Hair loss

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"Bald" redirects here. For other uses, see Bald (disambiguation).
Alopecia
Classification and external resources
Hair loss in a 33-year-old man.
ICD-10 L 65.9
ICD-9 704.09
DiseasesDB 14765
MedlinePlus 003246
MeSH D000505
Hair loss
[1]
or baldness (tecnically !no"n as alopecia
[2]
# is a loss o$ air $rom te ead or %ody.
&aldness can re$er to 'eneral air loss or male (attern %aldness s(eci$ically. )ome ty(es o$
%aldness can %e ca*sed %y alo(ecia areata+ an a*toimm*ne disorder. ,e e-treme $orms o$
alo(ecia areata are alo(ecia totalis+ "ic in.ol.es te loss o$ all ead air+ and alo(ecia *ni.ersalis+
"ic in.ol.es te loss o$ all air $rom te ead and te %ody.
&aldness and y(otricosis can a.e many ca*ses+ incl*din' $*n'al in$ection (tinea ca(itis#+
tra*matic dama'e+ s*c as %y com(*lsi.e (*llin' (tricotillomania#+ as a res*lt
o$ radiotera(y or cemotera(y+ and as a res*lt o$ n*tritional de$iciencies s*c asiron+ and as a
res*lt o$ a*toimm*ne (enomena+ incl*din' alo(ecia areata and air loss associated "it systemic
l*(*s erytematos*s.
[3]
Contents
[ide]
1 ,erminolo'y
2 )i'ns and sym(toms
o 2.1 /-cessi.e daily air loss
o 2.2 )!in conditions
o 2.3 0sycolo'ical
3 1a*ses
o 3.1 2ale (attern air loss
o 3.2 3*trition
o 3.3 4n$ection
o 3.4 Dr*'s
o 3.5 ,ra*ma
o 3.6 0re'nancy
o 3.7 5ter
4 0ato(ysiolo'y
5 Dia'nosis
6 2ana'ement
o 6.1 2edications
o 6.2 )*r'ery
o 6.3 Hidin' air loss
o 6.4 /m%racin' %aldness
o 6.5 6lternati.e medicine
7 /tymolo'y
7 8esearc
9 )ee also
10 9ootnotes
11 /-ternal lin!s
Terminology[edit]
&aldness is te (artial or com(lete lac! o$ air 'ro"t+ and (art o$ te "ider to(ic o$ :air tinnin':.
,e de'ree and (attern o$ %aldness .aries+ %*t its most common ca*se isandro'enic
alo(ecia+ alopecia androgenetica+ or alopecia seborrheica+ "it te last term (rimarily *sed in
/*ro(e.
[citation needed]
Signs and symptoms[edit]
6 case o$ mid-$rontal %aldness;6ndre 6'assi
)ym(toms o$ alo(ecia incl*de air loss in (atces *s*ally in circ*lar (atterns+ dandr*$$+ s!in lesions+
and scarrin'. 6lo(ecia areata (mild - medi*m le.el# *s*ally so"s in *n*s*al air loss areas e.'.
eye%ro"s+ %ac!side o$ te ead or a%o.e te ears "ere *s*ally te male (attern %aldness does not
e$$ect. 4n male-(attern air loss+ loss and tinnin' %e'in at te tem(les and te cro"n and eiter
tins o*t or $alls o*t. 9emale-(attern air loss occ*rs at te$rontal and (arietal.
Excessive dail !air loss[edit]
0eo(le a.e %et"een 100+000 and 150+000 airs on teir ead. ,e n*m%er o$ strands normally lost
in a day .aries+ %*t on a.era'e is 100.
[4]
4n order to maintain a normal .ol*me+ air m*st %e re(laced
at te same rate at "ic it is lost. ,e $irst si'ns o$ air tinnin' tat (eo(le "ill o$ten notice are
more airs tan *s*al le$t in te air%r*s a$ter %r*sin' or in te %asin a$ter sam(ooin'. )tylin'
can also re.eal areas o$ tinnin'+ s*c as a "ider (artin' or a tinnin' cro"n.
S"in conditions[edit]
6 s*%stantially %lemised $ace+ %ac! and lim%s co*ld (oint to cystic acne. ,e most se.ere $orm o$
te condition+ cystic acne arises $rom te same ormonal im%alances tat ca*se air loss+ and is
associated "it DH, (rod*ction.
[5]
)e%orreic dermatitis+ a condition in "ic an e-cessi.e amo*nt
o$ se%*m is (rod*ced and %*ilds *( on te scal( (loo!in' li!e an ad*lt cradle ca(# is also a sym(tom
o$ ormonal im%alances+ as is an e-cessi.ely oily or dry scal(. &ot can ca*se air tinnin'.
Psc!olo#ical[edit]
Hair tinnin' and %aldness ca*se (sycolo'ical stress d*e to its e$$ect on a((earance. 6lto*'
societal interest in a((earance as a lon' istory+ tis (artic*lar %ranc o$ (sycolo'y came into its
o"n d*rin' te 1960s and as 'ained moment*m as messa'es associatin' (ysical attracti.eness
"it s*ccess and a((iness 'ro" more (re.alent.
[6]
,e (sycolo'y o$ air tinnin' is a com(le- iss*e. Hair is considered an essential (art o$ o.erall
identity; es(ecially $or "omen+ $or "om it o$ten re(resents $emininity and attracti.eness. 2en
ty(ically associate a $*ll ead o$ air "it yo*t and .i'or. 6lto*' tey may %e a"are o$ (attern
%aldness in teir $amily+ many are *ncom$orta%le tal!in' a%o*t te iss*e. Hair tinnin' is tere$ore a
sensiti.e iss*e $or %ot se-es. 9or s*$$erers+ it can re(resent a loss o$ control and $eelin's o$
isolation. 0eo(le e-(eriencin' air tinnin' o$ten $ind temsel.es in a sit*ation "ere teir (ysical
a((earance is at odds "it teir o"n sel$-ima'e and commonly "orry tat tey a((ear older tan
tey are or less attracti.e to oters. 0sycolo'ical (ro%lems d*e to %aldness+ i$ (resent+ are ty(ically
most se.ere at te onset o$ sym(toms.
[7]
Hair loss ind*ced %y cancer cemotera(y as %een re(orted to ca*se can'es in sel$-conce(t
and %ody ima'e. &ody ima'e does not ret*rn to te (re.io*s state a$ter re'ro"t o$ air $or a
ma<ority o$ (atients. 4n s*c cases+ (atients a.e di$$ic*lties e-(ressin' teir $eelin's (ale-itymia#
and may %e more (rone to a.oidin' $amily con$licts. 9amily tera(y can el( $amilies to co(e "it
tese (sycolo'ical (ro%lems i$ tey arise.
[7]
Causes[edit]
6lto*' not com(letely *nderstood+
[citation needed]
alo(ecia can a.e many ca*ses;
Male pattern !air loss[edit]
Main article: Male pattern hair loss
2ore tan 95= o$ air tinnin' in men is male (attern air loss (also !no"n as andro'enic alo(ecia#.
[9]
2ale (attern air loss is caracteri>ed %y air recedin' $rom te lateral sides o$ te $oreead
(!no"n as a :recedin' airline:# and?or a tinnin' cro"n (%aldin' to te area !no"n as te @.erte-A#.
[10]
&ot %ecome more (rono*nced *ntil tey e.ent*ally meet+ lea.in' a orsesoe-sa(ed rin' o$
air aro*nd te %ac! o$ te ead.
,e incidence o$ (attern %aldness .aries $rom (o(*lation to (o(*lation and is %ased on 'enetic
%ac!'ro*nd. /n.ironmental $actors do not seem to a$$ect tis ty(e o$ %aldness 'reatly. 5ne lar'e
scale st*dy in 2ary%oro*'+ Bictoria+ 6*stralia so"ed te (re.alence o$ mid-$rontal %aldness
increases "it a'e and a$$ects 73.5 (ercent o$ men and 57 (ercent o$ "omen a'ed 70 and o.er. 6
ro*' r*le o$ t*m% is tat te incidence o$ %aldness in males corres(onds to cronolo'ical a'e. 9or
e-am(le+ accordin' to 2edem 2edical Li%raryCs "e%site+ male (attern %aldness (20&# a$$ects
ro*'ly 40 million men in te Dnited )tates. 6((ro-imately 25 (ercent o$ men %e'in %aldin' %y a'e
30E t"o-tirds %e'in %aldin' %y a'e 60.
,ere is a 4 in 7 cance o$ recei.in' te %aldness 'ene.
[11]
5nset o$ air loss sometimes %e'ins as
early as te end o$ (*%erty+ and is mostly 'enetically determined. 4t "as (re.io*sly %elie.ed tat
%aldness "as inerited $rom te maternal 'rand$ater. File tere is some %asis $or tis %elie$+ %ot
(arents contri%*te to teir o$$s(rin'Cs li!eliood o$ air loss. 2ost li!ely+ ineritance in.ol.es many
'enes "it .aria%le (enetrance.
,e tri''er $or tis ty(e o$ %aldness is diydrotestosterone+ a more-(otent $orm o$ testosterone o$ten
re$erred to %y its acronym DH,. DH, is an andro'enic ormone+ %ody- and $acial-air 'ro"t
(romoter tat can ad.ersely a$$ect te (rostate as "ell as te air located on te ead.
[12]
,e
mecanism %y "ic DH, accom(lises tis is not yet $*lly *nderstood. 4n 'enetically (rone scal(s
(i.e.+ tose e-(eriencin' male or $emale (attern %aldness#+ DH, initiates a (rocess o$ $ollic*lar
miniat*ri>ation+ in "ic te air $ollicle%e'ins to deteriorate. 6s a conseG*ence+ te airAs 'ro"t
(ase (ana'en# is sortened+ and yo*n'+ *n(i'mented .ell*s air is (re.ented $rom 'ro"in' and
mat*rin' into te dee(ly rooted and (i'mented terminal air tat ma!es *( 90 (ercent o$ te air on
te ead.
[13]
4n time+ air %ecomes tinner+ and its o.erall .ol*me is red*ced so tat it resem%les
$ra'ile .ell*s air or :(eac $*>>: *ntil+ $inally+ te $ollicle 'oes dormant and ceases (rod*cin' air
com(letely.
$utrition[edit]
)t*dies a.e so"n tat (oor n*trition+ limited $ood inta!e+ and de$iciencies in certain n*trients can
ca*se tinnin'. ,ese incl*de de$iciencies o$ %iotin+ (rotein+ >inc and (oor*man iron meta%olism+
alto*' com(lete %aldness is not *s*ally seen. 6 diet i' in animal $ats (o$ten $o*nd in $ast $ood#
and .itamin 6 is also to*'t to a.e an e$$ect on air loss.
Hy(er.itaminosis 6
4ron de$iciency or maln*trition in 'eneral
In%ection[edit]
Dissectin' cell*litis
9*n'al in$ections (s*c as tinea ca(itis#
,inea ca(itis
9ollic*litis
)econdary sy(ilis
[14]

Demodex folliculorum + a microsco(ic mite tat $eeds on te se%*m (rod*ced %y
te se%aceo*s 'lands+ denies air essential n*trients and can ca*se tinnin'. Demodex
folliculorum is not (resent on e.ery scal( and is more li!ely to li.e in an e-cessi.ely oily scal(
en.ironment.
Dru#s[edit]
,em(orary or (ermanent air loss can %e ca*sed %y se.eral medications+ incl*din' tose
$or %lood (ress*re (ro%lems+ dia%etes+ eart disease and colesterol.
[15]
6ny tat a$$ect te
%odyAs ormone %alance can a.e a (rono*nced e$$ect; tese incl*de te contrace(ti.e
(ill+ ormone re(lacement tera(y+ steroids and acne medications.
[16]
)ome treatments *sed to c*re mycotic in$ections can ca*se massi.e air loss.
[17]
2edications (side e$$ects $rom dr*'s+ incl*din' cemotera(y+ ana%olic steroids+ and %irt
control (ills
[17]

[19]
#
&rau'a[edit]
,raction alo(ecia is most commonly $o*nd in (eo(le "it (onytails or cornro"s "o (*ll on
teir air "it e-cessi.e $orce. 4n addition+ ri'oro*s %r*sin' and eat stylin'+ ro*' scal(
massa'e can dama'e te c*ticle+ te ard o*ter casin' o$ te air. ,is ca*ses indi.id*al
strands to %ecome "ea! and %rea! o$$+ red*cin' o.erall air .ol*me.
,ricotillomania is te loss o$ air ca*sed %y com(*lsi.e (*llin' and %endin' o$ te airs.
5nset o$ tis disorder tends to %e'in aro*nd te onset o$ (*%erty and *s*ally contin*es tro*'
ad*ltood. D*e to te constant e-traction o$ te air roots+ (ermanent air loss can occ*r.
,ra*mas s*c as cild%irt+ ma<or s*r'ery+ (oisonin'+ and se.ere stress may ca*se a air
loss condition !no"n as telo'en e$$l*.i*m+
[20]
in "ic a lar'e n*m%er o$ airs enter te restin'
(ase at te same time+ ca*sin' seddin' and s*%seG*ent tinnin'. ,e condition also (resents
as a side e$$ect o$ cemotera(y H "ile tar'etin' di.idin' cancer cells+ tis treatment also
a$$ects airAs 'ro"t (ase "it te res*lt tat almost 90= o$ airs $all o*t soon a$ter
cemotera(y starts.
[21]
8adiation to te scal(+ as "en radiotera(y is a((lied to te ead $or te treatment o$
certain cancers tere+ can ca*se %aldness o$ te irradiated areas.
Pre#nanc[edit]
Hair loss o$ten $ollo"s cild%irt "ito*t ca*sin' %aldness. 4n tis sit*ation+ te air is act*ally tic!er
d*rin' (re'nancy d*e to increased circ*latin' oestro'ens. 6$ter te %a%y is %orn+ te oestro'en
le.els $all %ac! to normal (re(re'nancy le.els+ and te additional air $olia'e dro(s o*t. 6 similar
sit*ation occ*rs in "omen ta!in' te $ertility-stim*latin' dr*'clomi(ene.
(t!er[edit]
6ir and "ater (oll*tants as "ell as minerals in "ater and te (ototo-ic e$$ects o$ s*nli't
can ca*se tinnin' %y a'in' te scal( s!in and dama'in' air.
6lo(ecia areata is an a*toimm*ne disorder also !no"n as :s(ot %aldness: tat can res*lt in
air loss ran'in' $rom <*st one location (lopecia areata monolocularis# to e.ery air on te
entire %ody (lopecia areata uni!ersalis#. 6lto*' to*'t to %e ca*sed %y air $ollicles
%ecomin' dormant+ "at tri''ers alo(ecia areata is not !no"n. 4n most cases te condition
corrects itsel$+ %*t it can also s(read to te entire scal( (alo(ecia totalis# or to te entire %ody
(alo(ecia *ni.ersalis#.
Locali>ed or di$$*se air loss may also occ*r in cicatricial alo(ecia (l*(*s erytematos*s+
licen (lano (ilaris+ $ollic*litis decal.ans+ central centri$*'al cicatricial alo(ecia+ (ostmeno(a*sal
$rontal $i%rosin' alo(ecia+ etc.#. ,*mo*rs and s!in o*t'ro"ts also ind*ce locali>ed %aldness
(se%aceo*s ne.*s+ %asal cell carcinoma+ sG*amo*s cell carcinoma#.
Hy(otyroidism (an *nder-acti.e tyroid# and te side e$$ects o$ its related medications can
ca*se air loss+ ty(ically $rontal+ "ic is (artic*larly associated "it tinnin' o$ te o*ter tird o$
te eye%ro"s (also seen "it sy(ilis#. Hy(ertyroidism (an o.er-acti.e tyroid# can also ca*se
air loss+ "ic is (arietal rater tan $rontal.
[22][unreliable medical source"]
,em(orary loss o$ air can occ*r in areas "ere se%aceo*s cysts are (resent $or
considera%le d*ration (normally one to se.eral "ee!s#.
1on'enital trian'*lar alo(ecia H 4t is a trian'*lar+ or o.al in some cases+ sa(ed (atc o$ air
loss in te tem(le area o$ te scal( tat occ*rs mostly in yo*n' cildren. ,e a$$ected area
mainly contains .ell*s air $ollicles or no air $ollicles at all+ %*t it does not e-(and. 4ts ca*ses
are *n!no"n+ and alto*' it is a (ermanent condition+ it does not a.e any oter e$$ect on te
a$$ected indi.id*als.
[23]
Irad*al tinnin' o$ air "it a'e is a nat*ral condition !no"n as in.ol*tional alo(ecia. ,is is
ca*sed %y an increasin' n*m%er o$ air $ollicles s"itcin' $rom te 'ro"t+ or ana'en+ (ase
into a restin' (ase+ or telo'en (ase+ so tat remainin' airs %ecome sorter and $e"er in
n*m%er.
6n *nealty scal( en.ironment can (lay a si'ni$icant role in air tinnin' %y contri%*tin' to
miniat*ri>ation or ca*sin' dama'e. 6ir and "ater (oll*tants+ en.ironmental to-ins+ con.entional
stylin' (rod*cts and e-cessi.e amo*nts o$ se%*m a.e te (otential to %*ild *( on te scal(.
,is de%ris can %loc! air $ollicles and ca*se teir deterioration and conseG*ent miniat*ri>ation
o$ air. 4t can also (ysically restrict air 'ro"t or dama'e te air c*ticle+ leadin' to air tat is
"ea!ened and easily %ro!en o$$ %e$ore its nat*ral li$ecycle as ended.
,e caracteristic (ort-"ine stain o$2i!ail Ior%ace. (ere si'nin' te 439 ,reaty in Fasin'ton+ 1977# "o*ld a.e
remained *n!no"n H i$ e ad not %een %ald.
1a*ses o$ alo(ecia incl*de;
6lo(ecia m*cinosa
&iotinidase de$iciency
1ronic in$lammation
Dia%etes
[24]

Hair treatments (cemicals in rela-ers+ air strai'teners#
L*(*s erytematos*s
0se*do(elade o$ &rocG
,elo'en e$$l*.i*m
,*$ted $ollic*litis
Pathophysiology[edit]
Hair $ollicle 'ro"t occ*rs in cycles. /ac cycle consists o$ a lon' 'ro"in' (ase (ana'en#+ a sort
transitional (ase (cata'en# and a sort restin' (ase (telo'en#. 6t te end o$ te restin' (ase+ te
air $alls o*t (e-o'en# and a ne" air starts 'ro"in' in te $ollicle %e'innin' te cycle a'ain.
3ormally+ a%o*t 40 (0H77 in men# airs reac te end o$ teir restin' (ase eac day and $all o*t.
[25]
Fen more tan 100 airs $all o*t (er day+ clinical air loss (telo'en e$$l*.i*m# may occ*r.
[citation
needed]
6 disr*(tion o$ te 'ro"in' (ase ca*ses a%normal loss o$ ana'en airs (ana'en e$$l*.i*m#.
Diagnosis[edit]
&eca*se tey are not *s*ally associated "it an increased loss rate+ male-(attern and $emale-
(attern air loss do not 'enerally reG*ire testin'. 4$ air loss occ*rs in a yo*n' man "it no $amily
istory+ dr*' *se co*ld %e te ca*se.
&!e pull test el(s to e.al*ate di$$*se scal( air loss. Ientle traction is e-erted on a 'ro*(
o$ airs (a%o*t 40H60# on tree di$$erent areas o$ te scal(. ,e n*m%er o$ e-tracted airs is
co*nted and e-amined *nder a microsco(e. 3ormally+ $e"er tan tree airs (er area so*ld
come o*t "it eac (*ll. 4$ more tan ten airs are o%tained+ te (*ll test is considered (ositi.e.
[26]
&!e pluc" test is cond*cted %y (*llin' air o*t :%y te roots:. ,e root o$ te (l*c!ed air is
e-amined *nder a microsco(e to determine te (ase o$ 'ro"t+ and is *sed to dia'nose a
de$ect o$ telo'en+ ana'en+ or systemic disease. ,elo'en airs a.e tiny %*l%s "ito*t seats at
teir roots. ,elo'en e$$l*.i*m so"s an increased (ercenta'e o$ airs *(on e-amination.
6na'en airs a.e seats attaced to teir roots. 6na'en e$$l*.i*m so"s a decrease in
telo'en-(ase airs and an increased n*m%er o$ %ro!en airs.
Scalp biops is *sed "en te dia'nosis is *ns*reE a %io(sy allo"s $or di$$erin' %et"een
scarrin' and nonscarrin' $orms. Hair sam(les are ta!en $rom areas o$ in$lammation+ *s*ally
aro*nd te %order o$ te %ald (atc.
Dail !air counts are normally done "en te (*ll test is ne'ati.e. 4t is done %y co*ntin' te
n*m%er o$ airs lost. ,e air $rom te $irst mornin' com%in' or d*rin' "asin' so*ld %e
co*nted. ,e air is collected in a clear (lastic %a' $or 14 days. ,e strands are recorded. 4$ te
air co*nt is J100?day+ it is considered a%normal e-ce(t a$ter sam(ooin'+ "ere air co*nts
"ill %e *( to 250 and %e normal.
[citation needed]
&ric!oscop is a nonin.asi.e metod o$ e-aminin' air and scal(. ,e test may %e
(er$ormed "it te *se o$ a andeld dermosco(e or a .ideo dermosco(e. 4t allo"s di$$erential
dia'nosis o$ air loss in most cases.
[27]
,ere are t"o ty(es o$ identi$ication tests $or $emale (attern %aldness; te L*d"i' )cale and
te )a.in )cale. &ot trac! te (ro'ress o$ di$$*sed tinnin'+ "ic ty(ically %e'ins on te cro"n o$
te ead %eind te airline+ and %ecomes 'rad*ally more (rono*nced. 9or male (attern %aldness+
te HamiltonH3or"ood scale trac!s te (ro'ress o$ a recedin' airline and?or a tinnin' cro"n+
tro*' to a orsesoe-sa(ed rin' o$ air aro*nd te ead and on to total %aldness.
4n almost all cases o$ tinnin'+ and es(ecially in cases o$ se.ere air loss+ it is recommended to
see! ad.ice $rom a doctor or dermatolo'ist. 2any ty(es o$ tinnin' a.e an
*nderlyin' 'enetic or ealt-related ca*se+ "ic a G*ali$ied (ro$essional "ill %e a%le to dia'nose.
Management[edit]
#ee also: Management of baldness
Medications[edit]
,reatments $or te .ario*s $orms o$ air loss a.e limited s*ccess. ,ree medications a.e e.idence
to s*((ort teir *se in male (attern air loss; $inasteride+ d*tasteride andmino-idil.
[27]
,ey ty(ically
"or! %etter to (re.ent $*rter air loss tan to re'ro" lost air.
[27]
2ino-idil (8o'aine# is a non(rescri(tion medication a((ro.ed $or male (attern %aldness and
alo(ecia areata. 4n a liG*id or $oam+ it is r*%%ed into te scal( t"ice a day. ,is is te most
e$$ecti.e metod to treat male-(attern and $emale-(attern air loss.
[citation needed]
Ho"e.er+ only 30H
40= o$ (atients e-(erience air 'ro"t. 2ino-idil is not e$$ecti.e $or oter ca*ses o$ air loss.
Hair re'ro"t can ta!e ei't to 12 monts. ,reatment is contin*ed inde$initely %eca*se+ i$ te
treatment is sto((ed+ air loss res*mes a'ain. 2ost $reG*ent side e$$ects are mild scal(
irritation+ aller'ic contact dermatitis+ and increased $acial air.
[citation needed]
9inasteride (0ro(ecia# is *sed in male-(attern air loss in a (ill $orm ta!en on a daily %asis. 4t
is not indicated $or "omen and is not recommended in (re'nant "omen. ,reatment is e$$ecti.e
"itin si- to ei't monts o$ treatment. )ide e$$ects incl*de decreased se- dri.e+ erectile
dys$*nction+ e<ac*latory dys$*nction+ 'ynecomastia+ andmyo(aty. ,reatment so*ld %e
contin*ed as lon' as (ositi.e res*lts occ*r. 5nce treatment is sto((ed+ air loss res*mes a'ain.
1orticosteroids in<ections o$ into te scal( can %e *sed to treat alo(ecia areata. ,is ty(e o$
treatment is re(eated on a montly %asis. 5ral (ills $or e-tensi.e air loss may %e *sed $or
alo(ecia areata. 8es*lts may ta!e *( to a mont to %e seen.
4mm*nos*((ressants a((lied to te scal( a.e %een so"n to tem(orarily re.erse alo(ecia
areata+ to*' te side e$$ects o$ some o$ tese dr*'s ma!e s*c tera(y G*estiona%le.
[29][30]
6ntralin may%e *sed in alo(ecia areata.
[31]
Hormonal mod*lators (oral contrace(ti.es or antiandro'ens s*c
as s(ironolactone and $l*tamide# can %e *sed $or $emale-(attern air loss associated
"ity(erandro'enemia.
Sur#er[edit]
Hair ,rans(lantation is *s*ally carried o*t *nder local anaestetic. 6 s*r'eon "ill mo.e ealty air
$rom te %ac! and sides o$ te ead to areas o$ tinnin'. ,e (roced*re can ta!e %et"een $o*r and
ei't o*rs+ and additional sessions can %e carried o*t to ma!e air e.en tic!er. ,rans(lanted air
$alls o*t "itin a $e" "ee!s+ %*t re'ro"s (ermanently "itin monts. KKHair trans(lants+ ta!es tiny
(l*'s o$ s!in+ eac "ic contains a $e" airs+ and im(lants te (l*'s into %ald sections. ,e (l*'s
are 'enerally ta!en $rom te %ac! or sides o$ te scal(. )e.eral trans(lant sessions may %e
necessary.
[32]
)*r'ical o(tions+ s*c as $ollicle trans(lants+ scal( $la(s+ and air loss red*ction+ are
a.aila%le. ,ese (roced*res are 'enerally cosen %y tose "o are sel$-conscio*s a%o*t teir
air loss+ %*t tey are e-(ensi.e and (ain$*l+ "it a ris! o$ in$ection and scarrin'. 5nce s*r'ery
as occ*rred+ si- to ei't monts are needed %e$ore te G*ality o$ ne" air can %e assessed.
)cal( red*ction is te (rocess is te decreasin' o$ te area o$ %ald s!in on te ead.
4n time+ te s!in on te ead %ecomes $le-i%le and stretced eno*' tat some o$ it can %e
s*r'ically remo.ed. 6$ter te airless scal( is remo.ed+ te s(ace is closed "it air-
co.ered scal(. )cal( red*ction is 'enerally done in com%ination "it air trans(lantation to
(ro.ide a nat*ral-loo!in' airline+ es(ecially tose "it e-tensi.e air loss.
Hairline lo"erin' can sometimes %e *sed to lo"er a i' airline secondary to air
loss+ alto*' tere may %e a .isi%le scar a$ter $*rter air loss.
2icro-3eedlin' is a (ainless treatment tat can stim*late air 'ro"t "it te *se o$
needles on a roller.
Fi's are an alternati.e to medical and s*r'ical treatmentE some (atients "ear a "i' or
air(iece. ,ey can %e *sed (ermanently or tem(orarily to co.er te air loss. Hi'-G*ality+
nat*ral-loo!in' "i's and air(ieces are a.aila%le.
Hidin# !air loss[edit]
Ieneral 6m%rose &*rnside ((oto %y 2ate" &rady+ c. 1760#
Head[edit]
5ne metod o$ idin' air loss is te :com% o.er:+ "ic in.ol.es restylin' te remainin' air to
co.er te %aldin' area. 4t is *s*ally a tem(orary sol*tion+ *se$*l only "ile te area o$ air loss is
small. 6s te air loss increases+ a com% o.er %ecomes less e$$ecti.e.
6noter metod is to "ear a at or a air(ieceLa "i' or to*(ee. ,e "i' is a layer o$ arti$icial or
nat*ral air made to resem%le a ty(ical air style. 4n most cases te air is arti$icial. Fi's .ary "idely
in G*ality and cost. 4n te Dnited )tates+ te %est "i'sLtose tat loo! li!e real airLcost *( to tens
o$ to*sands o$ dollars. 5r'ani>ations also collect indi.id*alsC donations o$ teir o"n nat*ral air to
%e made into "i's $or yo*n' cancer(atients "o a.e lost teir air d*e to cemotera(y or oter
cancer treatment in addition to any ty(e o$ air loss.
Lastly a n*m%er o$ alternati.e to(ical camo*$la'es e-ist s*c as 3ano'en (/*ro(e# and ,o((i!
(D.).# and tese are .ery (o(*lar as non-"i' cosmetics "ic add electrostatic micro$i%res to yo*r
o"n air.
Eebro)s[edit]
,o*' not as common as te loss o$ air on te ead+ cemotera(y+ ormone im%alance+ $orms o$
air loss+ and oter $actors can also ca*se loss o$ air in te eye%ro"s. Loss o$ 'ro"t in te o*ter
one tird o$ te eye%ro" is o$ten associated "it y(otyroidism. 6rti$icial eye%ro"s are a.aila%le to
re(lace missin' eye%ro"s or to co.er (atcy eye%ro"s. /ye%ro" em%roidery is anoter o(tion "ic
in.ol.es te *se o$ a %lade to add (i'ment to te eye%ro"s. ,is 'i.es a nat*ral 3D loo! $or tose
"o are "orried a%o*t an arti$icial loo! and it lasts $or t"o years. 2icro(i'mentation ((ermanent
ma!e*( tattooin'# is also a.aila%le $or tose "o "ant te loo! to %e (ermanent.
E'bracin# baldness[edit]
#ee also: $ead sha!ing
4nstead o$ concealin' air loss+ some may em%race it. 6 sa.ed ead "ill 'ro" st*%%le in te same
manner and at te same rate as a sa.ed $ace. ,e 'eneral (*%lic as %ecome acce(tin' o$ te
sa.ed ead as "ell+ to*' $emale %aldness can %e considered less socially acce(ta%le in .ario*s
(arts o$ te "orld.
[citation needed]
Alternative 'edicine[edit]
2any (eo(le *se *n(ro.en treatments.
[27]
/'' oil+ in 4ndian+
[33]
Ma(anese+ Dnani (8o'an &ai>a
2*r'#
[34]
and 1inese
[35]
traditional medicine+ "as traditionally *sed as a treatment $or airloss.
Etymology[edit]
,e term alopecia ? N lo ( i O ? is $ormed $rom te Iree! al%pex (PQRSTU#+ meanin' $o-. ,e ori'in
o$ tis *sa'e is %eca*se tis animal seds its coat t"ice a year+ or %eca*se in ancient Ireece $o-es
o$ten lost air %eca*se o$ man'e.
,e term bald li!ely deri.es $rom te /n'lis "ord balde+ "ic means :"ite+ (ale:+ or 1eltic ball+
"ic means :"ite (atc or %la>e:+ s*c as on a orseCs ead.
[36]
Research[edit]
,ere is e.idence tat te 'ene )5V21 may (lay a role in air loss in *mans.
[37]
,ere may also %e
a lin! %et"een ele.ated le.els o$ (rosta'landin D2 (0DI2# and male (attern airloss. 6%normally
i' le.els o$ 0DI2 (a nearly tree-$old increase# "ere disco.ered in tiss*e sam(les o$ %aldin'
areas com(ared to aired areas o$ te scal(. 6 0DI2-%indin' rece(tor+ I0844+ as also %een
disco.ered. 1om(o*nds aimed at tar'etin' te I0844 rece(tor are c*rrently %ein' st*died.
[37]
8esearc is loo!in' into connections %et"een air loss and oter ealt iss*es. File tere as
%een s(ec*lation a%o*t a connection %et"een early-onset male (attern air loss and eart disease+
a re.ie" o$ articles $rom 1954 to 1999 $o*nd no concl*si.e connection %et"een %aldness and
coronary artery disease. ,e dermatolo'ists "o cond*cted te re.ie" s*''ested $*rter st*dy "as
needed.
[39]
/n.ironmental $actors are *nder re.ie". 6 2007 st*dy indicated tat smo!in' may %e a $actor
associated "it a'e-related air loss amon' 6sian men. ,e st*dy controlled $or a'e and $amily
istory+ and $o*nd statistically si'ni$icant (ositi.e associations %et"een moderate or se.ere male
(attern airloss and smo!in' stat*s.
[40]
Berte- %aldness is associated "it an increased ris! o$ coronary eart disease (1HD# and te
relationsi( de(ends *(on te se.erity o$ %aldness+ "ile $rontal %aldness is not. ,*s+ .erte-
%aldness mi't %e a mar!er o$ 1HD and is more closely associated "it aterosclerosis tan $rontal
%aldness.
[41]
See also[edit]