HAIRLOSS

Excessive hair loss or alopecia can occur in any body area but is particularly noticeable when it affects the scalp, causing baldness. Alopecia may be localised (in which hair is lost in patches) or generalised in which there is hair loss over the whole scalp. Alopecia may cause embarrassment, particularly in women.

CAUSES

· In men, overproduction of dihyrotestosterone produces male-pattern baldness. It is an inherited condition and the most common form of alopecia. The process starts when normal hair at the temples and crown is replaced by fine, downy hair. The hairline then gradually recedes.
· Patchy hair loss is usually due to alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes bald patches to appear on the scalp, surrounded by short broken hairs. Unlike male-pattern baldness, the hair will usually re-grow within six months.
· Tension on the hair caused by hairstyles such as tight plaiting, may cause bald patches.
· Infection that scar the scalp, such as ringworm, cause hair loss. Once the infection has been treated, hair generally re-grows.
· Hair loss is a common side effect of chemo – or radiation therapy and hypothyroidism.
· Generalised thinning of the hair may occur after menopause, and hair loss is normal in the elderly.

TREATMENT

· Baldness cannot be cured. Treatments are, however, available to helppromote hair growth or hide hair loss. The over-the counter medication, minoxidil, promotes hair growth. It has to be applied to the scalp twice daily to re-grow hair and prevent further hair loss. Treatment has to be continued or hair loss will reoccur.
· Finasteride decreases the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and promotes hair growth.
· Ringworm on the scalp is a fungal infection, and can be treated with a topical or oral antifungal medication.
· Hair loss can be camouflaged by using a hairpiece. It can be permanently attached to the head, either by being tied to existing hair or by being sewn onto the scalp.