The medical description of the loss of hair from the head or body,sometimes to the extent of baldness is called Alopecia.
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.
This constant loss of hair will lead to baldness.
Baldness is the state of having no hair or lacking hair where it often grows,especially on the head.
The most common form of baldness is a progressive hair thinning condition called androgenic alopecia or “male pattern baldness”that occurs in adult male humans and other species.
The amount and patterns of baldness can vary greatly;it ranges from male and female pattern alopecia (androgenic alopecia,also called androgenetic alopecia or alopecia androgenetica),alopecia areata,which involves the loss of some of the hair from the head,and alopecia totalis,which involves the loss of all head hair,to the most extreme form,alopecia universalis,which involves the loss of all hair from the head and the body.
Cause of baldness varies from population to population based on genetic background,environmental factors do not seem to affect this type of baldness greatly.
Male pattern is characterized by hair receding from the lateral sides of the forehead,known as “receding hairline”. Receding hairlines are usually seen in males above the ages of 20 but can be seen as early as late teens as well.
Preventing and reversing hair loss
Treatments for the various forms of alopecia have limited success. Some hair loss sufferers make use of clinically proven treatments such as finasteride,dutasteride and topically applied minoxidil solution,in an attempt to prevent further loss and regrow hair.
As a general rule,it is easier to maintain remaining hair than it is to regrow;however,the treatments mentioned may prevent hair loss from Androgenetic alopecia,and there are new technologies in cosmetic transplant surgery and hair replacement systems that can be completely undetectable.
