Baldness – Types & Causes

HAIR DENSITY

Hair density is the number of growing hairs in the scalp within the area of one square centimeter. The density of hair differs from person to person. There are many factors influencing the higher or lower density of hair. The number of Hairs on the head also varies depending upon race and hair color. 

• Blondes have around 140,000 scalp hairs.
• Black haired individuals have around 110,000 scalp hairs.
• Brunettes (golden hair) have around 100,000 scalp hairs.
• Redheads (red and brownish) have around 80,000 scalp hairs.
• Asians have around 80,000 to 140,000 scalp hairs.

On an average, a healthy Indian male has 40 to 80 hairs per square centimeter. Any person with 60 hairs per square centimeter in front and crown area is considered as “a person with high-density hair”. But even 40 hairs per square centimeter in the front and on the crowned area give the appearance of a natural growth, without visibility of the scalp.

Hair density below the figure of 40 hairs per square centimeter opens the phase of hair thinning. This needs immediate medication and hair loss treatments such as PRP, Mesotherapy etc. Progressive thinning ultimately leads to baldness.

Once a person attains baldness, which means zero hair density in the bald region, then he is left with no other option except for hair transplant, where his healthy hairs from the back of the scalp are transplanted into the bald area. When a person prefers to undergo a hair transplant procedure by investing his time, efforts and money, then in return, he certainly expects to regain his aesthetic look, with natural hair density as before. He would like to revive his dense hair in the bald area so that his bald scalp is not visible. Hundreds of hair transplant centers are available everywhere, but the million-dollar question is, how to choose and select a hair transplant centre which can deliver the best result at an affordable price.

A good hair transplant center may give a hair density of 30 to 40 hairs per square centimeter. Whereas, at Medispa Hair Transplant Centre, hair density is far above 40 hair follicles square centimeter. It is the result of the professional expertise of Dr. Suneet Soni and his modernized setup, that on an average, 20 to 25 grafts, which means, 50 to 60 hair follicles are transplanted into the bald area of the head.  Results of a dense pack of transplanted hair are evident in pictures of happy patients of Medispa.

Baldness

The medical term for baldness is Alopecia. The word alopecia has been derived from a Greek word “Alopex” for “fox”. The way a fox suffering from mange, a skin disease, loses its hair, similarly the loss of hair in men resulting in baldness is termed as alopecia.  There are several types of baldness, each with a different cause. Baldness is mostly confined to the front, but it may also spread to the crown and the vertex region of the head. Baldness or alopecia, in men, is termed as male pattern baldness and women as female pattern baldness. Both patterns are different by virtue of types and grades. Medically, alopecia has been divided into the following types-

1. Androgenic Alopecia: It is caused due to the continuous effect of androgen on the hair follicles. Here, hairline from the temples starts receding eventually. Over a period of time, it leads to partial or complete baldness.
2. Involution Alopecia: It is a natural condition, where hair in men steadily thins with growing age. Here, hair follicles transform into the resting phase and eventually become shorter and less in number.
3. Alopecia Areata: It is also called spot baldness. It happens due to autoimmune diseases. Here, circular bald spots, almost the size of a coin, erupt in the scalp and the body. If not treated, this may lead to complete baldness.
4. Alopecia Universalism: It is believed that as the result of autoimmune diseases, quite unlike other types of alopecia, the hair from all over the body including eyebrows and eyelashes, fall out.
5. Trichotillomania: It is a type of impulse control disorder. A trichotillomania patient suffers from an irresistible urge to pull out his own hair, especially from scalp, eyebrows and
6. Telogen Effluvium: It is the second most common form of alopecia. It appears as thinning of hair on the scalp, which may not be even all over. It can be severe in some of the areas of the scalp as compared to others. Generally, it is more on the top of the scalp. People suffering from Telogen Effluvium do not turn totally bald, but hair thinning is quite noticeable.

Scarring Alopecia:  It is a type of hair loss that leaves a scar behind. This scar destroys the ability of the hair to regenerate from the affected area.