Alopecia

This article is about the medical condition. For the 2008 album by Why?, see Alopecia (album).

Alopecia
Classification and external resources
File:Alopecia.jpg Alopecia in a 33 year old male.
ICD-10	L65.9
ICD-9	704.09
DiseasesDB	14765
MedlinePlus	003246
MeSH	D000505

Alopecia is the medical description of the loss of hair from the head or body, sometimes to the extent of baldness. Unlike the common aesthetic depilation of body hair, alopecia tends to be involuntary and unwelcome, e.g., androgenic alopecia. However, it may also be caused by a psychological compulsion to pull out one's own hair (trichotillomania) or the unforeseen consequences of voluntary hairstyling routines (mechanical "traction alopecia" from excessively tight ponytails or braids, or burns to the scalp from caustic hair relaxer solutions or hot hair irons). In some cases, alopecia is an indication of an underlying medical concern, such as iron deficiency.

When hair loss occurs in only one section, it is known as alopecia areata. This is the most common form of the disease and is consistent with a sudden loss of hair, causing patches to appear on either the scalp or other bodily areas. If left untreated, or if the disease does not respond to treatment, complete baldness can result in the affected area, known as alopecia totalis. Alopecia universalis is when the entire body suffers from complete hair loss, and is similar to the affects associated with chemotherapy.

Causes

• Androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness)
• Fungal infection such as "black dot" tinea or tinea capitis
• Chemical breakage such as over processing or frequent use of chemical relaxer
• Heat damage as from repeated hot comb use
• Chronic exposure to traction on hair shaft such as Traction alopecia
• Compulsive hair pulling such as trichotillomania
• Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
• Iron deficiency
• Telogen effluvium resulting from physical or psychological stress
• Hereditary disorder of the hair shaft or genodermatoses
• Secondary syphilis can cause "moth-eaten" hairloss
• Discoid lupus erythematosus or chronic cutanous lupus erythematosus
• Lichenplanopilaris
• Pseudopelade of Brocq
• Tufted folliculitis
• Dissecting cellulitis
• Alopecia mucinosa
• Keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans
• Adverse effect from certain drugs such as chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy or other radiation exposure
• Hypervitaminosis A

Latest research

In May 2009, researchers in Japan identified a gene, SOX21, that appears to be responsible for hair loss in humans and a researcher in India found the missing link between androgenic hormone and hair loss. Androgenic alopecia is said to be a counterproductive outcome of the anabolic effect of androgens.

Treatment options can be medical and by alternate approaches.

See also

• Baldness
• Androgenic alopecia - male pattern baldness
• Baldness treatments

External links

• Hair loss at the Open Directory Project
• 5-Minute Clinical Consult Alopecia images
• hair loss information and advice - Chiquel

de:Haarausfall zh:脫髮