Hair Loss Treatment
This page has been designed to address common questions regarding hair loss/ alopecia and treatment of hair loss. If you would like to seek an online consultation or need advise regarding hair loss, please post your question in the question box to the right.
The FAQ section and other links in the top menu bar, should give you all the information you need, regarding the consultation process. I am online now and waiting to answer your question.
Best wishes,
What is Alopecia?
Alopecia simply means 'hair loss'. It is not a diagnosis as such. It is just a medical term for hair loss. There are different types of alopecia as discussed below.
Why Hair Loss? What are the reasons for hair loss (alopecia)? What are the different diseases that can cause hair loss?
There can be a number of reasons for hair loss including:
Medications/ drugs
Fungal/ bacterial infections (Tinea capitis, Folliculitis Decalvans)
Stress (Telogen effluvium, Alopecia Areata)
Autoimmune conditions (Alopecia Areata, Discoid Lupus Erythematosus)
Hormonal imbalance. Ffor example: thyroid problems, pregnancy, contraceptive pills
Genetic factors (Androgenetic alopecia)
Contact allergies to hair products
Various other skin diseases (lichen planus, bullous pemphigoid, Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp,. etc)
Internal diseases (cancers, liver, kidney, blood disorders)
Vitamin deficiency
How is hair loss diagnosed? What tests are necessary?
Dermatologists often make the diagnosis based on:
Age of the patient
Sex of the patient
Pattern of hair loss: patchy vs diffuse
Area of involvement
Symptoms and signs: itching/ redness/ scarring/ flaking/ scaling of the scalp
However if the diagnosis is not possible based on history taking and clinical examination, your dermatologist may request a skin biopsy and/or blood tests.
What is the commonest cause of Hair loss in men?
The commonest cause of hair loss in men, is Androgenetic alopecia or male pattern balding
What are the common causes for hair loss in women?
Hair loss in women is quite common and can be due to a number of reasons. The commonest diseases that affect women however are:
Androgenetic alopecia: Female pattern balding
Frontal fibrozing alopecia/ Lichen planopilaris
What is the treatment of hair loss?
As explained, there are different reasons and types of skin diseases that can cause hair loss. Obviously one treatment will not work for all. The treatment would entirely depend on what the diagnosis is. The following however are the range of treatments one may get for hair loss:
Steroid lotions
Minoxidil lotion
Hormonal pills
Oral antibiotics or antifungals
Vitamin pills
Medicated shampoos
Interesting blog articles for further reading:
Corticosteroids for Alopecia Areata
Sudden whitening/ greying of hair (overnight greying phenomenon)
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