Baldness is also referred to as hair loss or alopecia. According to FamilyDoctor.org, a website maintained by the American Academy of Family Physicians, it is normal to shed some hair every day. The Mayo Clinic states that the scalp contains approximately 100,000 hairs and normally sheds up to 100 hairs a day. Baldness is considered to be a loss of excessive amounts of hair. Men, women and children can all experience this type of hair loss.
Types of Baldness
There are three different types of permanent hair loss: male-pattern, female-pattern and scarring baldness. According to the Mayo Clinic, male-pattern baldness can begin in the early teens and is characterized by a receding hairline resulting in partial or complete baldness. Female-pattern baldness is usually limited to hair thinning in the front, sides and crown of the head. Women typically maintain the front hairline and rarely have complete baldness. Scarring is a rare type of baldness that occurs after inflammation damages the scalp and hair follicles. The hair loss may be patchy and can be accompanied by itching and pain.
Causes
According to FamilyDoctor.org, many things can cause baldness. Causes include illness, surgery, hormonal imbalances, overactive or under active thyroid gland, medications, infections and underlying diseases such as lupus or diabetes. The Mayo Clinic lists other causes as poor nutrition, hair treatments such as chemical dyes and hair pulling disorder (trichotillomania).
Diagnosis
The Mayo Clinic states that a complete medical history, family history and physical assessment may be performed to diagnosis baldness. Other important tests include skin scraping, biopsy, screening for other diseases and the pull test, where a section of hair is grasped and pulled to see how many strands are pulled loose.
Treatment
According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no cure for baldness. Treatments exist that can help promote hair growth to cover the thinning spots. Treatments include surgery such as hair transplant and scalp reduction, wigs or hairpieces and medications that can be applied topically, taken orally or injected. The Mayo Clinic lists possible medications such as Rogaine, which prevents further hair loss and helps with hair re-growth; Propecia, which is prescribed to treat male-pattern baldness and slow hair loss; corticosteroids in the form of injections, which slow hair loss and create new growth; and Dritho-Scalp, which may stimulate new hair growth.
Prevention
The Mayo Clinic suggests the following tips to maintain healthy hair and scalp: eat balanced nutritional meals, gently handle hair and allow it to air dry, avoid tight hairstyles such as ponytails and braids, avoid twisting, rubbing or pulling hair and consider over-the-counter medications aimed at preventing further hair loss, such as Rogaine.
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