ALL CAUSE OF HAIR LOSS

Alopecia is loss of hair, which may be diffuse, patchy, scarring or non scarring.Diffuse non-scarring alopecia1. Androgenic Alopecia: in men recession of the frontal hairline, near the temples and thinning over the vertex occurs. In women, the scalp hair loss is generally diffuse but more in the vertex area.2. Endocrine and nutrition related: Endocrine abnormalities of thyroid, pituitary or adrenals can cause diffuse alopecia, Malnutrition and Zinc deficiency or iron deficiency may also cause diffuse alopecia.3. Telogen effluvium : certain events can induce hair follicles to enter the telogen phase, it commonly follows after delivery of a baby, high fever, surgery or other stress.4. Anagen effluvium : Abrupt cessation of hair growth follows use of cytotoxic drugs like cyclophosphamide, heparin , warfarin, colchicines, vitamin A.Patchy Non Scarring alopecia1. Alopecia areata : is a common condition probably autoimmune in etiology, it starts in 20’s and 30’s , initial lesion is commonly a circumscribed totally bald smooth patch, dystrophic broken hairs may be seen at the periphery of the patches, which we can easily epilated. The scalp is the most common site. When the perimeer of the scalp is incvolved, it is called ophiasis, which has poor prognosis. If there are multiple patches on the scalp, they may become confluent , resulting g in total loss of hair from scalp, called alopecia totalis. Total loss of hair from whole body is called alopecia universalis. Nail pitting, Beau’s line and nail dystrophy may be seen in the nails.Various modalities of treatment are available, like use of phenol, benzoyl, tincture of iodine, dithranol. Physical modalities like UVB in erythema doses, Grenz rays, and thorium X-eay may be used.2. Tinea capitis3. Trichotillomania: it is a form of alopecia caused by intentional or unintentional pulling out of hair.4. Traumatic alopecia : it is due to pressure.5. Secondary syphilis: moth eaten alopecia may be produced.Patchy or diffuse scarring alopecia1. Physical and chemical injury2. infection – kerion, favus, herpes zoster3. lichen planus and DLE4. Pseudopelade- it describes a scarring alopecia, which represents the end stage of an idiopathic or unidentifies destructive inflammatory process in the scalp, characterized by crab like extensions5. Malignancy – basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma.