What is alopecia? Alopecia (say t...

What is alopecia?

Alopecia (say this: al-oh-pee-sha) is the medical word for hair los It generally relates to loss or lack of hair upon part or all of the scalp. The hair los can be temporary or permanent. It can be and nothing else on the scalp, or onward other parts of the visible form [i]or[/i] frame too. It can affect the public of all ages.

What causes alopecia?

Alopecia can have many causes, including genetics, diseases and infections, and improper hair care. about of the causes of hair thinning and hair los forward the whole scalp include the following:

* Stressful conditions, physical or emotional, of that kind as illness or surgery

* put offed fever

* Childbirth

* Hormonal question s such as thyroid disease

* medicine treatment for cancer

* about prescription medicines

* Unknown causes

With these disorders, the hair los usually happens three to four month after the illness or stressful occurrence After a while, the hair sprouts back completely.

Local hair los in undivided or more small parts of the scalp can be caused from any of the following:

* Alopecia areata (patchy hair loss; the cause is unknown)

* Traction alopecia (tight hairstyles as it is as cornrows or pigtails)

* Trichotillomania (repeated hair pulling or nervous hair twisting or twirling)

* Tinea capitis (ringworm or fungal infection)

The chiefly common kind of alopecia is androgenetic alopecia (Say: an-droh-jen-et-ick al-oh-pee-sha). This hair los causes a receding hairline and lack of hair forward the top of the head. This balding usually is inherited.

habitual balding also can affect women These women may have a hormonal imbalance. In women this kind of balding leads to hair thinning through the whole extent of the entire scalp.

to what degree is alopecia treated?

Your doctor usually can find the cause of your hair los based forward your symptoms, medical history, and an office exam. Occasionally, kin tests or a biopsy of the affected area is needed

Depending onward the cause and your predilection alopecia can be treated with medicines, surgery or hairpieces. used by all baldness in both men and women may be treated with minoxidil (Rogaine), which is bring forward on the affected area each day. After several months, the couple men and women can count upon some hair to grow back, although the hair and nothing else lasts if you keep using minoxidil.

Men also can use finasteride (Propecia), which can improve hair sprouting in most men as lengthy as it is used each day. Women should not use finasteride. Pregnant women should not plane touch the tablets because the medicine can be absorbed in consequence of the skin and may cause birth deficiencys in male babies before they are born.

Other treatments of alopecia focus onward the underlying cause, such as correcting thyroid disease or hormonal imbalances, using antifungal medicine for ringworm, and changing hairstyles. Injecting steroids into patches of hair los in alopecia areata may help, although the hair los can get to back.

Hair transplant surgery and use of a hairpiece are other options.

What can I do if I have alopecia?

If you notice hair los or thinning, diocese your doctor. Be specific about when and where the hair los started, any diseases you have, and any fresh emotional or physical stress you have had. Although there is nothing you can do to hinder most types of hair los it is important that you retain eating a healthy diet and avoid anything that might irritate the affected area.

Where can I learn more about alopecia?

You can find disclosed more about the different kinds of hair los at these places:

Follicle.com

Web site (www.follicle.com)

The American Hair Los Council

Web site (www.ahlc.org)

The American Academy of Dermatology

Web site (www.aad.org)

Telephone: 1-888-462-DERM (1-888-462-3376)

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group