There are three: anagen effluvium, telogen effluvium and FPHL.

• Anagen effluvium: This is caused by medications that poison a growing hair follicle (like chemotherapy).

• Telogen effluvium: This is caused by an increased number of hair follicles reaching the telogen phase, which is the stage where hair falls out.

• Androgenetic alopecia/female pattern alopecia/female pattern hair loss (FPHL)/baldness: This type is the most common. Hair thins over the top of the head and on the sides.

Many people think that hair loss only affects men. However, it is estimated that more than 50% of women will experience noticeable hair loss. The most significant cause of hair loss in women is female-pattern hair loss (FPHL), which affects about one-third of susceptible women, which equals out to some 30 million women in the United States.

 Which women are likely to experience hair loss?

Any girl or woman can be affected by hair loss. However, it is usually more common in:

• Women older than 40.
• Women who have just had babies.
• Women who have had chemotherapy and those who have been affected by other medications.
• Women who often have hairstyles that pull on the hair (like tight ponytails or tight braids) or use harsh chemicals on their hair.
• Menopausal women.

• Hair style: Your style of hair can cause hair loss when your hair is arranged in ways that pull on your roots, like tight ponytails, braids, or corn rows. This type of hair loss is called traction alopecia. If hair follicles are damaged, the loss can be permanent.
• Vitamin deficiency.
• Dieting (rapid weight loss).
• Restrictive diets.
• Over processed scalp hair (breakage).

What causes anagen effluvium hair loss?

• Toxic substances, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and some medications. These cause sudden hair loss that can occur anywhere on your body. It happens to hair in the growth stage. Sometimes, this type of hair loss can be permanent if your hair follicles are damaged.

What causes telogen effluvium hair loss?

• Extreme physical stress or shock to your body: This causes temporary hair loss. This category includes events like losing a lot of weight, surgery, anaemia, illness and having a baby.
• Extreme emotional stress: mental illness, the death of a loved one, etc.
• An abnormal thyroid.
• Medications and supplements: blood pressure medicines, gout medicines and high doses of Vitamin A.
• Hormone changes caused by pregnancy, menopause or birth control pills.

What causes FPHL (Female Pattern Hair Loss)?

• Genes: Your family’s genes can cause thinning of hair along the top of your head.
• Aging: Hormone changes as you age can cause balding.
• Menopause: This type of hair loss often gets worse when oestrogen is lost during menopause

There are also some conditions that affect hair loss:

• Alopecia areata is an autoimmune skin disease that causes patchy hair loss on your head and possibly other places on your body. It’s usually not permanent.

During menopause, you might see one of two things happen with your hair. You might start growing hair where you didn’t before. Or, you might see the hair you have start to thin. One cause may be changing levels of hormones during menopause. Oestrogen  and progesterone levels fall, meaning that the effects of the androgens, male hormones, are increased.

During and after menopause, hair might become finer (thinner) because hair follicles shrink. Hair grows more slowly and falls out more easily in these cases.

At My Clinic Room will do a thorough examination and take a detailed history to help you deal with changes in hair growth. You may be directed to have your iron levels or thyroid hormone levels tested.

• Seeing more hair fall out daily either on your brush, on the floor, in showers, on your pillows, or in the sink.
• Seeing noticeable patches of thinner or missing hair, including a part on the top of your head that gets wider.
• Seeing scalp skin through hair
• Having smaller ponytails.
• Seeing hair break off.

While there are several modern treatments available for hair loss, acupuncture has been used for centuries to treat this condition through treating the root cause of the problem rather than just the symptoms. Hair loss is thought to be caused by a deficiency of Qi and blood in the scalp, which can lead to poor circulation and weakened hair follicles. Acupuncture aims to nourish the scalp and strengthen the hair follicles to promote hair growth. 

Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body, which are believed to stimulate the flow of Qi and blood. To treat hair loss, we often use a special acupuncture needle called plum blossom needle or dermal hammer. It is made up of several small, fine needles arranged in a circular pattern on a metal plate, which is attached to a handle. During the treatment, we use this needle to tap on specific points of the scalp to enhance the flow of Qi and blood to promote hair growth. 

Chinese medicine also emphasizes the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle for maintaining healthy hair. A diet rich in protein, iron, and vitamins is recommended to support healthy hair growth. Stress reduction techniques such as meditation and tai chi are also recommended, as stress can be a contributing factor to hair loss.

In conclusion, Chinese medicine Acupuncture offers a holistic approach to treating hair loss by addressing the underlying imbalances in the body that contribute to the condition. By using a combination of supplements, acupuncture, and lifestyle modifications, Chinese medicine can promote healthy hair growth and improve overall well-being.