The ex-Prime Minister appeared without eyebrows, without a beard, without a mustache and with less hair during an interview for BFM-TV on February 2. He confirms that he has alopecia. What is this ? What are the causes of this hair loss? Treatments.
[Mise à jour le 3 février 2023 à 08h38] “I have lost my eyebrows, my beard has turned white, it falls out a bit, my hair too, the mustache is gone” explained ex-Prime Minister Edouard Philippe during an interview for BFM-TV on Thursday 2 February. Before explaining the because of these physical changes : alopecia. “It’s not painful, dangerous, contagious or serious” he reassured. “The doctors told me it was stress. Do I have a stressful life? Yes, I can confirm that” he continued before pointing out that there are people who “live much, much more difficult things”. Alopecia mostly affects men but also women (and she then well more taboo).
In October 2022, Edouard Philippe had already revealed that he had alopecia, his “second autoimmune disease” in an interview at Parisian. He also suffered from vitiligo. “Very recently, my eyebrows fell out. I have long wondered what an eyebrow was for. Well, it’s for getting noticed when it drops”he had fun before explaining the nature of this disease: “It is visible, it can happen at any age. There are people for whom it is even more visible than for me elsewhere!
What is alopecia?
There Sudden or progressive hair loss is called “alopecia”. All human beings lose their hair in their lifetime. Dead hair is replaced by new hair. This phase of hair loss lasts 1 to 3 months. “Hair capital decreases throughout life. Thus, a 60-year-old woman has half the hair she had at the age of 15”, explains Dr. Jean-Luc Rigon, dermatologist. The number of hairs that grow is normally always much higher than the number of hairs that fall out : at any time, approximately 80-85% of our hair is in the anagen phase (growth), 1-2% is in the catagen phase (stagnation), and 15-20% is in the telogen phase (fall). Each hair follicle has up to 20 hair cycles. It is therefore not necessary to worry too much about a hair that falls: it will most of the time be replaced. During life, 20 to 30 hair cycles follow one another. When hair loss accelerates and is no longer compensated by proportional regrowth: we speak of alopecia, because the abnormally thinning hair. “It is estimated that a loss of more than 100 hairs per day over a long period of time (several months), is a abnormal loss.”
What are the causes of alopecia?
►A diet that is too strict can cause alopecia. “The tissues of the body that renew themselves the fastest are the most impacted by such a diet. However, hair renews itself very quickly.” These diets can lead to deficiencies, themselves responsible for an acceleration of hair loss (zinc deficiency, magnesium deficiency, calcium deficiency and especially iron deficiency).
►Stress and depression are another possible cause of alopecia. They can be the cause of a alopecia areatawhich is a particular form of hair loss, or a hair bleachingbecause white hair falls last. “This was the case of Marie-Antoinette, whose hair turned white the day before her execution.” Other causes of alopecia areata exist, especially in the case of dental problems.
►The fact of having undergone a general anesthesia is another factor of alopecia. “The products being toxic for the root, the hair dies and then falls out. But in general, the hair ends up growing back.”
► Autumn and spring are periods conducive to hair loss. “All hairy animals, including humans, moult at the start and end of winter. In September-October, many people come for a consultation because they are worried about hair loss. … However, it is completely normal at this time of year, but the lack of morale, which sets in during the transition to the bad season, increases the concern”reassures Dr. Rigon.
►Des ovarian dysfunctions or adrenal glands are also among the identified factors.
►Menopause accompanied by hormonal changes can lead to significant hair loss, as well as a change in the appearance of the hair (finer, drier hair).
► During pregnancy, female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) increase. The hair is protected and in good shape. But after childbirth, it’s the opposite, the hormone level drops. The growth phase is stopped, a large number of hairs pass into the catagen phase, then into the telogen phase. As a result, three months later, women notice that their hair is falling out. “When there is an imbalance between female and male hormones, an acceleration of hair loss can be observed. comments Dr. Rigon.
What is androgenetic alopecia?
Baldness is a form of alopecia says “androgenetic“. It is localized on the forehead in men And more common in women. Contrary to the seasonal falls which are brutal, these alopecia are progressive. THE causes are at the same time hereditary And hormonal. Thus, as some hair is abnormally sensitive to male hormones, it renews itself more and more rapidly and the phases of hair loss accelerate. We speaks more often of male alopecia.
A simple test allows you to know if the hair loss is indeed abnormal: the pull test. “You have to run two hands through the hair, spreading your fingers like a large comb. If, in total, more than 20 hairs remain between your fingers, the level of loss is abnormal.”
What are the foods that slow down alopecia?
Very strict diets can lead to accelerated hair loss. On the other hand, certain foods can slow down or prevent alopecia. “The same goes for all foods containing sulfur amino acids”, says Dr. Rigon. Among these foods: meat, fish, legumes, cereals, eggs. The trace elements also have an interest in the prevention of alopecia, as well as certain dietary supplements based on sulfur amino acids. “But they are not trivial on the digestive plan: they can in particular give flatulence. In any case, it is necessary to consult your doctor before taking these food supplements.
What are the treatments for alopecia?
The treatment of alopecia is above all that of its cause. If the origin is hormonal, an appropriate assessment and therapy will be proposed. “You can also give a cocktail of vitamins for one to three months”, says the dermatologist. A sulfur amino acid in the form of tablets (cysteine) is prescribed, as well as minoxidil lotions.
Are anti-hair loss lotions and shampoos effective?
It all depends on the severity of the fall. For low to medium hair loss, some lotions are effective. On the other hand, when the baldness is really important, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist and to turn to a drug treatment. Lotions based on minoxidil® 2% for women, and 5% for men are effective. “Note that minoxidil is quite greasy which can give the hair an unsightly appearance. Moreover, the presence of propylene glycol in these products can induce allergies, in one out of 20 cases” says Dr. Rigon. If this is not enough, men can be treated with drugs based on finasteride® in the form of tablets.
When to do a hair transplant?
When the person suffers too much from hair loss, they can be offered a hair transplant in the form of a micro-graft. This is a surgical procedure under local anesthesia which lasts 2 to 3 hours. Hair implanted at the back of the scalp is moved to be grafted at the front. Indeed, the hair from behind is not subject to hormones and is therefore spared the phenomenon of baldness. In other words, the hair grafted to the front of the skull will persist and renew itself normally throughout the life of the operated individual.
A few tips :
- Start by seeing a dermatologist before knocking on the door of a hair surgeon. Perhaps your alopecia does not require a hair transplant, and can be cured with medication.
- If you are decided on the operation, do not go to just any surgeon. It is better to get advice from your dermatologist (he can refer you to one of his colleagues) or rely on word of mouth. Above all, avoid doctors who promise you the moon, who post their contact details on the web, who attract customers with advertising messages such as “seen on TV”, or who boast of having operated on stars.
- Be very careful if the surgeon offers you an exorbitant price. Moreover, ask for a quote mentioning the details of the services. Also make sure that the doctor is well guaranteed in professional civil liability. And take your time to reflect and make your decision, beware of doctors who try to influence you.
On the other hand, there is a perfectly useless preventive treatment, which has nevertheless had a hard life: the 100 brush strokes to make your hair more resistant. “It’s an urban legend. Far from strengthening the hair, it damages it!” To maintain your hair, it is better to swap your brush for a wide-toothed comb, and use it with gentle gestures.
Who to consult when you lose your hair?
The dermatologist is the specialist in hair loss, but the attending physician can be consulted on this point. If the cause is of hormonal origin, the follow-up will be done with an endocrinologist or a gynecologist.
Thanks to Dr. Jean-Luc Rigon, dermatologist.