Baldness: Causes and symptoms

Baldness is a common form of autoimmune disorder, which often causes hair loss to abruptly, forming empty patches of scalp. This is also the "obsession" for men.

Male pattern baldness can occur in both men and women, when you are older or you are of adult age. However, most cases are people under 30 years old. We will help you understand the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and effective treatments for baldness.

Baldness is a common condition when hair is not balanced, there are many hair loss patches in the scalp, loss of eyebrows and nose hair. But the most common is the hair loss that causes baldness. Hair will fall within small patches on the scalp (about ¼). For most people with baldness, hair loss is not dangerous but only makes the hair become aesthetically plagued and causes psychological problems in daily life. Sometimes in some cases, the condition will become more extreme.

The most prominent symptom of baldness is an uneven hair loss between areas of the scalp.

For some people, baldness can lead to complete loss of hair on the entire scalp (alopecia totalis) , or in some more severe cases, the disease will cause hair loss throughout the body ( alopecia universalis).

Baldness is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles on the scalp causing inflammation, leading to hair loss.

Causes of baldness

Baldness occurs when white blood cells attack cells in the hair follicles causing them to shrink and slow hair growth. However, doctors still do not know the exact cause of this condition.

Another study found that people with a family history of hair loss also had other autoimmune disorders, typically atopic dermatitis (a disorder that tends to cause sensitive and easily allergic skin). , inflammation of the thyroid gland and vitiligo.

Although many people think that baldness is caused by stress factors, in fact, extreme stress can be a potential cause of disease. In addition, the most recent studies show that there is another cause of disease that is the genetic factor .

Symptoms of baldness

The most prominent symptom of baldness is an uneven hair loss between areas of the scalp. Any area with hair and hair can be affected, including beard and eyelashes.

You may have sudden hair loss and this condition will progress within a few days or in a short period of time (about a few weeks). You may feel itchy or burning in that area before your hair starts to fall. Hair follicles that are not damaged can grow hair back if the inflammation of the follicles is relieved.

Many people only have a small amount of bald spots on their scalp and then hair will usually recover without any form of treatment.

About 30% of hair loss sufferers find that the area of ​​bald scalp becomes wider or begins a cycle of hair loss and continuous redevelopment. About half of patients will recover their hair within a year. About 10% of people with baldness will develop disease into head baldness or alopecia.

Baldness can also affect nails and toenails, sometimes these changes are the first signs of developing disease. Some minor changes may occur to the nails and feet including:

1. Dents appear on the nail surface.
2. White spots and lines appear.
3. The nail begins to become rough.
4. The nail has lost its gloss.
5. Nails become thin, brittle and split in half.

Men with baldness often lose their ability to protect the scalp.

Currently doctors have yet to find a way to completely cure baldness, although there are some forms of treatment that can help hair grow faster.

1. The most common form of treatment for baldness is the use of corticosteroids - a powerful anti-inflammatory drug that prevents damage in the hair follicles that the immune system causes. Your doctor will give you these medicines or apply ointments to bald areas (the most common way), or prescribe medication for you to take (less commonly).
2. In addition, the doctor may prescribe other drugs to promote hair growth or affect the immune system. These drugs include Minoxidil, Anthralin, SADBE and DPCP. Although some drugs can be effective in recovery, they do not work to prevent the formation of new bald patches. Many people will switch to alternative therapies such as acupuncture and aromatherapy, although there is little evidence to prove the effectiveness of these treatments.

In addition to the aesthetic aspect, hair also has the function of protecting the scalp against harmful agents from a certain level. Bald men often lose their scalp protection, so they need to:

1. Apply sunscreen when outside or when exposed to the sun.
2. Wear sunglasses to protect the eyes from the sun and dirt - replacing the function of the eyebrows and eyelashes that have fallen off.
3. Wear hats, wigs and scarves to protect the scalp from the sun or to keep warm.
4. Apply the ointment inside the nose to help keep the mucous membranes moist and protect against external bacteria - replacing the function of the hairs that have fallen off.