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Glossary of Hair and Scalp Conditions

Like people, hair comes in all shapes and sizes. And, the condition of our hair varies based on our heritage, genetic make-up and even where we live. The following is a list of hair conditions -- what they are, what
causes them and how to treat them. As always, if you have a concern about your hair or scalp, contact your dermatologist or a hair professional.

Alopecia - A medical term for baldness - excessive or abnormal loss of hairs.

Alopecia Areata - A condition of the head in which round patches of hair suddenly fall out. It is not contagious, nor is it caused by food or stress but it can run in families. Generally, it occurs in three stages –
first, the hair falls out, next, the area of hair loss expands, and finally, new hair grows in. It can take months or years for hair to reappear, but rarely is the hair loss permanent.

Androgenetic Alopecia - This is the term for male and female pattern baldness that slowly occurs over time. The cause is believed to be genetic and not related to stress or foods. For men, the hair loss begins at the temples and spreads to the top of the head. Women experience a general thinning of hair throughout the scalp. Treatment for androgenic alopecia can come in the form of medication like Rogaine®, or Propecia®,
Minoxidil® or in hair transplants.

Alopecia Totalis - Similar to alopecia areata, but hair loss affects eyebrows and eyelashes as well as scalp.

Alopecia Universalis - Similar to alopecia areata, but hair loss affects entire body surface, including underarms and pubic areas.

Traction Alopecia - Hair loss which results from tension on the scalp caused by tight braids, winding hair too tightly on curlers, tension producing hairstyles, and frequent brushing.

Ingrown Hairs - Ingrown hairs appear as small bumps on the body, most often on the face for men and the legs and underarms for women. It occurs when a hair curls over within the follicle instead of exiting the skin.
Anagen Effluvium - Hair loss usually caused by radiation therapy or systemic chemotherapy. These agents disrupt the anagen cycle. Hair usually breaks off rather than sheds. Regrowth often occurs after therapy
is discontinued.

Baldness - Many people don’t think of male pattern baldness as a skin condition, but that’s exactly what it is. Doctors have long known that baldness stems from a skin condition characterized by and increase in a
hormone known as D–H–T. D-H-T sends a chemical message to hair follicles instructing them to shrink and stop producing hair. It’s long been a goal of many pharmaceutical companies to develop a way to restrict the production of DHT, thus stopping the balding process. In the past few years some products were introduced on the market that have been proven to slow balding in both men and women. The goal now is to develop better drugs that will do so more completely.

Cradle Cap- A form of seborrhea, commonly found in infants, cradle cap is an inflammatory scaling disease of the scalp. Like dandruff, scales and/or flakes can appear in the eyebrows, around the nose and behind the ear.

Dry Scalp - Changes in the weather, dry inside air and medication can affect the moisture of your scalp. If you notice small, scaly flakes falling from your scalp, try a good moisturizing shampoo.

Male Pattern Baldness - Men are more likely to become bald as they age. One typical genetic baldness pattern is a receding hairline and hair loss on the top of the head. Treatment options include medication or hair
transplants.

Female Pattern Baldness - This genetic predisposition to baldness can start with thinning hair between the ages of 25 and 35. New hair growth becomes thinner and finer, especially around the part on the top of the
head. Treatment options include medication or transplants.

Folliculitis - Folliculitis describes an infection and inflammation of the hair follicle. Folliculitis can occur almost anywhere on the skin and is usually caused by the bacteria staphylococcus. Folliculitis first
appears as scattered pimples and pustules that later dry out and form crusts around the follicles. See Razor Bumps for more information. Treatments may include taking an antibiotic and/or an electrologis suggested after treatment to control the infection.

Hair Loss - The average head contains about 100,000 hairs, which are lost at a rate of 50 to 100 hairs per day. On most heads the hairs are replaced but as we grow older hair can go into a resting phase in which it isn’t replaced regularly. Age, changing hormones and heredity can cause some people to lose more hair than others.

Head Lice - Head lice are tiny parasitic insects that are 2 to 3 millimeters long – about the size of a sesame seed. Head lice live by biting and sucking blood from the scalp. Once lice attach their eggs, called nits, to the hair, the eggs hatch in 8 to 10 days, producing more
lice. It is very common for schoolchildren to have head lice. Over-the-counter and prescription lotions and shampoos are available to treat head lice. Psoriasis - This skin condition most often appears on the scalp, elbows and knees. It occurs when areas of the skin grow at an increased rate causing the area to form red, scaly patches. Itchy and somewhat unsightly, psoriasis is not contagious, but can be difficult to treat.

Razor Bumps - Medically known as pseudofolliculitis barbae, razor bumps are a condition of the beard that can be found in 50 to 80 percent of African American men and 15 to 20 percent of Caucasian men. The bumps
occur when curly hairs cut sharp by a razor grow back into the skin. It can cause inflammation and even scarring. The most effective treatments are to allow the beard to grow out, shave less frequently, use an electric shaver or use chemical shaving products designed to prevent the bumps. See Folliculitis for more information.

Dandruff - Dandruff, a seasonal condition. It is the excessive shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. It most often occurs in the winter months and is exacerbated by excessive hair spray or gel use, dry indoor air, tight fitting hats and infrequent shampooing. Dandruff is a natural process so it can be controlled but not eliminated. Special medicated shampoos can be used to reduce the presence of dandruff. If you have mild dandruff, check with your stylist for a good shampoo. If you have a persistent problem or the dandruff progresses, contact a dermatologist. Seborrheic

Dermatitis (Severe Dandruff) - One of the most common skin disorders is seborrheic dermatitis. This condition is characterized by inflammation of the skin on the nose, scalp, eyelids and behind the ears because those are the areas with the highest concentration of oil glands. Often the skin will be covered in yellow, greasy scales that might cause mild itching. Seborrheic dermatitis sometimes will disappear with treatment but usually people will encounter recurring cases. There isn’t however, any means to prevent the development of the condition. Once the disorder does appear, it can be treated in a variety of ways ranging from cortisone doses to simply switching shampoos. Seborrheic dermatitis usually appears at three distinct points in the life cycle, infancy, middle age and old age. Doctors attribute infant cases to hormone imbalances, but they don’t yet know what causes adults to develop the
condition. It is thought by some to be caused by yeast growing on the skin and it is believed those who have it are genetically predisposed to the condition.

Telogen Effluvium - This abnormal loss of hair is due to an alteration in the hair growth cycle. Normal hair growth can be divided into three phases: growth, regression and resting. Most of the hairs on your head
are in the growth stage and only about 100 per day fall out. During telogen effluvium, a larger portion of hair sheds than is normal. It is often caused by the hormonal changes of pregnancy and the addition of protein.