|
Pattern Baldness
Fact:
One large scale study in Maryborough (Australia) showed the prevalence of mid-frontal hair loss increases with age and affects 57% of women and 73.5% of men aged 80 and over.
Thinning pubic hair
What Is pattern baldness? male or female 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, thinning pubic hair. This can lead to alopecia on the scalp and elsewhere. In most cases, hair falls out in small, round patches about two centimeters square. In many situations, the condition does not extend beyond a few bare patches. In some citizens, hair loss is more extensive. Although uncommon, thinning pubic hair, the affliction can go on to to instigates 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 alopecia areata, immune system cells known as white blood cells assault the speedily growing cells in the hair follicles that make the hair. The affected hair follicles become tiny and drastically slow down hair production. Fortunately, the stem cells that continually supply the follicle with new cells do not seem to be targeted. and therefore the follicle always has the potential to regrow hair - thinning pubic hair. Scientists do not know exactly why the hair follicles undergo these changes, thinning pubic hair but they have a suspician that a combination of genes may predispose some people to the ailment. In those who are genetically predisposed, some type of trigger - perhaps a virus or an element in the person's environment - brings on the attack against the hair follicles. Who Is Most Likely To Get It? male or female pattern baldness affects in the order of 4,000,000 Americans of both sexes and of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. It often starts in childhood thinning pubic hair. If you happen to have a close relative with the disease, your risk of developing it is slightly increased. If your relation lost their first patch of hair before their late twenties, the risk to other family members is greater. Overall, one in five persons that are afflicted with the ailment have a relative who has it also. Is My alopecia areata a Symptom of a Serious Disease? pattern baldness is not a life-threatening disease and neither is thinning pubic hair. It does not cause any physical pain, and individuals that have the ailment are generally healthy otherwise. But for most people, a condition that unpredictably seriously affects their appearance the way pattern baldness does is a serious matter. The effects of alopecia areata are primarily socially and emotionally worrying. In alopecia universalis, however, loss of eyelashes and eyebrows and hair in the nose and ears can make the person more susceptible to dust, germs, and foreign particles entering the eyes, nose, and ears. male or female pattern baldness often occurs in folks whose relations have other autoimmune afflictions, such as thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Addison's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes or pernicious anemia or even thinning pubic hair. People who have alopecia areata do not usually have other autoimmune conditions, but they do tend to have a higher occurrence of atopic eczema, nasal allergies, thyroid disease and asthma, thinning pubic hair. Can I Pass It on to My Children? It is possible, but not likely, for male or female pattern baldness to be inherited. Most children with pattern baldness do not have a father or mother 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 conditions in which a child has a 50 50 chance of developing the disease if one parent has it. Researchers into hair disease believe that there may be a number of genes that predispose certain individuals to the affliction. It is highly unlikely that a child would inherit all of the genes needed to predispose him or her to the disease. 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 affliction, there is only a fifty five percent chance that the other twin will have it as well. This shows that other considerations besides genetics are required to trigger the condition. To learn more with regard to the genes and other factors involved in alopecia areata risk, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is funding an pattern baldness registry thinning pubic hair. The registry is a well prepared network of five centers throughout the USA that will identify and register patients that are affected by the ailment and collect data and blood samples (which contain genes). Data, including genetic information, will be made available to scientists investigating the genetic origin and other aspects 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 every chance that your hair will grow back again, but it may also fall out again however. Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict when it might fall out or regrow. The course of the ailment varies from person to person. Some persons lose just a few patches of hair, thinning pubic hair after which the hair regrows and the disease never recurs. Other citizens continue to lose and regrow hair for many years. Some individuals lose all the hair on their head, face and body; whilst others lose all the hair on their head. Even for those unfortumate people who lose all their hair, the possibility for full re-growth remains. In some, the initial hair regrowth is white, with a gradual return of the original hair color. In most, the regrown hair is eventually the same color and texture as the original hair. What Can I Expect Next? The course of male or female pattern baldness is highly unpredictable, and the uncertainty of what will happen next is probably the most difficult and frustrating effect of the disease. You may continue to lose hair, or your baldness may stop, thinning pubic hair. 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 alopecia areata nor drugs approved for its treatment], some folks find that drugs approved for other purposes like alopecia areata can help hair grow back, thinning pubic hair at least in the short term. The following are some treatments for pattern baldness. 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 condition. Consult your health care professional with reference to the best choice for you. Corticosteroids - Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs, thinning pubic hair, similar to a hormone called cortisol produced in the body. Because these drugs suppress the immune system if given orally, they are often used in the treatment of several autoimmune diseases, including thinning pubic hair. Corticosteroids may be administered in three 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 people. It ordinarily takes about four weeks for new hair growth to become visible. Injections deliver small 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 tiny indentations in the skin that go away when injections are halted. Because innoculations can be painful, they may not be the preferred treatment for children. After 4 to 8 weeks, new hair growth customarily becomes visible, and the injections habitually have to be repeated monthly. The cortisone destroys 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, thinning pubic hair and cataracts, they are used only occasionally for pattern baldness and for shorter periods of time. Topical ointments - ointments or creams containing steroids rubbed directly onto the problem area are less traumatic than innoculations and, therefore, are occasionally preferred for children. However, corticosteroid ointments and creams alone are less effective than injections; they work best when combined with other topical methods of treatment, such as minoxidil or anthralin.
Minoxidil (5%) (Rogaine) - Topical minoxidil solution 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 loss of hair. It may also be useful in promoting hair growth in male or female pattern baldness. The tincture, 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 constant and proper use of the mixture, new hair growth appears in with reference to 12 weeks. 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 satisfactory. Anthralin (Psoriatec) - Anthralin, a synthetic tar-like substance that changes immune function in the affected skin, is an approved treatment for psoriasis. Anthralin is also commonly used to treat pattern baldness. Anthralin is applied for one to three hours ("short contact therapy") to help avoid skin irritation, thinning pubic hair which is not necessary for the drug to work. When it works, new hair growth is commonly self evident in 8 to 12 weeks. Anthralin is often used in combination with other treatments, such as corticosteroid innoculations 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 medicines that, when applied to the scalp, start an allergic reaction that leads to itching, scaling, and eventually hair growth. If the medication works, new hair growth is normally established in 3 to 12 months. Two topical sensitizers are used in alopecia areata: squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE) and diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP). Their safety and consistency of formula are currently under review. Oral cyclosporine - Originally developed to keep persons's immune systems from rejecting transplanted organs, oral cyclosporine is sometimes used to suppress the immune system response in psoriasis and other immune-mediated skin conditions. But suppressing the immune system can also instigates 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 affliction off. Most family physicians feel the dangers of the drug outweigh its benefits for pattern baldness and thinning pubic hair. 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 people 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 treatments fail to bring sufficient hair regrowth, some folks turn to other types of therapies - thinning pubic hair. Alternatives purported to help alopecia areata include zinc and vitamin supplements, evening primrose oil, Chinese herbs, acupuncture, and aroma therapy. Because many alternative therapies are not backed by clinical trials, they may or may not be effective for re-growing hair. In fact, some may actually make baldness worse. Furthermore, just because these are natural therapies does not mean that they are safe to employ. As with any therapy, it is best to talk about these methods of treatment with your MD prior to attempting them.
In addition to methods of treatment to help hair grow, there are steps that can be taken to minimize the physical dangers or disadvantages of losing your hair. Sunscreens are important for the scalp, face, and all areas of the body that are exposed. Spectacles (or sunglasses) protect the eyes from too much sun, and from dust particles and debris, when eyebrows or eyelashes are missing. False hairpieces, caps, or scarves protect the scalp from sunlight and keep the head warm. Antibiotic ointment applied inside the nostrils can help to protect against organisms invading the nose when nostril hair is missing.
How Will male or female pattern baldness Affect My Life and Lifestyle? This is a common question, particularly for children, teens and young adults who are starting to formulate lifelong goals and who may live with the effects of pattern baldness for many years, thinning pubic hair. It is good to know that pattern baldness is not a painful ailment and does not make individuals feel sick physically. It is not contagious, and citizens who have the alopecia areata disease are generally in good health otherwise. It does not shorten life expectancy and it should not interfere with the ability to achieve such life goals as going to school, working, marrying, raising a family, playing sports, and exercising. The psychological effects of living with alopecia, however, can be a challenge. Many folks cope by learning as much as they can about the condition; speaking with others who are facing the same symptoms; and, if necessary, seeking counseling to help build a positive self-image. To take account of quality-of-life issues for thinning pubic hair, male or female pattern baldness and all other skin afflictions, the NIAMS sponsored a scientific meeting in September 2002 on the toll of skin afflictions. 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 youth and good health. Even so, most people with male or female pattern baldness are well-adjusted, contented individuals living full lives. The key to coping is valuing yourself for who you are, not for the amount of hair you may or may not have. Many citizens learning to deal with pattern baldness find it helpful to talk with other persons who are dealing with the same problems. Over 4,000,000 people nationally have this disease at some point in their lives, so don't forget that you are not in isolation. If you would like to be in touch with others with the ailment, the National alopecia areata Foundation (NAAF) can help through its pen pal program, message boards, annual conference, and support groups that meet in various locations nationwide. An alternative way to cope with the condition 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 contemporary. For small patches of hair loss, a hair-colored crayon, cream or powder applied to the scalp can make alopecia less obvious by eliminating the contrast between the hair and the scalp. Skilfully applied thinning pubic hair eyebrow pencil can mask missing eyebrows. Children with pattern baldness may prefer to wear bandanas, scarves or caps. There are many styles available to suit a child's interest and mood - many even have ponytails attached with thinning pubic hair. For women, attractive scarves can hide patchy baldness; jewelry and clothing can distract attention from patchy hair; and proper makeup can cover up the effects of lost facial hair. If you would like to learn more with reference to covering up the cosmetic aspects of thinning pubic hair pattern baldness, ask your doctor or members of your local support group to recommend a cosmetic professional who specializes in working with individuals whose appearance is affected by medical conditions. Is Research Close to Finding Better Treatments or a Cure? While a cure is not imminent, researchers into hair disease are making progress toward a better understanding of the affliction. This increased understanding will likely lead the way to better treatments for alopecia areata 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 loss of hair in mice to testing medications and ways to apply drugs to help regrow hair in persons. Both the National Institutes of Health and the National male or female pattern baldness Foundation support research into the thinning pubic hair alopecia areata ailment and its treatment. Here are some areas of research that hold promise: Developing an animal model - This is a critical initial step toward understanding the affliction, and much headway has been made. By developing a mouse with a condition similar to human pattern baldness, researchers hope to learn more about the mechanism of the disease and finally develop immune system methods of treatment for the ailment in folks. Mapping genes - Researchers are studying the possible genetic instigates and mechanism of the affliction 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 investigating how hair follicles form in mouse embryos, hair research scientists hope to gain a better understanding of hair cycle biology that may lead to treatments for the underlying disease process. Targeting the immune system - Several new agents found to be effective in treating psoriasis may prove to be effective in thinning pubic hair male or female pattern baldness. These medications work by blocking 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. New therapies for treating other autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus may also benefit patients with thinning pubic hair alopecia areata. Finding better ways to give out drugs - One limitation of current topical therapies is getting the drug to the source of the difficulties, thinning pubic hair. Hair research scientists are looking for a compound that penetrates the fat layer under the skin to deliver medication directly to hair follicles. In laboratory animals, topically applied synthetic sacs called liposomes seem to fit the bill. Studies are still required to show whether liposomes work in the same way for citizens. Understanding cytokines - Chemical messengers known as cytokines (thinning pubic hair) 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 abnormal response to a part of the body. Researchers believe that by giving certain cytokines that inhibit inflammation, it may enable them to stop or slow the body's unusual response to the hair follicles. Because giving the cytokines (thinning pubic hair) systemically may cause adverse effects, they believe a topical medication using liposomes to get the media to the root of the hair inside the follicle may be better. Understanding stem cell biology - Epithelial stem cells are immature cells that are responsible for regenerating and maintaining a variety of tissues, including the hair follicles and the skin. Stem cells in the follicle appear to be spared from injury in male or female pattern baldness, which may explain why the potential for re-growth is always there in persons with the affliction. By studying the biology of these cells, and their immediate children, which seem to be targeted by the immune system, Researchers hope to gain a better understanding of factors that trigger the ailment.
As a footnote, male or female pattern baldness has millions of suffers all over the world - you are not alone if you have the affliction too. Remember that many people seriously affect their lives in a negative way by concentrating on the disease when perhaps they should be focussing on their lives instead. The majority of people that you meet will judge you by your personality, your attitude and your general demeanor - not by the quality of hair you have on your head. This has been a long thinning pubic hair article and we trust that you have found benefit in it. We would like to thank the website Hair Loss Problems for kindly allowing us to reproduce it. You searched for information about thinning pubic hair, baldness, hair loss, loss of hair or alopecia. |