Monthly Archives: July 2010

Alopecia areata, which is sometimes known as ‘spot baldness’ is a common cause of hair loss. It can affect any part of the body, but is most commonly seen to affect head hair. It generally only affects patches, but in around one or two per cent of cases, it will spread further.

Patches affected by alopecia areata are generally round, but can take any shape. Sometimes affected areas may prove a touch painful or can tingle slightly. Hairs in an affected region may be narrower near the scalp, tapering where growth is newest.

Alopecia areata is not a contagious condition, rather it seems likely that some people are genetically predisposed to it, as cases are more likely if family members have also suffered. It is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the immune system is actually attacking the hair follicles, affecting and even preventing the growth of hair. The actual trigger for the condition is not known, although it is suspected to be related to emotional stress or some sort of germ.

If you start to lose hair, it is important that the first step you take is to see your GP who will most likely refer you to a consultant dermatologist. You can also arrange to see a consultant dermatologist directly. Make sure you see a qualified medical professional who will act in your best interests and will give you the best advice.

Losing hair can be a distressing experience, whether it is gradual or relatively sudden. Unfortunately, there are many unverified miracle cures out there, so it can be hard to know where to turn. The important thing is to turn to your GP first of all.

We all lose hair, but if you notice that you are losing more than you would ordinarily expect, it is perhaps time to speak to your GP. They will investigate and diagnose and will hopefully be able to identify the cause, at which point you can consider what your next step should be.

Quite often, your GP will refer you to a dermatologist. While dermatology is primarily concerned with the skin, this branch of medicine does include hair, because the hair follicles reside in the skin. It is also possible to contact a consultant dermatologist directly without referral from your GP.

By speaking with an NHS consultant dermatologist, you can be sure that you are getting the best and impartial advice. NHS practitioners are governed by the General Medical Council and are therefore duty-bound to act in your best interests.

Before undergoing any sort of treatment for hair loss, it is important to first consult your GP. Hair loss may have any number of different causes and it is vital that you are properly diagnosed as this will give you the best chance of getting the right treatment. Consultant dermatologists are experts in this field and you are likely to be referred to one by your GP.

Minoxidil is a form of medication that is often used to treat hair loss. Originally produced as a a treatment for those with high blood pressure, it was found that it also promoted hair growth.

Minoxidil is not effective in all patients and hair regrowth is only seen in a small percentage of those whose hair has already been lost. However, it does significantly slow the rate of hair loss and this is true in around 80 per cent of cases, with many even reporting that it stopped hair loss altogether.

Application
Supplied in lotion form, Minoxidil should be applied to the scalp twice a day. Very few side effects have been observed beyond occasional skin reactions in those who are allergic. A five per cent solution is recommended for men and a two per cent one for women.

For women suffering from problems with hair loss, the first place you will always need to turn is your GP. It is very important to get a formal and accurate diagnosis, as each condition is likely to have different methods of treatment even if the symptoms are the same.

Many women then consider hair replacement and hair loss treatment options offered at a few specialist clinics. These offer a different service from your doctor, as they focus on helping you manage your condition rather than providing a medical cure.

This said, it is very important to find the right clinic for you. Female hair loss is an extremely sensitive subject, as it can have a debilitating effect on the sufferers’ confidence, self-esteem and even their personal relationships.

Therefore, you ideally need to seek out a clinic specialising in the particulars of female hair loss, one which offers you the sort of realistic hair loss management options you were looking for, but in a reassuring and supportive environment.

In this sort of clinic, you will have the comfort of knowing that other women being treated are experiencing the same emotions, fears and concerns as you. Also important is clinic staff who understand what you are going through and are able to help you find a personally tailored solution.

The beauty pageant culture is huge in America, with thousands of young women competing every year to win be crowned their state’s beauty queen.

What you wouldn’t expect to see at these sort of competitions is a young woman who is completely bald, especially one who manages to win a state-wide competition. Breaking down all barriers when it comes to our modern perceptions of beauty, however, is 21-year-old Kayla Martell, who was recently crowned Miss Delaware.

Kayla has alopecia areata, an auto-immune condition where the immune system attacks the hair follicles and the hair falls out in patches. It does regrow in some sufferers after a year or so, but Kayla lost her hair as a teenager and it has not yet grown back.

Despite her condition, Kayla has competed in the Miss Delaware beauty pageant four times. She competed without her wig on three of the four occasions. After winning the competition thanks to her striking looks and inspiring attitude, Kayla is now on a mission to send other alopecia sufferers the message that “bald is beautiful”.

Speaking on US TV about removing her wig after the competition, Kayla said:

“I knew that I had to be on Miss America’s stage, and I had to get there somehow. I think I can be a better Miss Delaware and a better Miss America by taking the wig off.”

As with any medical condition, it is important to obtain an accurate diagnosis for hair loss before you can start any treatment. This is especially important with hair loss related conditions as the symptoms are often remarkably similar and the defining characteristics of a particular condition can be hard to spot.

For example, a child displaying symptoms of hair loss could have one of a number of different conditions. Alopecia areata is patchy hair loss where the skin remaining is perfectly smooth and without lesions, whereas Tinea Capitis (ringworm of the scalp) will cause bald patches where the skin may display scaling.

Both of these conditions cause hair loss, but the treatment for each is very different. There is no definitive cure for alopecia areata – although the hair is likely to grow back within a year or so if the patient is a child – whereas Tinea Capitis requires anti-fungal medicine to be ingested for effective treatment.

In adults, the causes and treatments for each type of hair loss can also be very different, so it is important to consult a GP for a proper diagnosis. Only then can you seek help from a hair loss treatment specialist for your particular condition.