Baldness

In the vast majority of cases, baldness is a natural process. In men it tends to run in the (including family on the mother’s side. The usual patalopecia areata) tern is for the front hairline to recede while hair thins at the top of the head, In some men these balding areas eventually meet, and continued thinning may eventually occur over the whole scalp.

In most women, there is a gradual but slight loss of hair throughout life. Again, this is a normal process, although it may be distressing. Occasionally a woman’s hair thins about three months after she has a baby. This is a fairly common occurrence and the hair grows back over the following weeks or months.

Rarely, baldness is due to some underlying disorder. It can occur after a severe, sudden illness. Many hairs stop growing during the illness and then fall out about three months later. Again, they will grow back. In certain severe or prolonged illnesses, such as thyroid diseases and iron-deficiency anemia, hair is not only lost but also becomes fine and lusterless, giving the appearance of extensive loss. Usually, effective treatment of the underlying disease will restore hair to normal. Certain diseases that affect the skin, such as scleroderma, may destroy the hair follicles. If such conditions are not treated early, patches of permanent baldness may result. And some forms of treatment, in particular, radiation therapy and cytotoxic drugs used against cancer, can cause thinning or loss of hair. The hair usually grows back after the treatment.

Finally, there is a specific disease that can cause complete hair loss, though it usually causes only patchy loss. It is called alopecia areata. Round, bald patches appear suddenly where the hair follicles are temporarily damaged. The exposed scalp, which has normal skin, may contain a few fine, white hairs and/or “exclamation mark” hairs, which are narrower at the base than at the tip. In addition, the fingernails may become pitted. A more severe, but rare, form of alopecia causes permanent hair loss all over the body, including the armpits, pubic area, eyebrows and eyelashes

What should be done?

Some people think of their balding as an acceptable part of the aging process. If you do not, there are two main options. The first is to obtain a toupee, or wig. The second is hair transplantation. Although it is not always successful, hair transplantation is the most effective treatment known for the type of hair loss normally found in men. The treatment is less successful for hair loss from other causes. There can be complications to hair transplant surgery, so be sure to discuss the advantages and disadvantages with your physician.

Baldness caused by alopecia areata often stops within a few months. Your physician may advise you to wait for this natural recovery or may attempt to hasten it by injecting steroids into the scalp. The effectiveness of this treatment is variable, and alopecia areata has a tendency to recur.