Alopecia a Fancy Name for Hair Loss

Alopecia means "baldness"; hair loss from skin areas where hair would normally be present. The word alopecia comes from the Greek word for fox, which is "alopex." This term was used presumably because the condition caused the sufferer to have the appearance of a fox with mange.

There is more than one type of alopecia and treatments depend on which type of alopecia is diagnosed. The following is a summary of the appearance, causes, and treatments for alopecia:

ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA:

 Androgenetic alopecia is also known as male pattern baldness. Real Hair type of alopecia is a progressive loss of scalp hair. The hair loss is symmetric, that is, the same of both sides of the head. The cause of androgenetic alopecia is a combination of both heredity and hormones.

ALOPECIA AREATA:

Alopecia areata describes hair loss in clearly defined areas or patches. These typically circular-shaped patches can occur anywhere on the body, but are most common on the scalp or beard. The patches are usually about the size of a quarter. The disease can cause a small few patches, or many larger patches to occur. Alopecia is considered to be an autoimmune disease and has a genetic component. In the case of alopecia areata, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles; the tiny sacs in which hair grows.

CICATRICIAL ALOPECIA:

Cicatricial alopecia is divided into primary or secondary types. Primary cicatricial alopecia refers to a group of disorders that destroy the hair follicle and replace it with scar tissue. These disorders are rare. In some cases, hair loss can be gradual, without symptoms, and may go unnoticed for long periods of time. In other cases, hair is lost quickly and Peruvian Hair accompanied by itching, burning, and pain. The scalp may show little signs of inflammation, or it can have scaling, redness, and pus, and may be darker or lighter in color. The inflammation that destroys the follicle is under the skin surface so there is usually no visible scarring on the scalp. In secondary cicatricial alopecias, the cause of hair follicle destruction is due some external cause such as injury, burns, radiation, severe infection, or tumors. For both primary and secondary types of cicatricial alopecia, hair loss is permanent.

TRACTION ALOPECIA:

Traction alopecia is hair loss resulting from the hair being pulled from the follicle, usually as a result of some hairstyles, or even from habitual twisting or pulling on one's own hair.

ALOPECIA TOTALIS:

In Alopecia totalis, the scalp is left entirely without hair.

ALOPECIA UNIVERSALIS:

In Alopecia universalis, all body hair is lost, including the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, underarms, and pubis.

CURES FOR ALOPECIA AREATA:

There is no cure for alopecia areata, although sometimes the hair will grow back on it's own for unknown reasons.

TREATMENT OF ALOPECIA AREATA: