Three Types of Alopecia: Areata, Totalis, Universalis
What is Alopecia?
Alopecia simply means “hair loss.” It is the medical term for hair loss and there are numerous forms of alopecia. Today, we’ll look at three different terms that include the word alopecia:
• Alopecia Totalis
• Alopecia Universalis
• Androgenetic Alopecia
Alopecia Totalis
Alopecia Totalis is thought to be an autoimmune disorder that causes loss of all head hair. Unlike androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness), there are no remaining patches or areas with hair on the scalp once alopecia totalis has run its course. It is still questonbly believed that stress is a major contributing factor in causing alopecia totalis, despite the fact that many people who suffer from it report low stress levels.
Alopecia Universalis
Also sometimes called alopecia areata universalis, alopecia universalis is the term used to describe rapid loss of hair all over the body. It includes head hair, eyebrows, and even eyelashes. It is the most severe form of hair loss and is believed to be an autoimmune disorder. While many treatments have been explored, no standard treatments exist for this condition.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss. It is also referred to as male or female pattern hair loss and is abbreviated as AGA. Heredity and hormones are the two major factors that can cause this type of hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia causes more than 95% of hair loss in men. Women are greatly affected by it as well, in part due to the same gentetic factors found in me as well as other contributing facters like ovarian cysts, high androgen index birth control pills, pregnancy, and menopause.
To learn more about alopecia, please visit the home page for The American Hair Loss Association. You can learn about additional types of alopecia, including alopecia areata and scarring alopecia, and find out more about causes, diagnoses, and treatments for hair loss.
Technorati Tags: alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis, American Hair Loss Association, hair lossThe Truth About Non-Surgical Hair Replacement Techniques: Tips and Facts
We’ve all heard horror stories about bad hairpieces and worse toupees. In comedy, these have been the butt of many jokes, but hair loss sufferers are not laughing. Non-surgical hair replacement is a serious matter, especially for people who are considering it. People who are dealing with alopecia must be careful because the hair loss industry is fraught with cheap gimmicky products as well as companies and so-called professionals who are more than happy to take advantage of vulnerable hair loss sufferers. Whenever you are looking at a solution for hair loss, you must move forward with care and caution. Non-surgical hair replacement, such as hairpieces, are no exception.
Non-surgical hair replacement can be a wonderful alternative for people who want to have a fuller head of hair without surgery. However, most consumers don’t know what to look for or what to watch out for when shopping for a hairpiece. The vast majority of consumers who purchase non-surgical hair replacement are unhappy with the products they’re stuck with. Plus, there’s a lot that the hair clubs won’t tell you.
Tips
• Try the mom and pop salons. They have compassion for their customers and great customer service.
• Be prepared to buy two units so that you can wear one while the other is being maintained.
• Do not let a hair replacement company keep your second hairpiece. It’s yours, you get to take it home.
• Avoid anyone who tries to sell you a maintenance contract. You should be able to take your hairpiece anywhere you want for maintenance.
Facts
• The stylist will probably shave off a good portion of your hair in order to affix the hairpiece.
• Bonded systems will not stay firmly attached for 4-6 weeks.
• These systems need constant maintenance and you will have to learn to do some of the maintenance yourself.
• Cost of maintenance ranges from $60 to $300 per month.
Get more tips, facts, and information about non-surgical hair replacement systems by visiting the following link:
http://www.americanhairloss.org/hair_replacement/introduction.asp
Researchers Find Direct Link Between Tooth Infections and A Specific Form of Hair Loss
Even though it’s clear that Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disorder, it is still considered somewhat of a mystery as to why it afflicts approximately 2% of the US population. For many men suffering with AA, the disease presents itself in the beard region.
Now researchers believe that infections of the teeth may be the culprit for localized Alopecia Areata of the beard.
Technorati Tags: alopecia areata, beard hair lossRead: Developing A Bald Patch? It Could Be A Hidden Tooth Infection
Dr. Kevin McElwee Will Be Pursuing a Unique Line of Alopecia Areata Genetic Study
Dr. Kevin McElwee will be pursuing a unique line of Alopecia Areata genetic study.
Alopecia areata (AA) is a common disfiguring autoimmune disease which results in distressing and extensive hair hair loss in men, women, and children. Approximately 640,000 Canadians will experience AA - a ratio of 1 in 50 - which makes it a statistically significant disease to understand. Treatment options for AA are limited and there is no cure.
Dr. McElwee’s long-term goal is to determine the contribution of genes to the development of AA. The Michael Smith Foundation award will sponsor his study to test the hypothesis that AA is due to a genetic susceptibility towards disease development. The first step in proving this is to identify genes associated with AA in a rat model, and then define the specific genes involved and what the genes do.
Already Dr. McElwee’s team has identified several candidate regions on chromosomes where genes coding for susceptibility to AA are present by using controlled breeding strategies and screening across the entire genome.
Using a system called single nucleotide polymorphism the team will determine whether there are significant changes in the identified genes associated with rat AA, and will look for differences in gene expression and gene products.
Once genes have been identified in the rat model, they will use the information derived from the model to define a large scale study of AA affected humans. The nature of these genes may help us to understand how AA develops and, in the long term, such genes may be the target of new and effective treatments for AA.
More information is available at the Michael Smith Foundation For Health Research
Technorati Tags: alopecia areata, hair loss, Kevin McElwee