|
Why
do I have more hair loss in late summer / early autumn
All of us have periodic shedding of hair to some degree at different
times during the year. This shedding is usually at a maximum at
the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Like the rest of
the animal kingdom, humans are affected by summer and winter climatic
changes.
In animals such as mink there is a clear season of hair growth,
shedding and replacement with a summer or winter coat. For humans
it is the same. Our hair growth and shedding changes in tune with
the seasons. Our bodies probably subconsciously determine the number
of sunshine hours we receive and this dictates hormone production
which, in turn affects hair growth and shedding. The pineal gland
and changes in melatonin levels are most likely important in this
seasonal shedding of hair.
This increased shedding at certain times of the year are typically
when we are most likely to observe the advancement of hair loss
and androgenetic alopecia becomes more pronounced. It can also explain
why some people may see some degree of temporary regression in their
androgenetic alopecia. When trying to gauge the effectiveness of
a treatment for androgenetic alopecia, the seasonal changes in hair
growth and shedding must be taken into account.
Why
do I have more hair loss in late summer / early autumn references
- Courtois
M, Loussouarn G, Hourseau S, Grollier JF. Periodicity in the growth
and shedding of hair. Br J Dermatol. 1996 Jan;134(1):47-54.
- Randall
VA, Ebling FJ. Seasonal changes in human hair growth. Br J Dermatol.
1991 Feb;124(2):146-51.
- Paus
R, Muller-Rover S, Botchkarev VA. Chronobiology of the hair
follicle: hunting the " hair cycle clock". J Investig Dermatol
Symp Proc. 1999 Dec;4(3):338-45.
- Martinet
L, Allain D. Role of the pineal gland in the photoperiodic control
of reproductive and non-reproductive functions in mink (Mustela
vison). Ciba Found Symp. 1985;117:170-87.
- Allain
D, Rougeot J. Induction of autumn moult in mink (Mustela vison
Peale and Beauvois) with melatonin. Reprod Nutr Dev. 1980;20(1A):197-201.
|
