Alopecia overview
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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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.)
Classification
Alopecia is classified as either scarring or non-scarring.
Causes
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.
Treatment
Medical Therapy
In the USA, there are only 2 drug-based treatments that have been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and one product that has been cleared by the FDA for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, otherwise known as male or female pattern hair loss. The two FDA approved treatments are finasteride (marketed for hair loss as Propecia) and minoxidil.
Surgery
Surgery is another method of reversing hair loss and baldness, although it may be considered an extreme measure. The surgical methods used include hair transplantation, whereby hair-producing follicles are taken from the back and sides of the head and injected into bald or thinning areas.