What is androgenetic alopecia? Androgenetic alopecia, or common baldness, is a genetically determined sensitivity of the hair follicle to androgens. It occurs post-pubertally in both males and females and is manifest by the non-scarring loss of hair in the vertex and frontotemporal areas. Terminal hairs are first replaced by thin, small vellus hairs. Eventually the [...]
What is stress-induced alopecia? Diffuse hair loss can be caused by physical or psychological stress such as: childbirth (most common cause), high fever, chronic illness, emotional stress, physical stress, nutritional deficiency, and various drugs. The hair loss occurs several months after the stressor. The cause of the hair loss is termed telogen effluvium, the early [...]
Hair loss, or alopecia, is divided into non-scarring causes and scarring (cicatricial) causes. Please see one of the specific entries below for the non-scarring alopecias.: Alopecia areata Alopecia, stress-induced Alopecia, androgenetic Anagen Effluvium Trichotillomania
What is alopecia areata? Alopecia areata is an idiopathic disorder characterized by the acute development of round or oval patches of hair loss (2-3 cm) without scarring of the scalp. It is estimated to affect 0.1 to 0.2% of the population at any time. Onset is usually in early adulthood. Patients are otherwise healthy. A [...]