hair loss also known as
alopecia or baldness, refers to a loss of hair from part of the head or body. typically atleast the head is involved. the severity of
hair loss can vary from a small area to the entire body. inflammation or scarring is not usually present.
hair loss in some people cause psychological distress.
baldness is the partial or complete lack of hair growth and part of the wider topic of "hair thinning". the degree and pattern of baldness varies, but most common cause is androgenic hairloss,
alopecia androgenetica or
alopecia seborrheica with the last term primarily used term in europe.
hypotrichosis :
hypotrichosis is a condition of abnormal hair patterns, predominantly loss of reduction, it occurs most frequently by the growth of vellus hair in areas of the body that normally produce terminal hair typically the individuals hair growth is normal after birth, but shortly thereafter the hair is shed and replaced with spars, abnormal hair growth. the new hair is typically fine short and brittle and may lack
pigmentation. baldness maybe present by the time the subject is 25 years old.
causes :
first, your doctor or dermatologist (a doctor who specialises in skin problems) will try to determine the underlying cause of
hair loss. the most common cause of
hair loss is hereditary male or female pattern baldness.
if you have a family history of baldness you, may have this type of hairloss. certain sex hormones can trigger hereditary hairloss if may begin is early as puberty.
in some cases, hairloss may occur with a simple halt in the cycle of hair growth. major illnesses, surgeries or traumatic events can trigger hairloss. however,your hair will usually starting growing back without treatment.
hormonal changes can cause temporary
hair loss. including :
• pregnancy
• childbirth
• discontinuing the use of birth control pills.
• menopause
medical conditions that can cause hairloss include :
• thyroid disease
•
alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease that attacks hair follicles)
• scalp infections like ringworm
disease that cause scarring, such as lichen planus and some types of lupus can result in permanent hairloss because of the scarring
hairloss can also be due to medications use to treat :.
• cancer
• high blood pressure
• arthritis
• depression
• heart problems
a physical or emotional shock may trigger noticeable hairloss. example of this type of shock include :
• a death in the family
• extreme weight loss
• a high fever
people with trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder) have a need to pull out their hair, usually from their head, eyebrows or eyelashes.
traction hairloss can be due to hairstyles that put pressure on the follicles by pulling back very tightly.
a diet lacking in protein,iron and other nutrients can also lead to
thinning hair.
symptoms :
• skin conditions : a substantially blemished face, back and limbs could point to cystic acne. the most severe form of the condition cystic acne, arises from the same hormonal imbalance that causes
hair loss and is associated with dihydrotestosterone production, seborrheic dermatitis, a condition in which excessive amount of sebum is produced and builds up on the scalp (looking like an adult cradle cap), is also a symptom of hormonal imbalances, as is an excessively oily or dry scalp. both can cause hair thinning.
• psychological :
hair thinning and baldness case psychological stress due to their effect on appearance. although societal interest in appearance has a long story, this particular branch of
psychology came into it's own during the 1960's and has gain momentum as messages associating physical attractiveness with success and happiness grow more prevalent.
hair loss induced by cancer
chemotherapy has been reported to cause changes in self concept and body image. body image does not return to the previous state after regrowth of hair for a majority of patients.
in such cases, patients have difficulties expressing their feelings (alexithmia) and maybe more prone to avoiding family conflicts.
family therapy can help families to cope with these psychological problems if they arise.
• medications :
medications be likely the first course of treatment for
hair loss. over the counter (otc) medications generally consists of topical creams and gels that you apply directly to the scalp. the most common products contain an ingredient called minoxidil (roganie).
according to the aad, your doctor may recommend minoxidil in conjunction with other
hair loss treatments side effects of minoxidil include scalp irritation and hair growth in adjacent area , such as your forehead or face.
prescription medications may also treat
hair loss. doctors prescribe the oral medication tinasteride .(propecia) for male pattern baldness. you take this medication daily to slow
hair loss. some men experience new hair growth when taking finastande .
rare side effects of finastande include deminished sex drive and sexual function. there may be a link between the use of finastande and a more serious type (high-grade) of prostrate cancer according to the mayo clinic.
doctor also prescribe corticosteroids like prednisone. individuals with
alopecia areta can use this to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. corticosteroids mimic the hormones made by your adrenal glands.
a high amount of corticosteroids in the body reduces inflammation and suppresses the immune system possible side effects include :
• glaucoma, a collection of eye disease that can result in optic nerve damage and vision loss
•
fluid retention and
swelling in the lower legs
• high blood pressure
• cataracts
• high blood sugar
medical procedures
sometimes, medications aren't enough to stop
hair loss. there are surgerical procedures to treat baldness
• hair transplant surgeries :
hair transplant surgeries involves moving small plugs of skin, each with a few hairs, to bald your scalp.
this works well for people with inherited baldness since they typically lose hair on the top of the head. because this type of
hair loss is progressive, you would neeg multiple surgeries over time.
• scalp reduction :
in a scalp reduction, a surgeon removes part of your scalp that lacks hair. the surgeon then closes the area with the piece of your scalp that has hair. another option is a flap, in which your surgeon folds scalp that has hair over a bald paten, this is a type of scalp reduction.
• tissue expansion :
tissue expansion can also cover bald spots. it requires two surgeries. in the first surgery, a surgeon places a tissue expands under a part of your scalp that has hair and is next to the bald spots. after several weeks, the expander stretches out the part of your scalp that has hair.
in the second surgery, your surgeon removes the expander and pulls the expanded area of your scalp with hair over the bald spots.
these surgerical remedies for baldness tend to be expensive and they carry risks ,these include :
• patchy hair growth
• bleeding
• wide scars
• infection