Baldness, Causes and Treatment
Baldness is the absence of hair or hair loss. Another name for it is alopecia. Baldness can occur everywhere on the body where hair grows, but it is typically more evident on the scalp.
Causes
Your genes and male sex hormones have a role in male pattern baldness. It typically progresses in a pattern of thinning hair on the crown and a receding hairline.
Each individual hair strand rests in a follicle, which is a small pocket in the skin. Usually, hair follicle shrinkage over time that results in shorter, finer hair causes baldness. The follicle eventually stops producing new hair. The fact that the follicles are still alive means that fresh hair can still grow.
- Aging
- alteration of hormones
- illness that causes telogen effluvium, or hair shedding
- Family baldness history
But the following factors do not contribute to hair loss:
- Dandruff
- put on hats
In general, hair loss will grow more severe the sooner it begins.
Symptoms
The hairline is where the usual male baldness pattern starts. The hairline recedes (moves backward) with time, forming a "M" shape. The vertex, a circular region on the back of the head, frequently shrinks and grows with time. A U-shaped (or horseshoe) pattern of hair surrounds the sides of the head and a bald spot appears on the back as the hair eventually becomes finer, shorter, and thinner.
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| (Male-pattern baldness) |
Female-pattern baldness. Female-pattern baldness is different from male-pattern baldness, albeit being less frequent, in that the hair often thins all over the head. The hairline is kept in place. A broadening of the portion is sometimes the first indication that women may notice. Rarely can female-pattern baldness cause complete hair loss.
Another cause of hair loss
The hairline is where the usual male baldness pattern starts.
• Alopecia areata
Sudden hair loss, usually in small patches, is what distinguishes this hair loss condition. After several months, the hair grows back. However, regrowth might not take place if all body hair is gone at once. This sort of hair loss has an unclear specific etiology. This particular sort of hair loss is attributed to an autoimmune disorder, according to researchers. Alopecia totalis is the medical term for total scalp baldness. Alopecia universalis is the medical term for complete body hair baldness.
• Trichotillomania (hair pulling)
Hair loss may result from hair tugging. Young children with this disease are not uncommon.
• Scarring or cicatricial alopecia
The hair may not regrow in locations with scars. Burns, injuries, or X-ray therapy can all leave scars behind. Diseases can, however, be the source of various types of scarring that may result in hair loss. These include skin cancer, sarcoidosis, lichen planus, lupus, and bacterial or fungal skin diseases.
Treatment
If you are happy with how you look, treatment is not necessary. The hair loss may be covered up with hair weaving, hairpieces, or a change in hairdo. For male baldness, this is typically the least expensive and safest course of action.
Men's pattern baldness medications include:
Hair replacement surgery
Over the past few years, interest in hair replacement has increased. A variety of hair replacement methods are available. But those who have complete baldness cannot benefit from hair replacement surgery. The back and sides of the head must have a good growth of hair for candidates for hair replacement. Hair grafts and flaps will be extracted from the hair on the sides and back of the head, which will also act as hair donor sites.
Four surgical techniques exist, including the following :
• Hair transplan.
The surgeon takes a few tiny scraps of scalp from the sides or back of the head during a hair transplant to be utilized as grafts. After that, these grafts are moved to a bald or thinning area.
• Scalp expansion.
A tool known as a tissue expander is positioned underneath a hair-bearing area that is close to a bald area during this surgery. The tissue expander prompts the skin to produce fresh skin cells after a period of time. The newly expanded skin must then be placed over the nearby bald region during a subsequent surgery.
• Flap surgery.
Large balding areas are best covered by flap surgery. In this operation, a flap of hair-bearing skin that is still connected to its original blood supply at one end is placed on the bald area after a piece of the bald area has been removed.
• Scalp reduction.
The bald spots on the top and rear of the head are reduced by the scalp-reduction procedure. It starts with shaving off the bald head. The bald spot is then filled in by pulling together areas of the scalp that still bear hair. You can either do this on your own or with hair transplantation.
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| (Hair transplant surgery) |
What potential side effects are there from hair transplants and baldness?
Baldness may result in reduced self-worth. The following additional issues can arise with hair transplant procedures:
• Patchy hair growth.
When hair is growing in a new location, it can occasionally look uneven, especially if it's near to a thinning area. Most of the time, additional surgery can solve this.
• Bleeding or wide scars.
Some scalp reduction treatments may result in bleeding or large scars on the scalp.
• Grafts not taking. There is occasionally a danger that the graft won't hold in its new place. Surgery needs to be done again if this is the case.
• Infection.
There is a chance of infection, as there is with every surgical surgery.
The essentials of baldness
- Hair loss, or alopecia, is what is meant by the term "baldness."
- Poor blood flow to the scalp, dandruff, or wearing headgear are not reasons for hair loss.
- Baldness can occur everywhere on the body where hair grows, but it is typically more evident on the scalp.
- The type of baldness and the underlying reason will determine how it is treated.
- Most baldness types are incurable. Some baldness kinds will go away on their own.
- It is crucial to discuss your baldness and possible treatments with your healthcare professional.



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