Inflammation and Androgenetic Alopecia
This is a controversial topic amoung doctors and hair loss experts. While there are known inflammatory alopecias, it is not clear whether inflammation plays any significant role in pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). Enough studies exist that prove DHT is the primary instigator or initiator of androgenetic alopecia, but it is not clear whether an underlying inflammation of the follicles or skin surrounding the follicles is involved. And if this is the case, it is not clear the extent to which such supposed inflammation plays a role.
Now, for what it's worth, although I am NOT a doctor, my own personal experience suggests that inflammation is playing a role in my own hair loss. I have been to a top dermatologist specializing in hair loss here in Vancouver, and he has diagnosed that I have male pattern baldness, which as we all know is supposedly caused by DHT. At the same time, I have noticed that in the areas of my crown and my temples, the skin is always a bit irritated and itchy. This is clearly a form of inflammation. I also have a mild seborrheic dermatitis (a form of inflammation) of the scalp. I believe that this inflammation is at the very least detrimental to the condition of my hair by way of speeding up the hair loss. DHT is responsible for the miniaturization of the follicles that takes place over successive hair growth and loss cycles, but in those areas where I inflammation I also seem to be losing hair. In my opinion (and it is an OPINION) the inflammation is at least partially responsible.
This is why I believe that it is important to use topicals that don't cause or aggravate the skin or the follicles too much. If you experience an allergic reaction to a particular treatment you should reduce the amount of the treatment that you use until this reaction goes away, or stop using the treatment altogether. You should also do your utmost to keep inflammation under control -- minimizing it as much as possible. Emu oil used in small amounts has been useful for this purpose in my own case. For more on anti-inflammatory treatments that may be of benefit, check out the Hair Loss Treatments section of this site.
Click here to return to Editor's Corner main page.
|
