Baldness And Its Types - A Discussion
Hair Loss
Baldness And Its Types
Hair structure and types
Baldness happens when a person lacks hair in areas where they normally should be, especially on the head. Androgenic alopecia or 'male pattern baldness' is the most commonly found type of baldness. The causes and treatments depend on what type of baldness one has.Male pattern baldness occurs in around 25% of men in their 20's and in two thirds of all men after the age of 60. Baldness according to many is just a cosmetic medical condition, but ask those who suffer from it. Baldness can be devastating socially and psychologically for them. Baldness is also known as Alopecia in medical circles.
Alopecia
Alopecia is the medical term for baldness. The word alopecia is derived from the Greek word for fox, which is "alopex". Maybe the name came about because this condition sort of gives a person the appearance of a fox with mange. Types of alopecia
Alopecia is of quite a few different types and is treated according to the particular type of alopecia that is diagnosed. The following is a summary of the different types of alopecia that can occur: :: Androgenetic alopecia
This is another name for male pattern baldness (and similar to female pattern hair loss). This type of alopecia is said to occur when there is a progressive loss of scalp hair on an adult man's pate. This kind of hair loss is symmetrical i.e. the pattern of losing hair is same on both sides of the head. The cause of androgenetic alopecia is a combination of both heredity and hormones. This kind of baldness is very difficult to fully reverse though some hair loss treatments in the form of oral or topically applicable drugs can treat male pattern baldness to an extent.:: Alopecia areata
Alopecia Areata occurs when there is hair loss in clearly defined areas or patches. Usually baldness occurs in circular-shaped patches that can appear anywhere on the body, but more often than not they occur on the scalp or in the beard. This kind of Alopecia happens when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, the tiny sacs in which hair grows.:: Cicatricial alopecia
Cictricial alopecia is also known as scarring alopecia. The condition is of two main types, primary or secondary. Primary cicatricial alopecia invlvoes a specific targeting of the hair follicles and their degeneration. The hair follicles are severely affected and can be destroyed and replaced by scar tissue. Secondary cicatricial alopecias occur because of some external cause such as injury, burns, radiation, severe infection, or skin tumors. The hairs are lost from a particular area where these factors have acted.
For both primary and secondary types of cicatricial alopecia, hair loss is permanent.
:: Traction alopecia
A person gets traction alopecia when hair loss occurs because of pulling of hair from the follicle. It is usually the result of certain hairstyles such as a ponytail. It can also occur from habitual twisting or pulling on one's own hair. :: Trichotillomania
When someone habitually pulls on their hair and plucks it out the condition is called trichotillomania. The compulsive pulling and bending of the hairs often results in patches of what looks like hair loss. It results in hair being broken off at the scalp skin surface. "Exclamation mark" hairs take the place of usual hair.:: Alopecia totalis
In Alopecia totalis, the whole of the scalp becomes hairless. It is a more severe form of alopecia areata.:: Alopecia universalis
This is the most extreme form of Alopecia areata. This condition results in hair loss all over the body, scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, underarms, and pubis.Some other kinds of baldness:
- Telogen effluvium, where traumas such as chemotherapy, childbirth, major surgery, poisoning, and severe stress cause hair loss condition.
- Exposure to radiation through accident or radiation therapy to the scalp also causes baldness called anagen effluvium. Similarly cytostatic drugs used in chemotherapy for cancer also cause anagen effluvium.
- Massive hair loss can be result of some mycotic skin infections.
- Hypothyroidism can cause frontal hair loss.
- Hyperthyroidism can also cause parietal hair loss.
Now that you know what kind of baldness or hair loss you might have, you can decide what are the causes behind it and what would be the best treatment for it in consultation with a qualified medical professional.