Hair disease

From Food & Medicine Encyclopedia

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD's weight loss doctor NYC
Philadelphia GLP-1 weight loss and GLP-1 clinic NYC

Hair disease
File:Hair follicle-en.svg
Synonyms N/A
Pronounce N/A
Specialty N/A
Symptoms Hair loss, itching, scaling, inflammation
Complications Scarring, infection
Onset Varies by condition
Duration Varies by condition
Types N/A
Causes Genetics, hormonal changes, autoimmune disorders, infections, nutritional deficiencies
Risks Family history, stress, poor nutrition
Diagnosis Physical examination, biopsy, blood tests
Differential diagnosis Alopecia areata, tinea capitis, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis
Prevention Depends on specific condition
Treatment Topical treatments, oral medications, light therapy, surgery
Medication N/A
Prognosis Varies by condition
Frequency Common
Deaths N/A


Hair disease refers to a broad category of conditions that affect the hair follicle, hair shaft, or the area surrounding the hair. These conditions can lead to hair loss, changes in hair texture, or other cosmetic and health issues.

Types of Hair Diseases[edit]

There are several types of hair diseases, including:

  • Alopecia: This is a general term for hair loss. Alopecia can occur in many different forms, including androgenetic alopecia (common baldness), alopecia areata (patchy hair loss), and telogen effluvium (temporary hair shedding).
  • Tinea capitis: Also known as ringworm of the scalp, this is a fungal infection that causes hair loss and scaling.
  • Trichotillomania: This is a psychological condition in which a person pulls out their own hair.
  • Hirsutism: This condition is characterized by excessive hair growth in areas where hair is usually minimal or absent, such as the face and chest in women.
  • Hypertrichosis: This condition is characterized by excessive hair growth over and above the normal for the age, sex and race of an individual, in contrast to hirsutism, which is excess hair growth in women.

Causes[edit]

Hair diseases can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic predisposition, hormonal changes, certain medications, stress, and underlying health conditions such as autoimmune diseases and thyroid disorders.

Treatment[edit]

Treatment for hair diseases depends on the specific type of hair disease and its underlying cause. Options may include medication, surgery, laser therapy, and behavioral therapy.

See Also[edit]

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Content may be inaccurate or outdated and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical decisions. Verify information with trusted sources such as CDC.gov and NIH.gov. By using this site, you agree that WikiMD is not liable for any outcomes related to its content. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.