Alopecia
Hair loss of any amount can be upsetting but the more that is lost, the more upsetting it becomes. Anyone can become a victim of Alopecia, or hair loss. There are four main categories of Alopecia which we shall take a look at individually, namely Alopecia Areata, Androgenetic Alopecia, Alopecia Totalis and Alopecia Universalis – they all sound pretty frightening to me.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Most people know someone with this problem, Androgenetic Alopecia, as it first shows itself in men by the receding hairline. It also leads to the thinning of the hair at the crown of the head. The result of this will be either partial baldness, or even complete baldness. Androgenetic Alopecia can occur in women, but it is not the hairline which is affected, it is the general thinning of the hair all over the head. It is rare for women to suffer from total baldness.
Alopecia can cause partial baldness, or hair loss from the whole body in the worst cases, Alopecia Universalis.
The cause of Androgenetic Alopecia is thought to be a combination of genetic as well as environmental factors, and it may also be affected by hormones. the general opinion is that a low fat healthy diet as well as aerobic exercise could help prevent it or at least reduce the amount of hair lossed.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia Areata leads to the loss of body hair and although it can be anywhere on the body it is more normally from the scalp. Alopecia Areata results in the appearance of bald spots. The reason given for this is that the body treats the hair follicles as foreign tissue, and it may be a hereditary condition. Stress also plays its part in this condition, but once alopecia areata. is well advanced, then treatment so far has had little benefit
Alopecia Totalis
Alopecia Totalisis a more severe form of hair loss, and as indeed its name suggests it results in losing all head hair. The reasons behind Alopecia Totalis are less clear, but it may be the same as the causes which are associated with Areata, with stress being a contributing factor.
Alopecia Universalis
Finally, the most severe condition of all, which occurs when the entire body loses all of its hair, namely Alopecia Universalis. Again, it may be hereditary, and stress is thought to play a large role in this condition as in Areata and Totalis. Alopecia Universalis is not age related, meaning it can occur at any age, unfortunately.
A number of celebrities have suffered from alopecia over the years. John D. Rockefeller was one who used to wear a toupee. Of course it is much harder to tell if women are suffering from Alopecia, and are wearing a wig for that reason, or as a fashion statement. It is far more acceptable, still, for men to have bald heads than, but perhaps that will change more in the future.
