Have you had friends telling you that they’re balding or experiencing hair loss? Or are you experiencing it yourself but you’re not entirely sure of what’s happening with your hair? Chances are that you’re experiencing early signs of balding, also known as alopecia.
Whether you have long or short hair, thin or thick hair, curly or straight hair, anyone can experience alopecia. It can start at any age as you enter adulthood. You might even start losing hair as early as your late teens and early 20s.
While hair loss doesn’t affect your health, it can sometimes indicate an underlying health condition. That said, hair loss can vary from person to person but generally, the older you get, the more likely you’ll see signs of balding.
Whatever the cause, hair loss can be a source of concern for people who experience it. Let’s discover more about androgenetic alopecia, the signs in men and women, and what you can do about it should you need a hair growth treatment in Singapore.
Androgenetic Alopecia
This is the most common type of hair loss that occurs in both men and women. Commonly referred to as male or female pattern baldness, androgenetic alopecia refers to hair loss on the temples or crown. The National Skin Centre suggests that it usually affects women later in life than men.
Signs of balding
That said, the sign of androgenetic alopecia varies between men and women along with the different methods used by medical professionals to diagnose patterns of balding. There are two well-known categorisations for hair loss – the Hamilton-Norwood classification system for men and the Ludwig classification system for women.
Signs of balding in men
The Hamilton-Norwood classification system is often used to measure the extent of male pattern baldness, which provides a reference point for clinicians to diagnose the extent of baldness, discuss treatment options, and measure the effectiveness of treatment.
Additionally, this system focuses on recognising several major patterns of visible hair loss:
- Temples – Hair starts thinning around the temples and at the top of the back of the head, known as the crown or vertex.
- Receding hairline – Hair starts thinning around the temples and moving back around the front of the head on the sides. This can occur any time after the end of puberty.
- Top of the head – Hair starts thinning on top of the head and gradually becomes visible over time.
Causes of balding in men
Male pattern baldness is generally caused by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. Also, the genes that you inherit from both your parents can determine your sensitivity to hormones called androgens, especially the one called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Every hair strand starts in a hair follicle and normally grows for two to six years before going into a resting phase and falling out. Once the follicle starts to grow new hair, the cycle starts again.
However, increased androgens in the hair follicles can lead to shorter hair cycles. DHT stimulates the process of miniaturisation, causing new hair to grow shorter and thinner. Eventually, the hair follicles become too small to produce new hair.
Signs of balding in women
Women can also experience hair loss or baldness. The Ludwig classification system separates female pattern baldness into three unique stages based on the severity of hair loss. It also helps clinicians to better understand the potential for additional hair loss in the future along with the best course of treatment.
This system focuses on recognising several major types of balding in women:
- Thinning on top – Hair starts thinning across the entire top of the head and not on the side.
- Widening of central part – The spacing between the hair on top of the head gradually increases causing a variation in the diameter and length of hair.
- Thinning across the whole head – This is the most common type of balding pattern in women.
Causes of balding in women
Like men, female pattern baldness is caused by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. If your parents or other close relatives experience hair loss, you’re more likely to have female pattern baldness.
It can also be caused by an underlying endocrine condition or a hormone-secreting tumour. If you experience other symptoms, such as irregular period, severe acne, or an increase in unwanted hair, best to consult a physician as soon as possible.
Treatment for balding in men and women
Once you experience hair loss or balding, it can be difficult to regrow the lost hair. However, there are several options to prevent further hair loss and slow down the thinning process.
Medication
There are two types of medication for hair loss – minoxidil and finasteride, that can be bought over the counter. They typically come in the form of foams or topical ointments. These medications are generally recommended to treat male pattern baldness.
Laser therapy
Laser combs are a newer form of hair loss treatment. They use light energy to stimulate hair growth. This treatment has mixed results and may work best when combined with other treatments.
Hair transplant
If you’re looking for a more permanent solution, a hair transplant could be the answer to your hair loss. During this procedure, your doctor will remove a thin strip of hair from one part of your scalp and implants it in an area where you’re missing hair. It then regrows like natural hair.
Aside from these treatments, Eeva’s Cell Bio-Signal Cytokine Nano-RF Hair Regrowth Treatment can also help you prevent further hair loss. It involves the use of Bio-Signalling Technology from Korea in synergy with Israeli transdermal technology that can help restore hair follicles at the cellular level. The in-clinic hair loss treatment can be enhanced by the home use of Eeva’s BioSignal Hair Growth Shampoo and PDRN Hair Growth Tonic.
With a collective experience of more than 40 years in the medical and aesthetic field, our doctors are always on the lookout for innovation, creative protocols in treating hair loss. Consult our doctors at Eeva Medical Aesthetic Clinic to know more about the available treatments.
