No items
|
|
Alopecia
Alopecia is the scientific term for hair loss. There are many different types of Alopecia. Some of the more common alopecia include:
| Androgenic Alopecia | Hereditary hair loss or thinning of hair with age. Also known as male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness. This is the most common cause or reason for hair loss |
|---|---|
| Alopecia Areata | Autoimmune disease resulting in patchy hair loss often sudden in onset |
| Alopecia Totalis | Total hair loss over scalp area |
| Alopecia Universalis | Loss of all body hair |
| Involutional Alopecia | The gradual thinning of hair with age. Remaining hairs become shorter and fewer. |
| Toxic Alopecia | Hair loss due to toxic/chemical exposure. |
| Traction Alopecia | Hair loss due to pulling or extreme hair styles. |
| Triangular Alopecia | Hair loss that tends to occur in a triangular pattern in the temporal area. |
Androgenetic Alopecia
40% of under 35 males suffer from hereditary hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) or male pattern baldness. Some 50% of all males suffer from hair loss due to male pattern baldness at some time in their lives. Most people do not realize how common hereditary hair loss is in women. Androgenetic alopecia is present in the general female population at a rate of between 20% and 40%.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia Areata is considered an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system, instead of protecting the body from foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. This can lead to hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere.
In most cases, hair falls out in small, round patches about the size of a coin. Although uncommon, the disease can progress to cause total loss of hair on the head (referred to as alopecia areata totalis) or complete loss of hair on the head, face, and body (alopecia areata universalis). Alopecia areata affects millions of people, of both sexes of different ages and cultural backgrounds. It often begins in childhood. Overall, one in five people with the disease has a family member who has it as well. It is possible, but not likely, for alopecia areata to be inherited.
Some people lose a few patches of hair, but then the hair regrows, with no reoccurrence. Other people continue to lose and regrow hair for many years. Even with complete hair loss, the possibility for full re-growth remains. Alopecia areata is not a painful disease and does not make people feel physically sick. It is not contagious, and people who have the disease are generally healthy otherwise. There is no cure for alopecia areata.