Baldness - Symptoms and Treatment

Baldness, also known as alopecia, is hair loss, or absence of hair. Baldness is usually most noticeable on the scalp, but can occur anywhere on the body where hair grows. Common baldness , sometimes called male or female-pattern baldness, accounts for 99 percent of hair loss in men and women. Although its exact causes are unknown, heredity, hormones and age are contributing factors. Unlike hair loss resulting from disease or other non-hereditary factors, hair loss due to common baldness is permanent. It occurs in a characteristic pattern on the scalp hair loss usually begins at the temples and at the top of the head toward the back, causing a receding hairline and a bald spot. Hair loss may continue until the two sections become joined, leaving a horseshoe-shaped area of hair on the sides and back of the head. Balding may begin at any age after puberty, even in the middle teens, and can range from partial loss to complete baldness. Male pattern baldness progresses slowly and is not associated with redness, itching, or pain.

Male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss in men. It usually follows a typical pattern of receding hairline and hair thinning on the crown, and is caused by hormones and genetic predisposition. The severity and nature of baldness can vary greatly; it ranges from male and female pattern alopecia ( androgenetic alopecia , also called androgenic alopecia or alopecia androgenetica), alopecia areata , which involves the loss of some of the hair from the head, and alopecia totalis , which involves the loss of all head hair, to the most extreme form, alopecia universalis , which involves the loss of all hair from the head and the body. Treatment for alopecia has limited success. The more hair lost, the less successful the treatment will be.

Causes of Baldness

Common Causes of Baldness :-

• Mental stress and strain.
• Lack of nutrition.
• Lack of personal hygiene like unclean conditions of scalp.
• Drinking lot of water or alcohol.
• Sleeping too much or too less.
• Family history of baldness.
• Aging.
• Change in hormones.
• Illness.

Symptoms of Baldness

Some common Symptoms of Baldness :-

• Gradual appearance of bald patches.
• Hair fall on clothes after combing.
• Receding hairline.
• Thinning of hair over the entire head.

Treatment of Baldness

• Corticosteroid injections (when treating alopecia areata).
• Certain medications to promote hair growth.
• Hair replacement surgery.
• Antibiotics to treat a fungal or syphilis infection.
• Medication to treat an underlying condition, such as iron or thyroid hormone pills.
• Medication for male pattern baldness, such as minoxidil and finasteride.

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