 |
Alopecia (Hair Loss)
Alopecia, also called hair loss, includes a set of disorders which involve lacking hair where it would normally grow, especially on the head. The most common form of alopecia is a progressive hair thinning condition called androgenic alopecia or "male pattern baldness" that occurs in adult human males and even some primate species. The severity and nature of alopecia can vary greatly; it ranges from male and female pattern alopecia; alopecia areata, which involves the loss of some of the hair from the head; alopecia totalis, which involves the loss of all head hair; and, the most extreme form, alopecia universalis, which involves the loss of all hair from the head and body.
Male pattern baldness is estimated to occur in about 66% of adult males to some varying degree, at some point of their lives. It is characterized by hair receding from the sides of the forehead, commonly known as a "receding hairline" or "receding brow". An additional patch of lost hair may be present on the very top of the head as well. The trigger for this type of hair loss is DHT, a powerful sex hormone. In those vulnerable to male pattern baldness, DHT initiates a process of follicular miniaturization, in which the hair shaft is slowly narrowed until the hair on the scalp resembles peach fuzz or becomes non-existent. Female pattern baldness, in which the midline parting of the hair appears to broaden, is a less common occurrence. It is believed to result from a decrease in estrogen, a hormone that normally counteracts the balding effect of testosterone. Onset of hair loss can begin as early as the end of puberty, and is mostly a genetic condition.
There are several other kinds of baldness conditions. Traction alopecia is found in people who wear their hair in ponytails or cornrows with the hair being held back with excessive force. Traumas such as chemotherapy, childbirth, major surgeries, poisoning, and sever stress may cause a hair loss condition known as telogen effluvium.
When it comes to treating alopecia, it is far easier to prevent the aging and falling out of follicles than to regrow hair from dormant follicles. Finasteride and minoxidil have shown some success in partially reversing hair loss, but are generally ineffective at treating extreme cases. Topical application of ketoconazole, which is an anti-fungal and potent 5-alpha reductase (a hormone responsible for hair loss) inhibitor, is often used as a supplement to other approaches. Saw Palmetto is an herbal DHT inhibitor that is reported to have fewer side effects than finasteride and dutasteride. Unlike other products, Saw Palmetto does not interfere with the production of necessary hormones. It has also been seen to inhibit the production of both forms of 5-alpha reductase unlike finasteride which only stops one form. One of the more drastic routes is the use of flutamide, in a topical solution. Flutamide blocks the action of androgens, like testosterone, and is potent enough to have a feminizing effect in men, including breast development.
|
|
