One of the many causes of hair loss in women is hormonal changes. These sorts of changes can occur in the body following a pregnancy, due to problems with the thyroid gland and before the menopause.

According to research, up to 13 per cent of women approaching the menopause have experienced hair loss. This kind of hair loss is called androgenic alopecia, a condition which some people have a genetic predisposition to.

Androgenic alopecia affects around 50 per cent of men over the age of 40, causing a condition known as male pattern baldness. It affects nearly the same amount of women over the age of 40, and as many as 75 per cent of women over the age of 65 are affected.

With this condition, hair loss is caused by increased levels of the androgen known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Testosterone, a male hormone that both men and women have, is converted to DHT in a hormonal process aided by an enzyme stored in the hair follicle’s oil glands, Type II 5-alpha reductase.

DHT is known to shrink hair follicles, interrupting the growth cycle and causing hair loss. Women only have a fraction of the testosterone that men have, but this is enough to cause hair loss in menopausal women.

Lichen planopilaris is a type of scarring (cicatricial) alopecia that causes hair loss and inflammation. It is a follicular form of lichen planus, a common yet chronic mucocutaneous disease which affects hairier areas of the body.

Cause

The cause of the condition is believed to be auto-immune like alopecia areata, although there is also a link between lichen planopilaris and certain drugs. Exposure or allergic reaction to certain types of chemical or drug can cause what is known as “lichenoid” reactions weeks or even years after contact, although the cause of these reactions is not yet known.

The condition is known to affect middle-aged adults, appearing as distinct patches of hair loss, scarring and inflammation surrounding hair follicles. In some cases, hair loss can be permanent.

Other symptoms include reddish purple – or occasionally, white and shiny – papules (small, elevated areas) on the skin. These papules are generally uneven in shape and can often be very itchy for the sufferer.

Treatment

Known treatments for cases of lichen planopilaris include oral steroids, Plaquenil, Accutane and topical steroid liquids.

If you suspect you, or a family member, has the condition, you should see your doctor immediately for a formal diagnosis.

Hair loss at any age can be alarming, but a condition in children can leave parents extremely worried. One potential cause of children’s hair loss is trichotillomania, an impulse-control disorder in which the child tugs at and pulls out his/her own hair.

Trichotillomania in children can be very distressing for parents, especially as not all children will admit to their behaviour. The condition is often associated with feelings of embarrassment or shame, which is why so many instances of trichotillomania go unreported, undiagnosed and untreated.

The good news for parents is that depending on the child’s age, behaviours associated with trichotillomania will go away on their own and the hair should grow back. If the condition shows itself when the child is under five years old, it is considered to be self-limiting and the child will grow out of the behaviour in time. Intervention is not normally required.

For older children and in more serious, persistent cases of trichotillomania, a type of psychosocial therapy may be needed. This may be in the form of habit reversal training, which teaches the child to recognise the trigger or the impulse to pull hair and learn new responses to it. Some types of anti-depressant medication can also be prescribed, although its success in curing the condition has not been fully proven.

There are several different forms of alopecia. Total hair loss on the head is known as alopecia totalis, while loss of all body hair is known as alopecia universalis. Alopecia areata is perhaps the most common form and here hair is lost in patches. This latter form can develop quickly and can occur at any age to both men and women.

Most commonly, alopecia areata is caused by problems with the immune system. It is basically a physical manifestation of a problem resulting from hair follicles being attacked by the immune system – a process which prevents hair growth. It is an autoimmune disorder and can be associated with allergic reactions, thyroid problems, ulcerative colitis and other physical issues. There also seems to be a genetic role as it is common for it to strike several people within the same family.

If you are suffering hair loss, there are many different treatments nowadays. Corticosteroids are often prescribed and these will often control the autoimmune reactions that are preventing hair growth. However, many other treatments are used and the first step should always be to consult your GP in order to get the exact problem correctly diagnosed.