42510011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Hair Loss

Natural shedding of hair accounts for normal daily hair loss. Recent measurements indicate that the average rate of hair loss is closer to

35 to 40 hairs per day

4251

0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Alopecia

• Abnormal hair loss

• Most common types– Androgenic alopecia– Alopecia areata– Postpartum alopecia– Over 63 million people in our country suffer

from abnormal hair loss

4251

0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Emotional impact

• How perceived by others– Recent study showed that compared to men

who had hair, bald men were PERCEIVED as having a number of characteristics

• Less physically attractive – by both sexes• Less assertive• Less successful• Less personably likable• Older

– By about 5 years

4251

0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Emotional impact

• Men with severe hair loss– Negative social and emotional effects

– More preoccupation with baldness

– Make effort to conceal or compensate for hair loss

• Women with hair loss– Devastating- women try to hide it from everyone

including their doctor

– Causes anxiety – women feel helpless and less attractive

4251

0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Androgenetic Alopecia

• CAUSE: a combination of heredity, hormones and age causes progressive shrinking or miniaturization of terminal hair, converting it to vellus hair

• Known as male pattern baldness in men

• Affects 40 million men in U.S.

• Affects 20 million women in U.S.

4251

0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Androgenetic Alopecia

• Can begin as early as teens

• Frequently seen by age 40

• By age 35, almost 40 % of men & women show some degree of loss

• Gene can be inherited from either side of family

4251

0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Alopecia Areata

• Sudden loss of hair in round or irregular patches; may occur on scalp or anywhere else on body. It’s highly unpredictable; affects almost 5 million people in the U.S.

• Immune system attacks hair follicles• Begins with one or more small, bald patches

– Can progress to the total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis) or complete body hair loss (alopecia universalis)

4251

0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Alopecia Areata

• Occurs in males and females of all ages and races– Can begin in childhood

• Scalp shows no sign of inflammation

• No obvious signs of skin disorder or disease

4251

0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Postpartum Alopecia

• Temporary hair loss at conclusion of pregnancy

• Growth cycle generally returns to normal within one year after the baby is delivered

4251

0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Hair Loss Treatments

• Minoxidil– Topical medication applied to scalp twice daily; proven

to stimulate hair growth

– Sold over the counter in 2 strengths: 2% regular & 5% extra strength; no known negative side effects

• Finasteride– Oral prescription for men only

– Side effects include weight gain & loss of sexual function

4251

0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Summary

• Genetics, age hormonal changes, and the immune system are factor of abnormal hair loss

• There are only 2 approved hair loss treatments

Next lesson: disorders of the hair