Alopecia, often known as alopecia areata, is a skin disorder that can spread to hair-bearing skin and can result in non-scarring hair fall. Most of time these bald regions receive their hair again after some time spontaneously. Alopecia areata is known for round patches of hair loss, and can result in complete loss of hair.
Causes of Alopecia
The cause of this disorder, alopecia areata, is not known. Almost of fifth of individual suffering from this condition, manifests a family background of alopecia. Alopecia areata is considered as an autoimmune situation. This is witnessed when the immune system attacks and eliminates healthy tissues of body. Alopecia areata is found in male, female and even children. A prominent life event like illness, trauma, or pregnancy is witnessed prior to the hair loss in some of the patients.
Female Pattern Alopecia
Female alopecia is a type of hair fall attacking women because of inherited susceptibility. It is usually noticed post menopause, nonetheless it may be experienced even earlier as well. Female baldness is a fusion of a family history of hair fall, hormones or aging. Female hair loss is not because of deficiency of some vitamin, dandruff, poor circulation or wearing hats. There is increasing cringing of the hair follicles and finally they produce a fine, frail hair or stop functioning.
Who's At Risk
As there is a hereditary basis to female baldness, diverse racial populations are hit at multiple ways. Nearly half of men, and probably as many women who has hit postmenopausal stage, are suffering from hair loss to some extent. Initiation of hair loss is witnessed commonly between 20–30 or 40–50 years of age brackets. This rate is at the peak in whites, which is followed by Asians and finally blacks. The lowest reports of hair loss have been witnessed in Native Americans.
Usually Prescribed Treatments of Alopecia
The diagnosis of baldness in female is generally not that tough for the medical professional due to the typical pattern. Certain blood tests can also help to ward off other causes for instance anemia (low blood count) or a disorder of thyroid. A skin biopsy can also be suggested.
The latest therapies stimulate re-growth of falling and can also encompass topical minoxidil, and the oral drugs like cyproterone acetate or spironolactone. Finasteride, which is also an oral drug, is suggested for male alopecia exclusively. All the above said medications should not be administered by women capable enough to conceive.
Surgical therapy that can enhance the appearance may include hair transplants, flaps or scalp reduction. Such therapies are not recommended to all the patients suffering from balding phase.
Male Pattern Alopecia
Male pattern baldness (alopecia), which is also known as androgenetic alopecia, is considered to be the patterned hair fall of a man. Nonetheless, the condition may influence the overall appearance and self-esteem of individual, this condition does not come under the ambit of medical disorder. The process of balding is not scarring and it manifests a genetic basis. Sex steroids (androgens) – particularly, dihydrotestosterone – is the major factor responsible for forming baldness.
Mostly Prescribed Treatments
Hair fall in male alopecia is not threatening hence the hair follicles are not eliminated. The cells of hair re-grow and enlarge the hair. The medically approved pharmacologic process to ward off loss is minoxidil (a topical drug) and finasteride (an oral drug). With discontinuation of the products, the process of hair loss may accelerate.
Hair transplantation or scalp reduction methods are successful and reliable surgical therapies, but at the same time they can quite expensive and must be performed by an experienced and qualified plastic surgeon or dermatologic surgeon.