Alopecia

By: ZShaw & CHern

Description

• Alopecia is the partial or complete loss of hair on your skin. It can be in patches or take over your entire body.

Scientific Description

• Lymphocytes around the hair follicle release chemical messengers called cytokines that reject hair growth for unknown reasons.

• There are many types of Alopecia: either in patches (alopecia areata), on the entire head (alopecia totalis), or over the entire body (alopecia universalis).

Symptoms

• Thinning of hair• Receding hair line• Noticing hair falling out easily• All of these symptoms have to be sudden for it

to be classified as a symptom of Alopecia

Causes

• Age• Family History• Illness• Improper care of your hair• Menopause• Poor Nutrition• Pregnancy/Stress

Reducing Risk

• Limit use of flat irons, blow dryers, and other hair drying devices

• Limiting of relaxers, permanents, bleach, and hair chemicals

• Using scrunches instead of metal hair retainers

• Use ball tip hair pins

Treatment

• Non-Prescription and Prescription meds• Hair transplants• Laser treatment• Scalp flaps• Hats• However, there is no cure, only ways to make

it better.

Worst Case Scenario

• Losing hair everywhere on your body, this is not a deadly disease and this is the worst possible outcome from Alopecia

3 fun facts

• 1. Androgenic alopecia is commonly called pattern baldness and it effects hair line

• 2. Alopecia Areata is the most common form and is an autoimmune disease that is hereditary

• 3. You often start losing your hair in child hood

Work Cited

• Pic1: skincarenetwork.co.uk• Pic2: http://

www.hairlossadvisor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/alopecia-areata.jpg

• Information Link: http://www.healthgrades.com/conditions/alopecia