popular treatment in aesthetic surgery and dermatology, though more research is still required to conclusively prove the effectiveness of the treatment.
The results from most studies indicate that PRP therapy is significantly more effective for the treatment of pattern baldness than most other treatments, including minoxidil.
Can androgenetic alopecia be cured?
There is no known cure for this, but treatments such as PRP can help stimulate hair growth in areas of the scalp with no hair or thinning hair. Periodic maintenance treatments are usually required to ensure the sustainability of the results.
Can androgenic alopecia regrow hair?
Androgenic alopecia is a progressive condition that becomes worse over time if not treated. You may lose a significant part of the hair on your head if the condition is not treated.
There are different treatments for androgenetic alopecia that can help your hair grow back. Effective treatments such as PRP can help facilitate hair growth in people with androgenic alopecia.
What is the main cause of androgenetic alopecia?
What is the leading cause of androgenetic alopecia?
The main cause of androgenetic alopecia is genetics, a hereditary condition that happens with aging. A family history of balding from either your father’s lineage or your mother’s lineage can increase your risk of developing the condition. You’re very likely to develop alopecia if your father has it.
What is the stage of androgenetic alopecia?
There are seven stages of androgenetic alopecia.
- Stage 1: Little or no hair loss. A slight hairline recession may be seen.
- Stage 2: Slight hair loss or hairline recession near the skin between your ears and forehead.
- Stage 3: Deep hairline recession around your temples. Your hairline may have an “M” or “U” shape as it continues to lose hair.
- Stage 4: Very deep hairline recession and hair loss at the top of your head.
- Stage 5: Hairline recession meets the hair loss (bald spot) at the top of your head.
- Stage 6: Complete hair loss or thinning hair at your temples and at the top of your head.
- Stage 7: Complete loss of hairline and hair loss at the top of your head. A thin band of hair that goes through the side and back of your head, forming a “U” shape.
Who is most likely to get androgenetic alopecia?
Androgenetic alopecia progresses with age but can start as early as the teenage years. The risk of developing pattern baldness increases with age. More than 50 % of men who are over the age of 50 have varying degrees of hair loss. Hair loss most likely occurs in women during or after menopause.
