| The average
person has up to 150,000 scalp hairs. It is normal
to lose 100 or more scalp hairs each day. Hair cycles
between 3 stages of growth: anagen, catagen and
telogen. Many things can alter normal hair cycling
and can promote hair loss and thinning. Hair loss
(alopecia) can be caused by genetic
or environmental factors, and often a combination
of these factors. Hair loss can be caused by certain
illnesses, medications, and diet also plays an important
role in healthy hair growth. There
are many causes and types of alopecia. Hair diseases
and disorders are varied and may be accompanied
by the following signs and symptoms depending
on the type of hair loss pattern:
| • |
Non-scarring
alopecia involves localized or diffuse
loss of hair (scalp or other sites). Receding
hair line, broken hairs, smooth scalp, inflammation,
and possibly loss of lashes, eyebrows, or
pubic hair may be features of this kind of
hair loss. Some examples are Alopecia Areata
and Telogen Effluvium. |
| • |
Scarring alopecia
is limited to particular areas and involves
inflammation at the edge and follicle loss
toward the center of lesions, violet-colored
skin abnormalities, and scaling. Some examples
include discoid Lupus Erythematosus, Lichen
Planopilaris and Central Centrifugal Scarring
Alopecia. |
| • |
Hirsutism
involves male-pattern “terminal hair”
growth in women, irregular menstruation, lack
of ovulation, acne, deepening of voice, balding,
and genital abnormalities. However, terminal
hair growth in a male pattern may also occur
normally in some women with a genetic predisposition.
|
| • |
Hair shaft disorders
can begin at birth or may be acquired in adulthood.
These disorders may involve split ends, dry,
brittle, and coarse hairs, hair color changes
and easy breaking of hairs. |
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