|
Pattern Baldness
Fact:
The average human head has about 100,000 hair follicles.
Pubic hair thinning
What Is alopecia areata? pattern baldness is considered an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system, which is designed to protect the body from foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, the tiny cup-shaped stopped from which hairs grow, pubic hair thinning. This can lead to hair loss on the scalp and other places. In most cases, hair falls out in small, round patches about the size of a dime. In many situations, the condition does not extend beyond a couple of patches. In some people, loss of hair is more extensive. Although uncommon, pubic hair thinning, the disease can progress to cause total loss of hair on the head (referred to as alopecia totalis) or complete loss of hair on the head, face, and body (alopecia universalis). What Causes It? In male or female pattern baldness, immune system cells called white blood cells assault the rapidly growing cells in the hair follicles that make the hair. The affected hair follicles become tiny and drastically slow hair production. Fortunately, the stem cells that continually supply the follicle with new cells do not seem to be targeted. And so the follicle always has the potential to regrow hair - pubic hair thinning. Researchers into hair disease do not know exactly why the hair follicles undergo these changes, pubic hair thinning but they suspect that a combination of genes may predispose some persons to the affliction. In those who are genetically predisposed, some type of trigger - perhaps a virus or a certain something in the person's environment - brings on the attack against the hair follicles. Who Is Most Likely To Get It? alopecia areata seriously affects around 4,000,000 Americans of both sexes and of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. It often starts in childhood pubic hair thinning. If you happen to have a close relation with the ailment, your risk of developing it is slightly increased. If your family member lost her or his initial patch of hair before their late twenties, the risk to other relatives is greater. Overall, one in five citizens that are afflicted with the disease have a family member who has it as well. Is My male or female pattern baldness a Symptom of a Serious Disease? pattern baldness is not a life-threatening condition and neither is pubic hair thinning. It does not instigates any physical pain, and individuals with the affliction are generally in good health otherwise. For most individuals however, a affliction that unpredictably affects their appearance the way alopecia areata does is a serious matter. The effects of male or female pattern baldness are primarily socially and pschologically worrying. In alopecia universalis, however, loss of eyelashes and eyebrows and hair in the nose and ears can make the person more vulnerable to dust, germs, and foreign particles entering the eyes, ears, and nose. pattern baldness often occurs in folks whose relations have other autoimmune ailments, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, thyroid disease, Addison's disease, diabetes or pernicious anemia or even pubic hair thinning. People who have alopecia areata do not commonly have other autoimmune conditions, but they do tend to have a higher occurrence of asthma, nasal allergies, thyroid disease and atopic eczema, pubic hair thinning. Can I Pass It on to My Children? It is possible, but not likely, for pattern baldness to be inherited. Most children with male or female pattern baldness do not have a mother or father with the ailment, and the vast majority of parents with male or female pattern baldness do not pass it along to their children. alopecia areata is not like some genetic diseases in which a child has a 50 50 chance of developing the condition if one parent has it. Hair research scientists believe that there may be a number of genes that predispose certain citizens to the affliction. It is highly unlikely that a child would inherit all of the genes needed to predispose him or her to the affliction. Even with the right (or wrong) combination of genes, pattern baldness is not a certainty. In identical twins, who share all of the same genes, the concordance rate is only 55 percent. In other words, if one twin has the condition, there is only a fifty five percent chance that the other twin will have it too. This shows that other factors besides genetics are required to trigger the ailment. To learn more with regard to the genes and other considerations involved in male or female pattern baldness risk, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is funding an pattern baldness registry pubic hair thinning. The registry is a controlled network of five centers throughout the United States that will identify and register patients that have the disease and collect data and blood samples (which contain genes). Data, including genetic information, will be made available to researchers investigating the genetic basis and other effects of disease and disease risk. (For more information with reference to the registry, see "How Can I Take Part In Research?") Will My Hair Ever Grow Back? There is a very good chance that your hair will regrow, but it might also fall out again. It is impossible to predict when it could fall out or regrow. The course of the disease varies from person to person. Some people lose just a few patches of hair, pubic hair thinning after which the hair grows back and the disease never recurs. Other individuals continue to lose and regrow hair for many years. Some lose all the hair on their head, face and body; a few lose all the hair on their head. Even for those unfortumate individuals who lose all their hair, the possibility for full regrowth remains. In some, the initial hair re-growth is white, with a gradual return of the original hair color. In most, the regrown hair is in the end the same color and texture as the original hair. What Can I Expect Next? The course of alopecia areata is highly unpredictable, and the uncertainty of what will happen next is probably the most difficult and frustrating effect of the affliction. You may continue to lose hair, or your alopecia may stop, pubic hair thinning. Your lost hair may or may not grow back and you may or may not continue to develop new bare patches. How Is It Treated? [While there is neither a cure for pattern baldness nor drugs approved for its treatment], some persons find that medicines approved for other purposes like pattern baldness can help hair grow back, pubic hair thinning at least in the short term. The following are some treatments for alopecia areata. Keep in mind that while these methods of treatment may promote hair growth, none of them prevent new patches or in fact cure the underlying ailment. Consult your health care professional about the best choice for you. Corticosteroids - Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs, pubic hair thinning, similar to a hormone known as cortisol produced in the body. Because these drugs suppress the immune system if given orally, they are often used in the treatment of various autoimmune diseases, including pubic hair thinning. Corticosteroids may be administered in 3 ways for male or female pattern baldness:
Local injections - Injections of steroids directly into hairless patches on the scalp and occasionally the brow and beard areas are effective in hair growth in most folks. It customarily takes with reference to 1 month for new hair growth to become visible. Injections deliver tiny amounts of cortisone to problem areas, avoiding the more serious side effects encountered with long-term oral use. The main side effects of innoculations are short term pain, mild swelling, and sometimes changes in pigmentation, as well as small indentations in the skin that go away when injections are stopped. Because innoculations can be painful, they may not be the preferred treatment for children. After 1 or 2 months, new hair growth usually becomes visible, and the innoculations typically have to be repeated monthly. The cortisone takes out the confused immune cells and allows the hair to grow. Large areas cannot be treated, however, because the discomfort and the quantity of medicine become too great and can result in side effects similar to those of the oral regimen. Oral corticosteroids - Corticosteroids taken orally are a mainstay of treatment for many autoimmune diseases and may be used in more extensive alopecia areata. But because of the risk of side effects of oral corticosteroids, such as hypertension, pubic hair thinning and cataracts, they are used only occasionally for male or female pattern baldness and for shorter periods of time. Topical ointments - ointments or creams containing steroids rubbed directly onto the affected area are less traumatic than injections and, therefore, are sometimes preferred for children. However, corticosteroid ointments and creams in isolation are less effective than innoculations; they work best when combined with other topical treatments, such as minoxidil or anthralin.
Minoxidil (5%) (Rogaine) - Topical minoxidil tincture promotes hair growth in several conditions in which the hair follicle is tiny and not growing to its full potential. Minoxidil is FDA-approved for treating male and female pattern baldness. It may also be useful in promoting hair growth in pattern baldness. The solution, applied twice daily, has been shown to promote hair growth in both adults and children, and may be used on the scalp, brow, and beard areas. With regular and proper use of the mixture, new hair growth happens in about 3 months. Brand names included in this article are provided as examples only, and their inclusion does not mean that these products are endorsed by the National Institutes of Health or any other Government agency. Also, if a particular brand name is not mentioned, this does not mean or imply that the product is not worthwhile. Anthralin (Psoriatec) - Anthralin, a synthetic tar-like substance that alters immune function in the problem skin, is an approved treatment for psoriasis. Anthralin is also commonly used to treat alopecia areata. Anthralin is applied for 20 to 60 minutes ("short contact therapy") to avoid skin irritation, pubic hair thinning which is not necessary for the drug to work. When it works, new hair growth is normally evident in two to three months. Anthralin is often used in combination with other methods of treatment, such as corticosteroid injections or minoxidil, for improved results. Sulfasalazine - A sulfa drug, sulfasalazine has been used as a treatment for different autoimmune disorders, including psoriasis. It acts on the immune system and has been used to some effect in patients with very bad male or female pattern baldness. Topical sensitizers - Topical sensitizers are medications that, when applied to the scalp, provoke an allergic reaction that leads to itching, scaling, and eventually hair growth. If the medication works, new hair growth is by and large established in 3 to 12 months. Two topical sensitizers are used in pattern baldness: squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE) and diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP). Their safety and consistency of formula are currently under review. Oral cyclosporine - Originally developed to keep citizens's immune systems from rejecting transplanted organs, oral cyclosporine is occasionally used to suppress the immune system response in psoriasis and other immune-mediated skin conditions. But suppressing the immune system can also cause problems, including an increased risk of serious infection and possibly skin cancer. Although oral cyclosporine may regrow hair in male or female pattern baldness, it does not turn the condition off. Most MDs feel the dangers of the drug outweigh its benefits for pattern baldness and pubic hair thinning. Photochemotherapy - In photochemotherapy, a treatment used most commonly for psoriasis, a person is given a light-sensitive drug known as a psoralen either orally or topically given and then exposed to an ultraviolet light source. This combined treatment is called PUVA. In clinical trials, in the order of 55 percent of folks achieve cosmetically acceptable hair growth using photochemotherapy. However, the relapse rate is high, and patients must go to a treatment center where the equipment is available at least two to three times per week. Furthermore, the treatment takes the risk of developing skin cancer. Alternative therapies - When drug methods of treatment fail to bring sufficient hair regrowth, some individuals turn to alternative therapies - pubic hair thinning. Alternatives purported to help alopecia areata include zinc and vitamin supplements, Chinese herbs, acupuncture, evening primrose oil, and aroma therapy. Because many other types of therapies are not backed by clinical trials, they may or may not be effective for re-growing hair. In fact, some may actually make alopecia worse. Furthermore, just because these therapies are natural does not mean that they are safe. As with any therapy, it is best to discuss these treatments with your physician prior to employing them.
In addition to methods of treatment to help hair grow, there are measures that can be taken to minimize the physical dangers or downsides of hair loss. Sunscreens are important for the scalp, face, and all exposed areas of the body. Glasses (or sunglasses) protect the eyes from excessive ultra violet light, and from dust and debris, when eyebrows or eyelashes are missing. False hairpieces, caps, or scarves protect the scalp from sun and keep the head warm. Antibiotic ointment applied inside the nostrils helps to protect against organisms invading the nose when nostril hair is missing.
How Will alopecia areata Affect My Life and Lifestyle? This is a common question, particularly for children, teens and young adults who are starting to form lifelong goals and who may live with the effects of male or female pattern baldness for many years, pubic hair thinning. The comforting news is that male or female pattern baldness is not a painful ailment and does not make people feel sick physically. It is not contagious, and persons who have the pattern baldness condition are generally healthy otherwise. It does not reduce life expectancy and it should not interfere with the capability to achieve such life goals as going to school, working, marrying, raising a family, playing sports, and exercising. The emotional and psychological aspects of living with baldness, however, can be challenging. Many folks cope by learning as much as they can with reference to the affliction; speaking with others who are facing the same difficulties; and, if necessary, seeking counseling to help construct a positive self-image. To take account of quality-of-life issues for pubic hair thinning, alopecia areata and all other skin diseases, the NIAMS sponsored a scientific meeting in September 2002 on the toll of skin diseases. How Can I Deal With With the Effects of This Disease? Living with loss of hair can be hard, especially in a culture that views a healthy head of hair as a sign of youthfulness and good health. Even so, most people with alopecia areata are well-adjusted, contented persons living full lives. The key to coping is valuing yourself for who you are, not for how much hair you have or dont have. Many citizens learning to deal with pattern baldness find it helpful to talk with other individuals who are dealing with the same problems. More than 4 million individuals across the country have this disease at some point in their lives, so don't forget that you are not alone. If you would like to be in touch with others with the condition, the National male or female pattern baldness Foundation (NAAF) can help through its pen pal program, message boards, annual conference, and support groups that meet in several locations nationally. An alternative way to cope with the ailment is to lessen its effects on your appearance. If you are unfortunate enough to have total hair loss, a wig or hairpiece can look natural and stylish. For small patches of hair loss, a hair colored powder, cream or crayon applied to the scalp can make alopecia less obvious by eliminating the contrast between the hair and the scalp. Skilfully applied pubic hair thinning eyebrow pencil can mask missing eyebrows. Children with alopecia areata may prefer to wear bandanas, scarves or caps. There are many types available to suit a child's interest and mood - a great deal even have ponytails attached with pubic hair thinning. For females, attractive scarves can hide patchy loss of hair; jewelry and clothing can distract attention from patchy hair; and proper makeup can mask the effects of lost facial hair. If you would like to learn more about covering up the cosmetic effects of pubic hair thinning alopecia areata, ask your family physician or members of your local support group to recommend a cosmetic professional who specializes in working with people whose appearance is affected by medical conditions. Is Research Close to Finding Better Treatments or a Cure? While a cure is not imminent, scientists are making headway toward a better understanding of the affliction. This increased understanding will likely lead the way to better treatments for male or female pattern baldness and eventually a way to prevent or even cure it. Alopecia research ranges from the most basic studies of the mechanisms of hair growth and baldness in mice to testing drugs and ways to apply medicines to help regrow hair in persons. Both the National Institutes of Health and the National pattern baldness Foundation support research into the pubic hair thinning pattern baldness ailment and its treatment. Here are some areas of research that hold promise: Developing an animal model - This is a critical first step toward understanding the affliction, and much progress has been made. By developing a mouse with a condition similar to human male or female pattern baldness, hair research scientists hope to learn more with reference to the mechanism of the disease and in the end develop immune system methods of treatment for the affliction in citizens. Mapping genes - Scientists are studying the possible genetic causes and mechanism of the disease both in families that have one or more persons with the ]disease] and in the general population. An understanding of the genetics of the condition will aid in disease prevention, early intervention, and development of specific therapies. Studying hair follicle development - By studying how hair follicles form in mouse embryos, researchers into hair disease hope to gain a better understanding of hair cycle biology that may lead to treatments for the underlying ailment process. Targeting the immune system - Several new agents found to be effective in treating psoriasis may prove to be effective in pubic hair thinning male or female pattern baldness. These medicines work by stopping certain chemical messengers that have a role to play in the immune response, or by interfering with the activity of white blood cells (known as T-cells) that are involved in the immune system's assault on hair follicles. Recently developed therapies for treating other autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus may also benefit patients with pubic hair thinning pattern baldness. Finding better ways to administer drugs - One limitation of current topical therapies is getting the drug to the source of the symptoms, pubic hair thinning. Researchers are looking for a material that penetrates the fat under the skin to deliver medication directly to hair follicles. In laboratory animals, topically applied synthetic sacs called liposomes seem to fill the bill. Studies are still appropriate to show whether liposomes do the same for folks. Understanding cytokines - Chemical messengers known as cytokines (pubic hair thinning) play a role in regulating the body's immune response, whether it is the standard response to a foreign invader such a virus or an unusual response to a part of the body. Researchers believe that by giving certain cytokines that inhibit inflammation, it may be possible to impede or stop the body's abnormal response to the hair follicles. Because giving the cytokines (pubic hair thinning) systemically may instigates unwanted effects, they believe a topical medication using liposomes to get the media to the root of the hair inside the follicle may be preferable. Understanding stem cell biology - Epithelial stem cells are immature cells that are responsible for regenerating and maintaining a variety of tissues, including the skin and the hair follicles. Stem cells in the follicle seem to be spared from injury in alopecia areata, which may explain why the potential for re-growth is always there in citizens that are affected by the condition. By investigating the biology of these cells, and their immediate offspring, which seem to be targeted by the immune system, Researchers hope to gain a better understanding of factors that trigger the disease.
To conclude, pattern baldness has millions of suffers around the world - you are not alone if you also suffer from it. Remember that many persons adversely affect their lives in a negative way by focussing on the ailment when perhaps they should be concentrating on their lives instead. Most people that meet you will judge you by your attitude, your general demeanor and your personality - not by how much hair you have on your head. This has been a long pubic hair thinning article and we hope that you have found it interesting. We would like to thank the website Hair Loss Tips for kindly allowing us to reproduce it. You searched for information in respect of pubic hair thinning, hair loss, loss of hair, alopecia or baldness. |