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Alopecia*
Affecting millions, alopecia
is simply put, a devastating hair-loss disorder. In many cases,
the reasons for it are unknown, and the inability to determine
if hair will grow or fall out becomes a lifelong concern.
Alopecia areata, characterized by abrupt, unexpected episodes
of hair loss in clumps or patches, is an autoimmune disease
in which cells attack hair follicles resulting in bald patches
or hair thinning. Hair loss may occur at the scalp, eyebrows
and/or eyelashes, and re-growth of hair may or may not occur.
Some hair loss may occur in patches or a person may lose all
her scalp hair (alopecia totalis). In some cases, hair loss
affects the entire body (alopecia universalis).
Male or female-pattern baldness (also called androgenetic
alopecia), is a hereditary form of alopecia - the tendency
to go bald comes from either or both parents. Female-pattern
baldness can often occur throughout the scalp. Women may also
experience traction alopecia as a result of hairstyling that
pulls hair too tightly. Traction alopecia involves hair loss
around the hairline.
Inflammatory skin disorders that occur at the scalp may also
affect tendency toward loss of hair, including psoriasis and
seborrheic dermatitis. It's estimated that psoriasis (also
considered an auto-immune disease) affects up to 2% of the
world's population, and may be characterized by a bright pink
patch that's covered in small scales of dead skin. Seborrheic
dermatitis may be scaly or inflamed, and can be itchy or painful
when touched. Pseudopelade, a form of inflammatory alopecia
characterized by well-defined patches of hair loss that can
deteriorate to near-total scalp hair loss, is considered one
of the rarest forms of alopecia, however it affects three
times as many women as men.
Please visit our Hairweaving/Replacement
for Hair Loss area to view examples of women with Alopecia.
For more information on the
latest research available, and where to find referrals in
your area, contact:
The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF)
PO BOX 150760
San Rafael, CA 94915-0760
415-472-3780
www.naaf.org
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiof Ave
Eastpointe, MI 48021-2227
800-598-4668
810-776-3900
www.aarda.org
American Academy of Dermatology
930 E. Woodfield Road
P.O. Box 4014
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4927
847-330-0230
888-462-DERM (1-888-462-3376)
www.aad.org
* Medical information
provided is based on reference from the WebMD Health website
(www.webmd.com).
It is not meant to replace the diagnosis of a qualified physician,
and further research of any information provided is encouraged.
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