Causes of hair loss, diagnosis, treatment options

Hair loss can be a problem affecting both sexes equally. Hair is one of the most important elements of a person's appearance - whether we are talking about men or women. Hair greatly determines the character of the face, and a carefully chosen, well-groomed hairstyle makes a person more appealing, and thereby more confident. It is no wonder that when our hair starts to fall out, a feeling of panic takes hold of us, since we all want to preserve our healthy appearance, which also depends on the proper condition of our hair. However, solutions exist for hair loss, whether it is hair transplantation or other regenerative therapies. It is also an important consideration to choose the right specialist before deciding on any solution.

Causes of hair loss

The most common cause of hair loss, thinning, and baldness is genetic - that is, an inherited predisposition to male- or female-pattern hair loss. The combined effect of related lifestyle and nutritional factors is also not negligible, but hair loss can also be a complex result of several conditions occurring together. Hair loss can also be a symptom of a short-term event, after which the hair grows back. Examples include stress, pregnancy, or a side effect of certain medication.

Various hormones, medications and illnesses can, on their own, alter the growth and condition of the hair and cause hair loss. Once the causes are identified and treated, the hair returns to its normal growth and shedding cycle. The cause of hair loss can be quite simple, such as an inflammatory focus, or an allergen - a drug ingredient.

In addition, there are some ingrained habits of ours that also lead to hair thinning, so we've put together 9 bad habits that are harmful to your hair.

When Should We Worry About Our Hair Loss? - Causes, Explanations

Losing 100-150 hairs a day can be considered completely normal; this is the natural turnover of hair. So as long as the follicular units, i.e. the hair groups, are healthy and intact, there is no reason for concern. However, if average daily hair loss exceeds 150 strands, there is usually some underlying problem that needs to be addressed.

Hair loss can be a temporary or a long-lasting process. Temporary hair loss is easy to treat if we recognize the causes in time.

Hair loss beyond the normal rate indicates that some abnormal process is taking place in the body. The cause of hair loss can be a hormonal imbalance, illness, or an external factor, such as medication or poisoning.

What causes can be behind hair loss?

1. Vitamin and mineral deficiency: a lack of vitamins and minerals essential to our body is often closely linked to hair loss. Replenishing these vitamins and minerals is essential in order to stop the process. Typically, a deficiency of vitamin B, iron and zinc, as well as biotin, causes increased hair loss.

2. Illnesses: hair loss is often a sign of some illness or inflammation affecting the body. Thyroid problems also frequently come with hair loss. It is worth having a blood test done if you experience increased hair loss.

3. COVID: in addition to the previous point, hair loss caused by the coronavirus deserves special mention. Temporary hair loss often develops after febrile illnesses, which is a completely normal phenomenon. With COVID, however, it has been observed that in some cases the problem does not appear immediately. As a result of intense hair loss appearing even months after the illness, a greater than average amount of hair loss can occur.

3. Stress: stress is one of the body's main enemies, predisposing us to various illnesses, but unfortunately it can also produce a number of unwanted symptoms. One of these is hair loss. If you experience increased hair loss during a stressful period of life, it is worth paying attention to reducing stress, because hair loss may ease as your life becomes more balanced.

4. Hormones: in women, the amount of estrogen and progesterone hormones in the body is closely linked to the condition of their hair. During pregnancy, hair tends to become stronger, while after pregnancy and at the onset of menopause, weakening and hair loss may occur. In men predisposed to androgenetic alopecia (male-pattern baldness), externally administered testosterone can significantly contribute to accelerating the hair loss process.

5. Inadequate nutrition: a nutrient-rich diet is essential for maintaining healthy hair. Certain dietary restrictions, such as a vegan diet, can increase the risk of hair loss if they do not provide adequate amounts of iron, protein and other essential nutrients. 

6. Seasonal hair loss: this may surprise many, and it's perhaps the last thing that comes to mind when trying to uncover the cause of their hair loss. Yet changes in the seasons can also play a role in the problem's emergence. In summer, intense heat, increased sweating and frequent hair washing can damage sensitive scalp skin.

7. Medication side effects: increased hair loss can occur as a side effect of certain medications. This is often only temporary, and hair loss decreases once the medication is stopped.

8. Hereditary factors: hereditary predisposition is also a common cause of hair loss, but other factors can also contribute to increased hair loss.

In summary: hair loss beyond the normal rate indicates that some abnormal process is taking place in the body. Behind hair loss there can be hormonal imbalance, illness, external factors - for example medications, poisoning - or stress. We recommend not only treating the symptoms, but also trying to uncover the underlying cause of the hair loss, so that you can preserve the health of your hair in the long term.

What treatment options are there?

The causes of certain types of hair loss, including the by far most common hormonal, androgenic baldness, are already partly known. That is why there are preparations with extracts proven in clinical trials that treat the actual causes of hair loss, but none of them provides a complete solution, and their effect can vary from person to person.

In general, it can be said that the topical hair tonics, shampoos, vitamins, and oral supplements available at our clinic, as well as regenerative therapies such as I-PRF therapy, mainly slow down or stop hair loss, for both sexes. The therapies we recommend are also suitable for partial hair restoration, but for the more extensive hair loss caused mainly by androgenetic baldness, only a properly performed hair transplant currently provides a real, natural result.

Regenerative therapies

Rigenera Activa - the power of your own cells 

Rigenera Activa is a revolutionary treatment that uses autologous micrografts to stimulate hair growth. During this minimally invasive procedure, micrografts are taken from the patient's scalp, usually from a healthy, hair-bearing area. These micrografts are then processed to isolate the progenitor cells, which are injected into the balding or thinning areas.

Rigenera activa

I-PRF Treatment - Platelet-Rich Fibrin for Hair Growth

I-PRF (Injectable Platelet Rich Fibrin) is another exciting development in regenerative hair loss therapy. A small amount of blood is taken from the patient and then processed to concentrate the platelets and fibrin. This platelet-rich fibrin is injected into the scalp to stimulate hair growth.

I-PRF therapy

Dermapen Treatment - Microneedling Technique

Dermapen, a type of microneedling device, is becoming increasingly popular due to its effectiveness in treating hair loss. The device creates tiny punctures in the scalp, which trigger the body's natural wound-healing process. This process stimulates the production of collagen and other growth factors, which can renew the hair follicles and promote new hair growth.

Dermapen treatment

Combining treatments for optimal results

Although these therapies offer unique benefits, combining treatments can often produce the best results. For example, pairing Rigenera Activa or I-PRF with Dermapen can enhance the effectiveness of both treatments, as the microneedling treatment can improve the absorption and effect of the administered growth factors. Similarly, using minoxidil together with these regenerative therapies can help maintain and boost the newly stimulated hair growth.

Hair transplant

Androgenic hair loss, i.e. hair loss based on sex hormones - commonly known as male pattern baldness - is responsible for 90-95% of hair loss in men. Within the Hungarian population, this affects around 40% of men at age 35, while for men in their early fifties this figure is already 55%. Male pattern baldness is a normal part of ageing and is not harmful to health, so it does not necessarily require treatment. However, for many young people, the onset of hair loss and balding causes serious psychological and mental difficulties, leading to anxiety and a lack of self-confidence.

The hair follicles of those affected are sensitive to a particular sex hormone, dihydrotestosterone - DHT. Because of the presence of this hormone, the hair follicles go through miniaturization, meaning they shrink. This shortens the cycle of the hair follicles, and as a result the hair strand as well.

The result of this is that the follicular units that grow terminal hair begin to produce vellus hair, or baby hair. In the final stage, these hair follicles no longer produce normal hair at all.

AGA (androgenetic alopecia) is characterized by the typical recession of the hairline - according to the Norwood scale - along with a parallel thinning of the scalp. The end result of this process - which also depends on the individual's hormonal sensitivity - is often just a horseshoe-shaped area of hair near the back of the head and neck, where the hair, however, remains.

Why does hair from this area never fall out?

Hair never falls out from this horseshoe-shaped area because the hairs found here are resistant to the effects of DHT. It is exactly this genetic characteristic that we take advantage of during hair transplantation.

Female hair loss

About 80-85% of hair loss in women is hormonal in origin. Events affecting the hormonal balance, such as ovarian tumors, taking contraceptives containing male hormones, pregnancy, menopause, or temporary hormonal changes, cause the condition. In the remaining 15-20% of women suffering from hair loss, stress, inflammatory or immune-based causes are behind it.

As in men, in women with female-pattern androgenic (sex hormone-based) hair loss, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is responsible for the miniaturization and atrophy of the hair follicles. Most women do not go bald, but instead experience what is known as diffuse hair loss across the whole head. So hair loss affects the entire crown area in women, but a completely hairless area is relatively rare; thinning occurs everywhere. This is caused by androgens (male hormones), even though they are present in only small amounts in the female body.