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Question

Can you give me some information about hair loss?

Answer

Hair loss, called alopecia in medical terminology, can have a number of causes. It can result from genetic factors, aging, or local or widespread disease.

There are two types described. Scarring alopecia is hair loss which results from an area of skin losing its ability to grow hair through scarring, either through burns, or some other form of trauma

Non-scarring alopecia includes male-pattern baldness, female-pattern baldness, hair loss caused by drugs, chemicals or hormone imbalance, alopecia areata, and hair loss caused by excessive pulling of the hair.

Male-pattern baldness is extremely common, while female-pattern baldness is less so. In women, the hair loss is confined to thinning of the hair in the front of the scalp, the crown and the sides of the head. Complete baldness in any area is rare.

Alopecia caused by drugs or chemicals is usually temporary and the hair will grow back once the drugs are stopped. This type of alopecia can also occur in hypothyroidism, low levels of all hormones, in early syphilis and following pregnancy.

Hair pulling is a neurotic habit which appears in children and may remain undiagnosed for a long time. The hairs may be broken off and are of different lengths. There may be some stubby regrowth in some areas. It is difficult to distinguish from alopecia areata which is described elsewhere.

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