ALOPECIA (HAIR LOSE)

ALOPECIA (HAIR LOSE)

• Alopecia areata is special form of hair loss that usually affects the scalp but can occur on any hair-bearing skin. Alopecia (al-oh-PEE-shah) means hair loss. When a person has a medical condition called alopecia areata (ar-ee-AH-tah), the hair falls out in round patches. The hair can fall out on the scalp and elsewhere on the body.

1. Alopecia areata (hair loss in patches).
2. Alopecia totalis (lose all hair on the scalp).
3. Alopecia universalis (lose all hair on the body).

• The cause of alopecia areata is probably an autoimmune reaction. This means the body's immune system incorrectly attacks the body's own cells. In the case of alopecia areata, the cells under attack are in the hair follicles (structures that grow hair), especially follicles within the scalp.

• Genetic (inherited) factors may play a role, too, particularly when the disorder strikes those under age 30. Almost 40% of people younger than age 30 with alopecia areata have at least one family member who has been diagnosed with the same disorder.

• The risk of developing alopecia areata is unusually high in people who have asthma, hay fever, thyroid disease, vitiligo (a condition in which patches of skin lose their color), pernicious anemia and Down syndrome.

• Although experts once believed episodes of alopecia areata could be triggered by stress, newer research has failed to prove that stress is a factor.

• About 60% of people with alopecia areata experience the first episode of hair loss before age 20. It is usually followed by hair regrowth. However, it's common for the problem to come back. New bald patches can develop at the same time older ones are regrowing hair.

CAUSES

• Family history (heredity). The most common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition called male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness. It usually occurs gradually with aging and in predictable patterns — a receding hairline and bald spots in men and thinning hair in women.
• Hormonal changes and medical conditions. A variety of conditions can cause permanent or temporary hair loss, including hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and thyroid problems. Medical conditions include alopecia areata (al-o-PEE-she-uh ar-e-A-tuh), which causes patchy hair loss, scalp infections such as ringworm and a hair-pulling disorder called trichotillomania (trik-o-til-o-MAY-nee-uh).
• Medications and supplements. Hair loss can be a side effect of certain drugs, such as those used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, gout and high blood pressure.
• Radiation therapy to the head. The hair may not grow back the same as it was before
• A very stressful event. Many people experience a general thinning of hair several months after a physical or emotional shock. This type of hair loss is temporary.
• Certain hairstyles and treatments. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair tight, such as pigtails or cornrows, can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia. Hot oil hair treatments and permanents can cause inflammation of hair follicles that leads to hair loss. If scarring occurs, hair loss could be permanent

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Gradual thinning on top of head. This is the most common type of hair loss, affecting both men and women as they age. In men, hair often begins to recede from the forehead in a line that resembles the letter M. Women typically retain the hairline on the forehead but have a broadening of the part in their hair.
• Circular or patchy bald spots. Some people experience smooth, coin-sized bald spots. This type of hair loss usually affects just the scalp, but it sometimes also occurs in beards or eyebrows. In some cases, your skin may become itchy or painful before the hair falls out.
• Sudden loosening of hair. A physical or emotional shock can cause hair to loosen. Handfuls of hair may come out when combing or washing your hair or even after gentle tugging. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning and not bald patches.
• Full-body hair loss. Some conditions and medical treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can result in the loss of hair all over your body. The hair usually grows back.
• Patches of scaling that spread over the scalp.This is a sign of ringworm. It may be accompanied by broken hair, redness, swelling and, at times, oozing.

     

                                                        

                               MALE PATTERN BALDNESS

   

                                                    

                            FEMALE PATTERN BALDNESS

RISK FACTORS

• Significant weight loss
• Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and lupus
• Stress
• Family history of balding, in either of your parent's families
• Age

PREVENTION

• Avoid medications and supplements that could cause hair loss.
• Protect your hair from sunlight and other sources of ultraviolet light.
• Stop smoking. Some studies show an association between smoking and baldness in men.
• If you are being treated with chemotherapy, ask your doctor about a cooling cap. This cap can reduce your risk of losing hair during chemotherapy.
• Avoid tight hairstyles, such as braids, buns or ponytails.
• Avoid compulsively twisting, rubbing or pulling your hair.
• Treat your hair gently when washing and brushing. A wide-toothed comb may help prevent pulling out hair.
• Avoid harsh treatments such as hot rollers, curling irons, hot oil treatments and permanents.

TREATMENT

Although there are currently no treatments that work for everyone with alopecia areata, some treatments are effective for some people. Depending on which type of alopecia areata you have, your age and the extent of hair loss, there are a variety of treatment options available. The main goals of treatment are to block the immune system attack and/or stimulate the regrowth of hair. This can be effective, especially for people with milder forms of the disease (less than 50% hair loss).

1.NATURAL TREATMENT

Korean Red Ginseng

A form of Panax ginseng, Korean red ginseng shows promise in the treatment of alopecia . In a preliminary study published in the Journal of Ginseng Research in 2012, scientists observed that Korean red ginseng may help promote hair growth in people with alopecia areata.

Hypnosis

A number of small studies indicate that hypnosis may be beneficial for people with alopecia areata. These include a study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis in 2008, for which 28 people with alopecia areata received hypnotherapy.

Of the 21 people who completed the study, 12 participants experienced significant hair growth after undergoing hypnosis. What's more, all study participants showed a significant decrease in anxiety and depression after receiving hypnotherapy.

A study published in the Swedish journal Acta Dermato-Venereologica in 2011 also found that hypnosis may benefit people with alopecia areata. For this study, 21 people with alopecia areata received 10 sessions of hypnosis over a six-month period. By the study's end, participants showed improvements in several markers of psychological wellbeing, including anxiety and depression.

Onion Juice

Applying onion juice to parts of the head or body affected by alopecia areata may help promote hair growth, according to a small study published in the Journal of Dermatology in 2002. In an experiment involving 38 people with alopecia areata, those who used an onion-juice-based treatment twice daily for two months experienced significantly more hair growth compared to those assigned to a tap-water-based treatment for the same time period.

Aromatherapy 

In a small study published in Archives of Dermatology in 1998, an aromatherapy treatment involving a blend of essential oils of thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood appeared to aid in the treatment of alopecia areata for some people.
For the study, 43 people with alopecia areata massaged a combination of these essential oils and the carrier oils jojoba and grapeseed into their scalps every day for seven months. Meanwhile, a second group of 41 people with alopecia areata massaged only jojoba and grapeseed oils into their scalp each day for the same time period.
At the study's end, 19 members of the aromatherapy group showed improvement in their condition, while only six members of the second group showed improvement.

Acupuncture

In a preliminary study published in Acupuncture in Medicine in 2013, tests on mice demonstrated that electroacupuncture may inhibit certain alopecia-related changes in skin cells. Electroacupuncture is a form of acupuncture in which needles are attached to a device that produces continuous electric impulses and then placed at specific points on the patient's body.

Stress Management

Stress may play an important role in triggering episodes of alopecia areata, according to a study published in the Journal of Dermatology in 1999. Although it's possible that practicing stress management techniques could offer some protection against episodes of alopecia areata, there's currently a lack of studies testing the use of such techniques in alopecia areata management.

2.Medication

If your hair loss is caused by an underlying disease, treatment for that disease will be necessary. This may include drugs to reduce inflammation and suppress your immune system, such as prednisone. If a certain medication is causing the hair loss, your doctor may advise you to stop using it for at least three months.

• Minoxidil (LYRICA ,MINITOP ,ROGAINE )( EFFECTIVE 5% MINOXIDIL ). This is an over-the-counter (nonprescription) medication approved for men and women. It comes as a liquid or foam that you rub into your scalp daily. Wash your hands after application. At first it may cause you to shed hair. New hair may be shorter and thinner than previous hair. At least six months of treatment is required to prevent further hair loss and to start hair regrowth. You need to keep applying the medication to retain benefits.Possible side effects include scalp irritation, unwanted hair growth on the adjacent skin of the face and hands, and rapid heart rate (tachycardia).

 

• Finasteride (Propecia). This is a prescription drug approved for men. You take it daily as a pill. Many men taking finasteride experience a slowing of hair loss, and some may show some new hair growth. You need to keep taking it to retain benefits. Finasteride may not work as well for men over 60.Rare side effects of finasteride include diminished sex drive and sexual function and an increased risk of prostate cancer. Women who are or may be pregnant need to avoid touching crushed or broken tablets.

• Other medications. For men, the oral medication dutasteride is an option. For women, treatment may include oral contraceptives and spironolactone.

3.HAIR TRANSPLANTATION

Hair transplantation is a surgical technique that removes hair follicles from one part of the body, called the 'donor site', to a bald or balding part of the body known as the 'recipient site'. The technique is primarily used to treat male pattern baldness. In this minimally invasive procedure, grafts containing hair follicles that are genetically resistant to balding (like the back of the head) are transplanted to the bald scalp. Hair transplantation can also be used to restore eyelashes, eyebrows, beard hair, chest hair, pubic hair and to fill in scars caused by accidents or surgery such as face-lifts and previous hair transplants. Hair transplantation differs from skin grafting in that grafts contain almost all of the epidermis and dermis surrounding the hair follicle, and many tiny grafts are transplanted rather than a single strip of skin.

Since hair naturally grows in groupings of 1 to 4 hairs, current techniques harvest and transplant hair "follicular units" in their natural groupings. Thus modern hair transplantation can achieve a natural appearance by mimicking original hair orientation. This hair transplant procedure is called follicular unit transplantation (FUT). Donor hair can be harvested in two different ways: strip harvesting, and follicular unit extraction (FUE).

4.Laser therapy

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a low-level laser device as a treatment for hereditary hair loss in men and women. A few small studies have shown that it improves hair density. More studies are needed to show long-term effects.