Introduction Alopecia is also known as hair loss, and it occurs due to aging, nutritional or hormonal imbalance, or immune system etiology. It affects both males and females of different ages and races. Hair may fall out in clumps, break off leaving short stubs, or become thinner over time. The alopecia can be of a scarring or non-scarring nature. The most common form of hair loss is non-scarring, or noncicatricial, alopecia. In this case, the damage is not permanent, and although hair loss cannot be cured, it can be treated. Hair loss is usually not a sign of an underlying medical disorder. However, hair loss may affect self-esteem and cause anxiety affecting the quality of life. Scarring, or cicatricial, alopecia is a rare disorder that destroys the hair follicle and replaces it with scar tissue, resulting in permanent hair loss.
Causes
There are many genes that contribute to hair loss, so it can be hereditary. There are also other causes, including:
* Thyroid disorders
* Pregnancy
* Anemia
* Autoimmune diseases like polycystic ovarian syndrome
* Skin conditions like Psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis
Treatment Options Topical Minoxidil (Rogaine) and anti-inflammatory medications, such as topical and intra-lesional steroids, are used for alopecia. It is a solution that is applied directly to the scalp to stimulate the hair follicle. It slows hair loss, and some people grow new hair. Hair loss returns when the medication is stopped.
Finasteride is a prescription medicine that interferes with the production of a highly active form of testosterone that is linked to baldness. It slows hair loss. It works slightly better than minoxidil. Hair loss returns when you stop using the medicine. This prescription medication is also sometimes given to women who have been through menopause. Its role in female pattern hair loss is controversial, with both success and failure reported to occur.
Dutasteride is similar to finasteride, but may be more effective.
Hair transplants are also an option, though they are invasive and expensive. It consists of removing tiny plugs of hair from areas where the hair is continuing to grow and placing them in areas that are balding. This can cause minor scarring and possibly infection.
New Therapy Fractional photothermolysis was originally designed as a form of laser therapy to treat wrinkles and scars. Although the link between laser treatment and hair growth is not clear and the exact mechanism still unknown, there is evidence to support that laser irradiation holds potential for the induction of hair follicles in subjects with alopecia. Laser therapy has been reported to increase hair growth and activate hair follicles. The lasers rejuvenate skin, and hair follicles are a part of skin, along with nails, so through the rejuvenation of skin, these things also get rejuvenated. Clinical examples of photo-induced hair growth include the paradoxical hair growth after laser hair removal, and hair growth after some level of wound healing by lasers has been performed. Several studies have been performed, analyzing the effectiveness of laser treatment of different settings, and researchers have observed an increase in hair numbers and density on the treatment side of the head. Improvements were most notable when the laser settings followed a low energy and high density protocol. A review of the literature demonstrates that more research needs to be done on this topic, but fractional photothermolysis may be a new, effective way to treat different types of hair loss. The types of lasers the investigators plan to use include Fraxel restore and Sciton Halo, a fractional hybrid laser that combines fractional erbium ablative lasers with a fractional non-ablative laser. The use of the fractional photothermolysis Fraxel laser and Sciton Halo laser have been approved by the FDA for treatment of the hands, face, and body. Fraxel received aesthetic clearance in November 2003.
These lasers do not meet the definition of a significant risk device because the investigators do not believe that they present a potential for serious risk to the health, safety, or welfare of a subject. Side effects that have been reported from use with these lasers include redness and tenderness in the area that it was applied, and these side effects don't last more than a couple days. These lasers do not impair human health.
