alopecia

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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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “alopecia”

 

• Androgen Threesome: BPA Exposure & Free Testosterone in Men. TRT Good For the Prostate. DHT, Allopecia (Hair Loss) & Monascus Fermentation. Plus: Mycotoxins in GCB Supps

  
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• Hair Growth Success: “…the results are great.”

  
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  “I have been doing the treatments for 3 month and the results are great. Thank you. A Belgravia Centre patient Age: Early 20′s Diagnosis: Alopecia Areata
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• Permanent vs. Clip-On Hair Extensions

  
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• In the News - Small PRP Study Showed Significant Regrowth in Alopecia Areata Patients

  
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  Snippet from the article: In the latest research by scientists at the International Hair Research Foundation, the University of Brescia in Italy and the Hebrew University Medical Centre in Israel, used 45 sufferers with alopecia areata, affecting two per cent of the population. The patients had injections on one ...
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• “Vampire” Treatment For Baldness?

  
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• In the News - Child With Alopecia Sent Home from School

  
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  Snippet from the article: A Philadelphia boy with a chronic balding illness was sent home by his school for having too much hair. Eight-year-old Zion Williams has been receiving medical treatment for the illness called alopecia at Drexel University which includes painful injections to the scalp. Doctors at the ...
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• Poor Thang: 8-Year-Old Alopecia Sufferer Expelled From School After Undergoing Successful Treatments And Growing “Too Much Hair”

  
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  You can’t be serious … Alopecia Sufferer Expelled From School For Growing Too Much Hair Via NewsOne reports: An 8-year-old boy who suffers from a condition that causes him to lose hair was kicked out of his elementary school for breaking one of its rules–having too much hair on his head, Fox 29 reports. ...
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• Second Grader Kicked Out of School for ‘Long Hair’ During Treatment for Skin Disease (Video)

  
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  Zion Williams, 8, was kicked out of Shiloh Christian Academy for breaking the long hair policy, but has Alopecia treatments to grow his hair in places where the ailment causes baldness. Don’t you hate it when you encounter a person that is clearly unqualified to hold their position because they don’t ...
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• Potential treatment for a condition of inflammatory hair loss

  
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  Improvement in the ailment from (a) to (c) after using calcipotriol (Credit: Ann Dermatol. 2012 August; 24(3): 341–344.) Main point: Researchers reported, last year, that the topical use of calcipotriol, a synthetic derivative of vitamin D, could help in significant recovery from a condition of inflammatory hair ...
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• Could A Shock To The System Cause Diffuse AA?

  
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  Name: Yvonne Question: I would like to ask a question. Could this past stressful event cause a so called ‘shock’ to my bological system that contributed to the diffused AA which I have been diagnosed with? And how come the condition has started now rather than at the time I was having the stress? Answer: ...
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• Remedies for Baldness: What Options Do I Have?

  
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  What are the best remedies for baldness? Well, the answer actually depends on your preferences. Are you looking to treat it naturally or conventionally? Either way, here’s an article that outlines your options. Drug-Based Approach Minoxidil, spironolactone, and finasteride are common drug-based approaches for ...
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• Why? Tuesday 7 May @ The Kazimier

  
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• Should Men With A Family History Of Baldness Take Preemptive Treatment Measures?

  
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  Male pattern hair loss , which affects 95% of men with noticeable shedding, is a genetic condition. This means that we inherit the disposition to it from our family tree, which can mean that the gene is potentially passed down from one or both of your parents. So, it’s not surprising that men with a bald father ...
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• Positive Thinking Can Prevent Hair Loss

  
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• Causes of Hair Loss / Alopecia

  
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  Hair loss is a common problem. Normally, a person can lose about 50-100 strands of hair every day, and no significant changes were seen in the hair. If the loose hair exceeding the normal limit, ... Causes of Hair Loss / Alopecia is a post from: Articles of Health Care | Wellness | Fitness | Issues | News
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• Alopecia: Debilitating Hair Loss, Its Causes, Prevention and Solutions

  
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  Guest PostLucinda Ellery was just 9 years old when her father passed away. Unable to care for her on her own, her mother placed her in an orphanage. Feeling alone and distraught, the emotional trauma caused such stress that Lucindas hair began falling out. It worsened over the years and by her early teens she wore a ...
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• Alopecia and the hostage game!

  
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  Wedding planning (my son) has kept me blog silent for a few months- but I’m back with a vengeance.  I’ve been playing the Alopecia game for 12 years.  The disease has toyed and teased with my emotions during that time with several re-growths, coincidentally for two of my boys weddings!  It was only natural ...
  5 weeks ago

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