Alopecia

Alopecia areata (al-oh-PEE-shah air-ee-AH-tah) is an autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. This common disease 1.7 percent of the population overall, including more than 4.7 million people in the United States alone.It occurs in males and females of all ages and races. However, it usually begins in childhood and can be life altering experience.

In alopecia areata, the affected hair follicles are mistakenly attacked by a person's own immune system (white blood cells). This results in the prevention of the hair growth. Alopecia areata usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis) or complete body hair loss (alopecia universalis) or due to forceful pulling or tension on the hair ( traction alopecia).

Trichotillomania

Trich= hair (Greek word thrix)

Tillo= to pull

Mania= an obsessive impulse

Trichotillomania (TTM) is an impulse-control disorder that causes people to pull out the hair from their scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, or other parts of the body, resulting in noticeable bald. This disorder includes Hair Breakers, Hair Pullers and Eaters.This condition is excelerated by the person having a tramatic experience such as puberty, death or excessive stress. Mostly females have this uncommon disorder.

It can also be classed as a nervous condition, an addiction, or an obsessive-compulsive disorder similar to biting finger nails, sucking your thumb or smoking. It is estimated to affect one to two percent of the population, or four to eleven million Americans.

Physicians are recently proposing to revise the name of this hair disorder to "Nueromechanical Alopecia" to give it a more positive connotation.
 

Male Pattern Baldness

Androgenetic alopecia (also known as male pattern baldness) occurs in both men and women. Balding usually starts at any age after puberty, and can range from partial loss to complete baldness. Male pattern baldness is a permanent hair loss condition that can not be prevented.

Hair loss usually begins at the temples and at the top of the head toward the back, causing a receding hairline and a bald spot. In some circumstances, hair loss may continue until the two sections become joined, which causes the top crown to be completely bald. It usually progresses slowly and is not associated with redness, itching, or pain.

 Male pattern baldness seems to be caused by both  hormonal (androgen) and genetic factors. Androgens play major role in the generation of scalp hair. Genetically determined characteristics of hair follicles in the scalp may cause the follicles to be more likely to degrade in the presence of androgens. 

There are multiple genetic factors that influence male pattern baldness. A tendency toward baldness in the men on either the mother's or father's side of a man's family indicates a genetic predisposition to baldness. The speed, pattern, time of onset and degree of balding are all influenced by heredity. Generally, the earlier the onset of balding, the more extensive the degree of hair loss will eventually be.

Contrary to popular myth, balding is not caused by wearing hats. Massaging or brushing the scalp will not help regrow hair, and excessive cleaning of the scalp will not "unclog" follicles and allow hair growth.  Normal or excessive everyday stress does not contribute to balding and is not a cause of androgenetic alopecia.

Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism

The thyroid gland is a bilobed structure surrounding the trachea.It produces thyroxine which regulates cell metabolism in humans as well as all mammals.Malfunction of the thyroid gland can lead to a condition called a goiter. Hyperthyroid goiter tells the thyroid to produce an excessive amount of thyroxine making it overactive.Hypothyroid goiter  depresses the amount of  thyroxine produced by the thyroid.

Both conditions affect the bodies metabolism. Medications taken to help regulate the bodies production of thyroxine also affects a human beings hair, nails and skin. Some people that suffer with either of these conditioned are usually having some form of hair loss. 

Telogen effiuvium: (usually temporary hair loss) Caused by Physical stress, emotional stress, thyroid abnormalities, medications and hormonal causes normally associated with females.

 Anagen effiuvium: Generally due to internally administered medications, such as chemotherapy agents, that poison the growing hair follicle.