Hair Loss
- Hair Loss Overview
- Hair Loss Causes
- Hair Loss Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Hair Loss Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Surgery
- Next Steps
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- Related alopecia articles:
Alopecia - on WebMD
Alopecia - on MedicineNet
Hair Loss Overview
More than half of men and women in the United States experience hair loss. About 30% of people have hair loss by age 30 years, and about 50% have hair loss by age 50 years. Hair loss is so common that most of the time it is considered a normal variation and not a disease. Other animals closely related to humans, such as the chimpanzee, also lose their hair.
- Forms of hair loss
- Androgenic alopecia - The most common type of hair loss, also called male pattern baldness
- Traumatic alopecia - Hair loss from hair being torn out
- Drug-induced alopecia - Hair loss caused by one of many medications
- Alopecia areata - Patchy, usually reversible, hair loss
- Androgenic alopecia - The most common type of hair loss, also called male pattern baldness
- Hair loss varies widely with race.
- Japanese men develop baldness less commonly than whites do. On average they also develop balding about 10 years later.
- Blacks are 4 times less likely to have abnormal hair loss than are whites.
- Japanese men develop baldness less commonly than whites do. On average they also develop balding about 10 years later.
- Women develop hair loss as frequently as men do, but because of hormonal differences women don't lose as much hair volume.
- Differences in hair styling allow women to hide hair loss more effectively than men.
- A woman may not notice hair loss itself but may notice that her ponytail or braid is getting thinner.
- Women also have a different pattern of balding than men.
- Differences in hair styling allow women to hide hair loss more effectively than men.
- Hair loss has few medical complications, but several serious conditions can cause it. In addition, there are some psychological effects associated with going bald. People with hair loss may sometimes be more likely to have a negative body image than those without hair loss.
- There are 3 cycles of hair growth-growing, resting, and shedding.
- In most animals these cycles change with the season, and all hairs are in the same part of the cycle at the same time. This is why animals grow a thicker coat in the fall and shed most in the spring.
- Unlike most animals, in humans each hair has its own pattern of growing, resting, and shedding.
- Each person sheds hair and regrows hair every day.
- When this balance is disturbed and more hairs are shed than are regrown, alopecia or hair loss results.
- Each person sheds hair and regrows hair every day.
- In most animals these cycles change with the season, and all hairs are in the same part of the cycle at the same time. This is why animals grow a thicker coat in the fall and shed most in the spring.
Next: Hair Loss Causes »
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Pustular Psoriasis Overview
Pustular psoriasis is an uncommon form of psoriasis. People with pustular psoriasis have clearly defined, raised bumps on the skin that are filled with pus (pustules). The skin under and around these bumps is red. Large portions of your skin may redden.
Pustular psoriasis. Note the clearly defined, raised bumps on the skin that are filled with pus (pustules). The skin under and around these bumps is red.
The skin changes you may notice before, during, or after an episode of pustular psoriasis may be similar to those of regular psoriasis. People with the usual skin symptoms of psoriasis have patches of raised skin with scales.
Pustular psoriasis is classified into one of several types, depending on your symptoms. Your symptoms may be sudden and severe (acute), long term (chronic), or somewhere in between (subacute). The generalized type affects your whole body with more than just ski...
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Alopecia Areata »
Alopecia areata is a recurrent nonscarring type of hair loss that can affect any hair-bearing area.
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