Alopecia overview
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Alopecia Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Alopecia overview On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Alopecia overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Alopecia is the resulting condition from the loss of hair, which is termed effluvium. It should be distinguished from baldness, which is the lack of hair, including contexts where that absence is intentional. (In some cases the terms are used interchangeably, and in some conditions such as trichotillomania, where the loss of the hair is due to intentional acts, but the motive for that act is defined as a medical condition, it can be difficult to determine whether the label "alopecia" is appropriate.)
Scarring alopecia is caused by numerous dermatologic factors, including glabrous skin (non-hairy), and is very difficult to diagnose and manage. Non-scarring alopecia is characterized by the absence of visible inflammation of the skin involved.