Baldness, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, Complications

Baldness, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, Complications

Baldness or alopecia is a condition when hair on the scalp or other areas of the body is lost or excessively shed. This condition can happen to anyone, but is more common in men.

Baldness can occur due to various factors, ranging from heredity, stress, certain medical conditions, to the effects of chemotherapy. Baldness can be temporary or permanent. Most cases of baldness can be treated if caught early and given proper treatment.

Causes of Baldness

Everyone loses about 50–100 strands of hair every day. This is common and new hair will grow out of the hair that was lost. However, hair loss can be a sign of a medical disorder if no new hair grows to cause baldness.

A number of factors can cause excessive hair loss and possibly baldness, including:

1. Hereditary factors

Hereditary or genetic factors are the most common causes of baldness. This condition can result in androgenic alopecia with a characteristic pattern of baldness.

This type of baldness is often characterized by thinning hair and retreating of the hairline on the forehead. Baldness due to heredity can begin as a teenager and occurs gradually with age.

2. Hormonal changes

There are various conditions that cause changes in hormone levels in the body and trigger baldness. Some of these conditions are pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, PCOS, and thyroid disorders. Baldness due to hormonal changes is generally temporary.

3. Certain diseases

A number of medical conditions, such as an autoimmune disease that causes alopecia areata, a fungal infection of the scalp (tinea capitis), and a mental disorder called trichotillomania, can cause baldness.

In addition, stressful events or psychological disturbances, such as the loss of a loved one or divorce, can also cause hair loss and baldness.

4. Medicines

Baldness can also occur as a side effect of using drugs, such as drugs for cancer (chemotherapy), depression, arthritis, gout, hypertension, and heart disease.

5. Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy, which are commonly used to treat cancer, can cause baldness, especially when applied to the head or neck area. However, radiation-induced baldness is generally temporary and hair can grow back several months after therapy is completed.

6. Hair styling and care

Too often hair pulled in a way, such as ponytails or braids, can cause baldness. This type of baldness is called traction alopecia.

In addition, excessive hair care, for example too often exposed hair, curling, or hair, also causes baldness. This is because this habit can make hair brittle and easy to fall out.

bald risk factors

There are a number of conditions that can make a person more at risk of going bald, namely:

• Have a family history of baldness
• old age
• Experiencing stress
• Have certain medical conditions, such as lupus or diabetes
• Experiencing significant weight loss or lack of calorie and protein intake
• Have a deficiency in certain nutrients, such as iron, protein, or zinc

Symptoms of Baldness

Baldness can occur when there is excessive and daily hair loss, without new hair growth. Complaints or symptoms that can start baldness are:

• Hair is easily broken and damaged
• Thinning of hair, especially on the top of the head
• The back of the hairline on the forehead
• Patches appear on the scalp or skin that is usually overgrown with hair
• A lot of hair falls out when combing or when running your hands through your hair
• Scalp patches appear on the scalp that are gradually enlarged

The above symptoms can take place gradually or appear suddenly, depending on the cause of baldness. Baldness can occur in any part of the skin where hair grows, including the eyebrows and beard.

In addition to the above symptoms, hair loss that eventually triggers baldness can also be accompanied by a feeling or itching of the scalp. Even if the cause is a yeast infection, the bald area may swell and ooze pus.

When to go to the doctor

Immediately consult a doctor if you experience the symptoms mentioned above. Examination needs to be done, especially if it occurs suddenly, the hair loss is very large, or there is baldness in other areas, such as eyebrows.

You should also check with your doctor if baldness or hair loss is causing you to feel depressed or insecure. This is important to do to maintain your mental health.

Bald Diagnosis

To diagnose baldness, the doctor will ask the patient's complaints and symptoms, as well as the patient's and family's medical history. The doctor will also ask the patient's usual hair care.

After that, the doctor will perform a physical examination by looking at the bald skin. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will recommend that the patient undergo examinations, such as:

• Blood tests, to determine the medical conditions that cause baldness
• Skin biopsy, which is taking a sample of bald skin for examination in the laboratory
• Light microscopy, which is an examination of hair loss with a microscope to find out if there is a problem at the base of the hair

Bald Treatment

Treatment of baldness aims to suppress hair loss and regrow hair that has fallen out. Bald treatment methods that can be done include:

Drugs

Here are some drugs that can be given by doctors to treat baldness:

• Minoxidil, to slow baldness to grow hair, this drug is available in the form of lotion or shampoo
• Finasteride, to inhibit the formation of hormones in male skin that cause baldness
• Spironolactone, to activate the hormone that causes baldness in men and women
• Corticosteroids, to help autoimmune baldness due to diseases, such as alopecia areata
• Diphencyprone, to promote hair growth, especially in balding due to alopecia areata

Medical procedures

Some medical procedures that can be done to treat baldness are:

• Hair transplant surgery

The operation is performed by transferring the scalp with hair follicles to the bald area. One surgical session can generally remove the skin containing about 10–60 hair follicles. The results of this operation can be seen after a few months.

• Laser therapy

This therapy is done by firing a laser beam into the bald area to trigger hair growth. Laser therapy can be used for hereditary baldness, alopecia areata, or chemotherapy.

• PRP (platelet rich plasma)

The PRP procedure is done by taking a small amount of blood and then taking it to separate the plasma from the blood cells. The plasma will be taken and injected into the bald area of ​​​​skin to trigger hair growth.

If the baldness is caused by a certain medical condition, the doctor will treat the disease. For example, in baldness caused by a lack of iron or zinc, doctors will provide supplements that contain these minerals.

Patients can wear wigs for a while and avoid the habit of pulling or tying the hair too tightly. Patients are also advised to be more careful in choosing hair care products.

Bald Complications

Although generally harmless, balding can cause other health problems, such as:

• Disturbed appearance
• Decreased self-confidence
• Disturbed
• Depression
• Sunburn (sunburn) on the bald scalp area

Bald Prevention

Balding due to genetic factors or age cannot be achieved. However, baldness due to other factors can be done by doing the following efforts:

• Don't tie or braid your hair too tight
• No shampooing every day, unless the hair is very beautiful
• Choose hair care products wisely, including shampoo and cat hair
• not excessive production or curling of hair, especially by applying heat to the hair
• Use a wide-toothed comb and don't comb when your hair is still wet
• Limiting hair from excessive sun exposure, for example by wearing a hat when outdoor activities when the sun is hot

If you need to undergo therapy, love the doctor about the need to use a cooling cap to reduce the occurrence of hair loss.

If you are already experiencing baldness, be sure to follow the treatment advice from your doctor, both to grow hair back and to prevent the baldness from getting worse.

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