alopecia

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Alopecia is a form of hair loss that can lead to baldness (and it is sometimes used to denote common baldness), though the term is usually used to refer to androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness. However, loss of hair can occur in both men and women for a variety of reasons. Other conditions which may lead to hair loss include traction alopecia, as a result of hairstyles such as braids or pony-tails that continuously stress the hair, and Trichotillomania, which is defined as the compulsive urge to pull out one's hair.


Alopecia
usually progresses from small affected areas (which usually cause patches to appear on the scalp) to complete baldness in the affected area (or alopecia totalis). When hair loss affects the entire body, the condition is known as alopecia universalis, and it is similar to the effects caused by chemotherapy.

With androgenic alopecia, baldness usually begins at the temples, where the hair gradually thins and fall out. While hair loss treatment is available, it is important to first determine the underlying cause of baldness, which can be: fungal infections, chemical hair treatments, hereditary disorders, hormonal changes, medications, scalp infections, iron deficiencies or even environmental factors.

Since androgen hormones regulate sexual development in men and are responsible for male secondary sex characteristics (including hair growth), male pattern baldness is closely related to a genetic sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) – a hormone that is synthesized in prostate, testes, hair follicles, and adrenal glands. Males with higher levels of DHT are more susceptible to developing hair loss in their adulthood, while men with normal levels of testosterone, but low levels of DHT, will have less bodily hair and no incidence of male pattern baldness.

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