Hair Loss (Alopecia)
What is hair loss?
The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. There may be associated scalp disease or scarring.
- Alopecia may be localized or diffuse.
- It can affect the scalp or other parts of the body, such as the beard, eyebrows, and eyelashes.
- It may be due to hair shedding, poor quality hair, or hair thinning.
- There may be areas of skin that are completely bald.
- There may be associated skin disease or scarring.
Unfortunately, hair loss may not be easy to remedy.
Who gets hair loss?
As all our hair follicles are formed during fetal growth, it is inevitable that we will notice hair loss of some kind in later life.
Hair loss occurs in:
- Males and females
- Children and adults
- People with any colour or type of hair.
Hair loss can be an isolated problem or associated with another disease or condition. It can be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause.
What causes hair loss?
Hair loss can be due to:
- The decreased growth of the hair: anagen hair loss
- Increased shedding of the hair: telogen hair loss
- Conversion of thick terminal hairs to thin vellus hairs; male and female pattern hair loss
- Congenital or acquired hair shaft abnormalities
- An inflammatory skin disease that damages or destroys the hair bulb.
What is the treatment for hair loss?
Treatment depends on the diagnosis.
- Infections should be treated.
- Deficiencies should be remedied.
- Causative drugs may be discontinued.
- Inflammation can be suppressed.
- Treatment may be available for specific conditions.
A systematic review of 30 studies suggests a discussion on nutritional supplementation should be considered between patient and physician.