Alopecia

This article is about the medical condition. For the 2008 album by Why?, see Alopecia (album).

Alopecia or hair loss is the medical description of the loss of hair from the head or body, sometimes to the extent of baldness. Unlike the common cosmetic depilation of body hair, alopecia tends to be involuntary and unwelcome, e.g., androgenetic alopecia. However, it may also be caused by a psychological compulsion to pull out one\'s own hair (trichotillomania) or the unforeseen consequences of voluntary hairstyling routines (mechanical "traction alopecia" from excessively tight ponytails or braids, or burns to the scalp from caustic hair relaxer solutions or hot hair irons).

In some cases, alopecia is an indication of an underlying medical concern, such as iron deficiency.Hair loss, balding, hair shedding. DermNet NZ. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.

When the hair loss is in a defined part of the body, is is known as alopecia areata. By contrast, the hair loss associated with chemotherapy sometimes affects the entire body.Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment - MayoClinic.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.

Well-known people who have alopecia include Pierluigi Collina, Gail Porter, Matt Lucas, Patrick Stewart, Charlie Villanueva and Duncan Goodhew.

Notes and references

• Alopecia Types - More information about alopecia and the various different types
• The Merck Manual\'s entry for alopecia

See also

• Alopecia areata

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