Who Is At Risk
Alopecia areata has two peaks of onset one in childhood and one in adulthood though it has been reported in all ages. As with other autoimmune conditions, there is likely a genetic basis to alopecia areata with unknown triggers that result in the loss of hair. Associated conditions in the patient or family that might represent increased risk include Type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, vitiligo, thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Noninfectious And Nonmalignant Cutaneous Manifestations Of Hiv Infection
For xerosis, emollients and dry skin care regimens are effective. For seborrheic dermatitis, coal tar, sulfur, and salicylic acid shampoos topical corticosteroids topical tacrolimus and 2% ketoconazole cream may be effective.
For psoriasis and Reiter syndrome, ultraviolet B and psoralen with UV-A may be useful. Systemic corticosteroids, methotrexate, and cyclosporine may increase the immune suppression and must be considered only with careful monitoring. Zidovudine is also reported to be useful in the treatment of HIV-associated psoriasis.
For pruritic papular eruption, topical steroids, UV-B, PUVA, and pentoxifylline have been reported to be effective. Eosinophilic folliculitis may respond to UV-B, isotretinoin, or zidovudine treatment. For severe aphthous stomatitis, tacrolimus is reported to be effective.
Scalp Conditions That Cause Hair Loss: Symptoms Causes And Treatment
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These conditions cause irritation and swelling in the layers of the skin of your scalp. This inflammation can then damage the roots in your scalp that produce hair , which can lead to hair loss. It can also make your scalp very itchy, and scratching your skin can damage your hair follicles, too.
The good news is that these skin conditions can be managed. In some cases your hair will grow back, but regardless, there are many treatment options to help improve your scalp condition. So read on to learn about the symptoms, causes and treatment of common scalp conditions that might be causing you to lose your hair.
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What Does It Mean If You Have Hair Loss On One Side Of Your Head
Dr. Vilma is a Harvard educated doctor specializing in obstetrics, gynecology, and infertility and reproductive endrocrinology. When not in active practice, she creates patient educational materials, academic works, and editorials on health advocacy and wellness.
Hair loss only on one side of your head could have several possible causes. Finding and treating the underlying problem gives you the best chance to regrow your hair. Consult your doctor if the amount of hair loss is noticeable or significant to you.
Male Pattern Hair Loss
In men, hair loss can begin any time after puberty and progress over the course of years or decades. It starts above the temples and continues around the perimeter and the top of the head, often leaving a ring of hair along the bottom of the scalp. Many men with male pattern hair loss eventually become bald.
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What Is The Relationship Between Hair Loss In Women And Menopause
During menopause, you might see one of two things happen with your hair. You might start growing hair where you didnt before. Or, you might see the hair you have start to thin. One cause may be changing levels of hormones during menopause. Estrogen and progesterone levels fall, meaning that the effects of the androgens, male hormones, are increased.
During and after menopause, hair might become finer because hair follicles shrink. Hair grows more slowly and falls out more easily in these cases.
Your healthcare provider will do a thorough examination and take a detailed history to help you deal with changes in hair growth. You may be directed to have your iron levels or thyroid hormone levels tested. Your medications might be changed if what you take is found to affect hair loss or growth.
How Does Hiv Affect The Scalp
People who have HIV find it difficult to fight off everyday infections and illnesses. HIV hair loss can occur as a result of diseases that damage the immune system.
For instance, patients with HIV commonly develop seborrheic dermatitis, which is an autoimmune response. This condition is a form of dermatitis that occurs in those areas of the body where there is more sebaceous glands activity.
This can cause redness, itchiness and flaky scales on the scalp. Inflammation can also occur as a result. Here too, HIV hair loss occurs indirectly.
Antifungals and steroids are used for treatment. It can be difficult to treat it in patients with HIV. Their weak immune system can lead to repeated skin problems due to any stress.
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Best Steps To Take When Losing Hai
One of the best things you can do if youre losing your hair is to seek medical attention. If you are experiencing hair loss, a dermatologist will determine the cause and provide you with a treatment plan. If the appropriate treatment is available, they will contact you. Skin, nails, and hair disorders are also common concerns of dermatologists, who treat them not only for psoriasis and acne, but also for fungal infections. Hair transplantation specialists are physicians who specialize in dandruff, hair loss, and scalp disorders. Their name is derived from the Greek word Trikhos, which means hair.
Diet Deficiencies: Your Hair Is What You Eat
The essential vitamins and nutrients, like protein, that you get from a healthy, varied, and well-balanced diet ensure good health all throughout your body, making sure all your organs and internal systems are working just as they should. Poor nutrition or following a severely restrictive crash or fad diet can lead to all kinds of nutrient deficiencies, which in turn can result in hair loss, from thinning hair to patches of baldness.
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What Are Causes And Risk Factors For Hair Loss
Because there are many types of hair loss, finding the cause can be challenging. This review will cover the most common causes of hair loss occurring on normal unscarred scalp skin. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia.
- Most hair loss is not associated with systemic or internal disease, nor is poor diet a frequent factor. Hair may simply thin as a result of predetermined genetic factors and the overall aging process.
- Many men and women may notice mild physiologic thinning of hair starting in their 30s and 40s.
- Life vicissitudes may cause hair loss, including
- hormonal changes like those in pregnancy, puberty, and menopause.
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Prevention Of Hair Loss
Here are some ways to prevent or reduce regular hair loss:
- Be careful when combing, brushing and shampooing your childs hair, because pulling too hard on hair shafts can increase regular hair loss.
- Try not to make ponytails or pigtails too tight because this can pull out hairs along your childs front hairline.
- Avoid using hair straighteners or chemicals on your childs hair because this can damage the hairs and irritate the scalp.
How Is Alopecia Diagnosed
Talk to your doctor if youre worried about hair loss. Your doctor will usually be able to find the cause, but might refer you to a dermatologist, who will inspect the area. If they are unsure about whats causing the hair loss, they might take a sample of skin, hair or blood to examine more closely. Your doctor will want to rule out medical conditions that may lead to hair loss.
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What Is Generalized Hair Loss
This is an overall hair thinning without specific bald spots or patterns. While this type of hair loss may not be noticeable to others, often the individual will feel their hair is not as thick or full as it previously was. Common conditions in this category are
- telogen effluvium
- androgenetic or androgenic hair loss .
Do Hair Dryers Cause Hair Loss
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One of the most common hair tools we have is the hair dryer. It is a versatile tool that can help you dry and style your hair.
Most people have a hair dryer or have used a hair dryer on their hair.
Although they are great, with excess or poor use, they could be a potential cause of hair dryness.
But apart from that, many still ask: Do hair dryers cause hair loss?
It is possible to have hair loss due to a hair dryer. But it is something that rarely happens, and youd have to be burning your skin when using the hair dryer for it to happen to any significant amount.
Lets talk more about what happens with your hair when you use hair dryers, and some precautions to avoid hair loss while using them.
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Whats Hair Loss In Women
Hair loss in women is just that when a woman experiences unexpected, heavy loss of hair. Generally, humans shed between 50 and 100 single hairs per day. Hair shedding is part of a natural balance some hairs fall out while others grow in. When the balance is interrupted when hair falls out and less hair grows in hair loss happens. Hair loss is different than hair shedding. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia.
Hair grows on almost all of your skin surfaces not the palms of your hands, soles of your feet, lips or eyelids. Light, fine, short hair is called vellus hair. Terminal/androgenic hair is thicker, darker and longer.
What Is The Prognosis/outlook For Women With Hair Loss
Your diagnosis determines the prognosis:
- Anagen and telogen shedding may stop with time.
- Treat any diseases associated with hair loss.
- Disguise or cover your hair loss using a wig or hat.
- Early treatment of alopecia may reduce the speed of thinning and may promote regrowth.
While hair loss is not itself dangerous, women with hair loss tend to be very upset by the changes to their appearance. These negative feelings can affect self-esteem and social lives. Recent studies suggest that FPHL can be associated with conditions that include metabolic syndrome, endocrine disorders and diabetes.
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Alopecia Areata Based On Gender
Alopecia areata occurs in both men and women with some sources stating that men are more prone and others saying the opposite.
People may experience hair loss in their facial hair, as well as their scalp, chest, and back hair. Compared with male-pattern baldness, which is a gradual thinning of hair all over, hair loss from this condition causes diffuse and patchy hair loss.
Unlike female-pattern hair loss, which is a gradual thinning of hair that covers a large area, alopecia areata may be confined to a small area. The hair loss may occur all at once, too. The area can gradually expand, which results in greater hair loss.
How Is Hiv Diagnosed
An HIV antibody test, either from a blood sample or an oral sample , can tell whether you have been infected. A negative test result means no HIV antibodies were found. This usually means you are not infected. However, if you engaged in behavior that could spread the virus within three months of having the test, antibodies may not be detectable and you should be re-tested. A positive test result means antibodies to HIV were found. This means you are infected with the virus and can pass HIV to others even if you have no symptoms. You are infected for life. Even if you think you have a low risk for HIV infection, consider getting tested whenever you have a regular medical check-up.
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How Is Baldness Treated
Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment for you based on:
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How old you are
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How well you can handle specific medicines, procedures, and therapies
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How long the condition is expected to last
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Your opinion or preference
Most forms of baldness have no cure. Some types of baldness will go away without treatment. Treatment may include:
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Certain medicines to promote hair growth
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Corticosteroid injections
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Treating any underlying condition or disease
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Hair transplants
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Skin lifts and grafts
How Is Hair Loss In Women Treated What Medicines Or Supplements May Help
Treatment depends on the cause of your hair loss.
- In cases where the loss is due to stress or hormone changes like pregnancy, there might be no treatment needed. The hair loss will stop after a period of time.
- In cases of hair loss being due to hair styling practices, like tight braids or ponytails or certain chemicals, treatment means not doing the things that caused the damage.
- In cases due to nutritional deficiencies, you might be told to take supplements. For instance, you might be told to take a multivitamin and three to five milligrams of biotin daily.
- Minoxidil is approved for treating FPHL. The 2% or 5% solution can be purchased in stores. However, you have to follow directions exactly and use the product indefinitely. Dont use this product if youre pregnant, if you plan to get pregnant, or if youre breastfeeding.
- The HairMax Lasercomb® low light laser is approved by the US FDA to treat FPHL. Another FDA-approved laser product is the Theradome LH80 PRO® helmet and low light laser helmets and caps.
Other medications that have been studied, but not approved, for hair loss in women include:
- Spironolactone and other anti-androgens.
- Other light treatments.
It is important to note that premenopausal women should not take medications for hair loss treatment without using contraception. Many drugs, including minoxidil and finasteride, are not safe for pregnant women or women who want to get pregnant.
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When To See A Dermatologist For Hair Concerns
If you have hair loss, scalp problems, or are concerned about your hair, it is a good idea to see a dermatologist. Because dermatologists are specialists in skin care, they can provide a variety of scalp treatments to help your scalp look its best. In some cases, a dermatologist may advise a patient to take Rogaine and minoxidil or topical medications to address their problem.
Causes Of Localized Hair Loss
There are many causes of hair loss, some of which lead to certain patterns of loss, which may be in patches or generalized thinning. For example, thinning of hair on the top of the scalp occurs in women with female hereditary pattern baldness. There is also the familiar male pattern hair loss. When the pattern is less recognizable, the reason for the hair loss can be puzzling.
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When To See A Dermatologist For Hair Loss
Prolonged hair loss can be both frustrating and embarrassing to deal with. When a dermatologist is unable to diagnose or treat the issue, it is best to refer you to a physician. If any of the following symptoms appear, you should schedule an appointment with a dermatologist as soon as possible: The hairs are thicker at 50 per day. Thinning of hair patches. clumps of hair Hair thinning in the circular area is referred to as hair thinning. A woman over the age of 40 has extremely severe hair loss.
Treatments For Scalp Conditions
Treatment for scalp conditions varies depending on the diagnosis.
Prescription medications are available to help treat hair loss. Surgical implants of hair transplants are also possible. In some cases, the underlying cause of hair loss can be treated.
Supplements or dietary changes can correct nutritional deficiencies.
Medications can treat autoimmune disorders and hormone disorders.
You can treat celiac disease by avoiding gluten in your diet.
Medicated ointments and washes that kill fungi or certain insects can cure certain infections, such as ringworm and lice.
You can treat seborrheic eczema and cradle cap with medicated shampoos.
Ito syndrome and scleroderma arent curable, but you can manage the symptoms with medications.
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