Alopecia or baldness.

Published 14/07/2009

38 Votes

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What is alopecia or baldness?

Baldness, also known as alopecia, is the loss or absence of hair.

Baldness is most notable on the scalp, although it can present anywhere on the body where hair grows.  This condition is more common in men than in women.

Alopecia can be classified into different types, according to the cause that provokes it. The different types of Alopecia are as follows.

Non-cicatricial:

Male pattern androgenetic alopecia: Tends to be a hereditary condition. It can begin at any age. Hair loss tends to begin at the front, sides or crown of the head. Some men have localised baldness or a receding hairline, while others may be totally bald.

Female pattern androgenetic alopecia: The main causes of this Alopecia are: genetic predisposition, a variation in the levels of endocrine hormones (androgens) and the passage of the years.  Although there are many similarities to male pattern androgenetic Alopecia, cosmetically they are very different.

Alopecia Areata: This disorder is characterised by a sudden loss of hair in a determined area; the hair grows back after several months. However, if all the body hair is suddenly lost, it may not grow back. The cause of this type of baldness is unknown.  This alopecia may also present as total alopecia, with total loss of hair on the scalp, or as universal alopecia, with total loss of all body hair.

Diffuse Alopecia (Telogen Effluvium): This type of alopecia originates when a large number of hair follicles enter the telogen phase (hair loss phase) in a synchronised fashion.  The results tend to be the diffuse thinning of the hair on the scalp.  The cause of the telogen effluvium is unknown, but it can begin after a stressful event or childbirth.  It normally disappears once the causes that produced it have been eliminated.

Toxic Alopecia: Toxic alopecia can present after an episode of high fever or serious illness. Certain medications, especially thallium, high doses of vitamin A and retinoids can provoke toxic alopecia. Medical conditions, such as thyroid disease, or after childbirth may be triggers for toxic alopecia. This condition is characterised by the temporary loss of hair. Likewise, some medications indicated for cancer can provoke hair loss (anagen effluvium).

Alopecia through traction: Traction alopecia is a trauma-related alopecia due to different pressures on the hair through combing.

Trichotillomania (pulling out the hair): The habit of pulling out hair can cause baldness.

Cicatricial:

Cicatricial Alopecia: It may occur that in areas where a scarring process took place, hair will fail to grow. The scars may have their origins in burns, wounds or radiotherapy.  Other diseases, such as lupus, bacterial or fungal skin infections, lchen planus, sarchoidosis, tuberculosis or skin cancer also cause types of scars that may provoke hair loss.

COMPARISON OF MALE AND FEMALE ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA

Causes of alopecia:

The main cause of baldness or alopecia is the androgenetic agent (androgenetic alopecia), but there are other factors that trigger the loss of hair:

• Stress: Causes untold problems in the organisms of human beings, and women are increasingly equally subject to it as men, and it is one of the greatest causes of alopecia.
• Lack of iron: This important mineral keeps the hair robust and when there is a lack of it the hair becomes fragile and brittle.
• Weight loss regimes: Continuous and unbalanced diets or diets which use dietary supplements, all of which can deprive the organism of vitamins, mineral salts and oligoelements.
• Endocrine deficiencies: A hormonal imbalance can also lead to hair saying goodbye.
• Some medications: Determined formulas indicated to treat diseases attack the hair follicles.

Also many others, such as viral processes, some infections and chemotherapy protocols.

If you have any hair loss problem or any other hair anomaly and would like more information, request a FREE CONSULTATION by calling 902 101 706.

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