Hair disorders

Introduction:

Hair disorders is a broad category that includes the following conditions:

• Alopecia: the loss or thinning of hair. There are two types of alopecia: scarring, in which hair follicles are destroyed, and nonscarring, which can be reversed.
• Male-pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia): This is the most prominent type of hair disorder affecting, to varying degrees, half of all men over 50 years of age.
• Hirsutism: excessive male-pattern hair growth affecting 8% of adult women.
• Hair shaft disorders: usually hereditary abnormalities.

Signs and Symptoms:

Hair disorders are accompanied by the following signs and symptoms, depending on the type:

• Alopecia (nonscarring) involves hair loss all over or in circular areas, a receding hair line, broken hairs, a smooth scalp, inflammation, and possibly loss of lashes, eyebrows, or pubic hair.
• Alopecia (scarring) is limited to particular areas. Symptoms are inflammation at the edge and follicle loss toward the center of lesions, violet-colored skin abnormalities, and scaling.
• Hirsutism is male-pattern hair growth in women, irregular menstruation, lack of ovulation, acne, deepening of voice, balding, and genital abnormalities.
• Symptoms of hair shaft disorders are split ends and hair that is dry, brittle, and coarse, as well as skin and other abnormalities.

What Causes It?:

Hair disorders can be caused by any of the following:

• Alopecia (nonscarring) -- skin disorders, certain drugs, certain diseases, autoimmunity, iron deficiency, severe stress, scalp radiation, pregnancy, or pulling at your own hair.
• Alopecia (scarring) -- skin disorders, diseases, or bacterial infections.
• Hirsutism -- excess of androgen (a steroid hormone that stimulates development of male sex organs and secondary sexual characteristics). This overproduction of androgen could result from certain drugs or conditions.
• Hair shaft disorders -- overprocessed hair (coloring, permanent waves, excessive heating) or certain diseases.

Who's Most At Risk?:

People with the following conditions or characteristics are at risk for developing hair disorders:

• Alopecia -- male gender, genetic predisposition, pregnancy, physical or emotional stress, poor diet.
• Hirsutism -- genetic predisposition, lack of ovulation.
• Hair shaft disorders -- genetic predisposition, damaging grooming practices.

Source : http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/hair-disorders-000071.htm

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