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Hair replacement surgery, a 40-year-old procedure, is now at a stage where its history can be re-examined, present procedures enumerated, and its future evaluated. The provocative observation that donor site, composite grafts, or occipital hair follicles, when transferred to the frontal area of the scalp, not only survive and grow but continue in a growth pattern throughout the patient's life has spurred a major subspecialty of cosmetic surgery. The innovations, refinements, and new techniques that emerged during the ensuing 40 years truly have made Norman Orentreich's original experiment a definitive subspecialty. This article reviews some of the prior advances during this time, where they stand now, and state-of-the-art techniques.

Performing a standardized 60-second hair count appears to be a reliable method for the assessment of hair shedding, according to a new report.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found that hair follicles in adult mice regenerate by re-awakening genes once active only in developing embryos. These findings provide unequivocal evidence for the first time that, like other animals such as newts and salamanders, mammals have the power to regenerate. A better understanding of this process could lead to novel treatments for hair loss, other skin and hair disorders, and wounds.

Using an animal model, a research team led by Yann Barrandon at the EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne) and the CHUV (Lausanne University Hospital) has discovered that certain cells inside the hair follicle are true multipotent stem cells, capable of developing into the many different cell types needed for hair growth and follicle replacement. In an article appearing in the Oct 3 advance online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they demonstrate that these holoclones can be used for long-term follicle renewal.

Hair follicle stem cells are important contributors to the wound-healing process, according to new research by investigators at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Using an animal model, the researchers discovered that stem cells in the hair follicle are enlisted to help heal wounds in the skin. This finding, published online in Nature Medicine last week, may suggest a therapeutic target for the development of drugs to encourage and promote wound healing.

Hair loss can range from mild hair thinning to total baldness. Hair can fall out for many different reasons. Medically, hair loss falls into several categories, including: Telogen effluvium — This common form of hair loss happens two to three months after a major body stress, such as a prolonged illness, major surgery or serious infection. It also can happen after a sudden change in hormone levels, especially in women after childbirth. Moderate amounts of hair fall out from all parts of the scalp, and may be noticed on a pillow, in the tub or on a hairbrush. While hair on some parts of the scalp may appear thinner, it is rare to see large bald spots.

Each year, millions of men and women suffer from unexplained hair loss. Oftentimes, this visible problem may be a sign of an internal medical problem that is even more serious than the hair loss itself. Fortunately, a dermatologist can help many get to the root of the problem. Speaking at the American Academy of Dermatology's 2003 Annual Meeting in San Francisco, dermatologist Amy J. McMichael, MD, associate professor, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, discussed some of the serious internal diseases as well as drug side effects that are linked to hair disorders.

A recent study suggests that hair loss may occur in a few persons who have received vaccinations. This side effect, if confirmed by other studies, would be considered very rare. Other studies to further investigate these findings are underway. From 1983 to 1995, 60 reports of hair loss were identified and evaluated among persons who had received vaccines. These few cases of hair loss were out of the hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine that have been given to the general population. This study alone cannot prove that vaccines cause hair loss. There may be other health conditions responsible for the hair loss that could not be identified. The study of these cases was conducted using information gathered from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. VAERS reports can be submitted by anyone who has received a vaccine and has concerns about health problems that occur afterwards.

Disease that cause hair loss is a common problem among many, but is often only due to genetics and a change in the balance of one's body. Side affect from other disease that you are having or a result from a surgery also causes hair loss. Hair loss can occur also due to diet. If you are dealing with a disease or surgery it is vital to know how this will affect your hair. To recover your hair, then you will be able to take the proper steps.

Hair loss may develop gradually or suddenly. It results from hereditary factors, aging, local skin conditions, and diseases that affect the body generally (systemic diseases). Many different drugs can also cause hair loss. When it occurs on the head, hair loss is generally referred to as baldness. Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss, eventually affecting about half of all men (male-pattern baldness) and 10 to 20% of women (female-pattern baldness). A slightly elevated level of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone probably plays a major role, along with genetic factors. The hair loss can begin at any age, even during the teenage years.

Both extreme emotional and physical stress can cause hair loss. The most common cause of sudden unexpected hair loss is a condition called telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium can develop as a consequence of severe mental stress, which can be caused by a divorce, the death of a loved one, major financial problems, or other traumatic emotional events. Physical stressors such as a major illness or surgery, high fever, and severe infection also can trigger stress-related hair loss.

Patients who are afflicted by the condition known as alopecia areata — patchy hair loss — should understand that there is “no reliable, safe, effective, long-term treatment,” said review co-author Dr. Mike Sladden, a dermatologist and senior lecturer at the University of Tasmania in Australia.

female-pattern baldness Although less common, female-pattern baldness differs from that of male-pattern baldness in that the hair generally thins all over the head, but the frontal hairline is maintained. Female-pattern baldness rarely results in total hair loss.

Hair loss usually develops gradually and may be patchy or diffuse (all over). Roughly 100 hairs are lost from your head every day. The average scalp contains about 100,000 hairs. Each individual hair survives for an average of 4-1/2 years, during which time it grows about half an inch a month. Usually in its 5th year, the hair falls out and is replaced within 6 months by a new one. Genetic baldness is caused by the body's failure to produce new hairs and not by excessive hair loss.

Alopecia areata is a disease that affects the hair follicles, which are part of the skin from which hairs grow. In most cases, hair falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter. Many people with the disease get only a few bare patches. Some people may lose more hair. Rarely, the disease causes total loss of hair on the head or complete loss of hair on the head, face, and body.

Want to know how much hair you're losing? Start counting -- the hairs on your comb, not on your head. In the June issue of Archives of Dermatology, scientists demonstrate that a so-called "60-second hair count" is a simple and reliable away to get a grip on whether you're balding and, if so, how fast. The procedure, which can be carried out in the convenience of your own home, may reassure the adult male -- or not.

The case of a child with permanent alopecia due to birth-related caput succedaneum is presented. After delivery with vacuum extraction, caput succedaneum at the left occipitoparietal region of the neonate's head was noted, which subsided within a week, leaving a circular necrotic crust and finally a circular bald area. At age 4, the child was referred at a tertiary center for the management of alopecia. Treatment initially consisted of the expansion of the hair-bearing skin adjacent to the bald area, which was excised at a second stage and covered with the expanded skin. A pleasing esthetic result was achieved.

It may be possible to grow new hair follicles, according to scientists studying mice. The scientists—who included George Cotsarelis, MD, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania—report their findings in Nature. They noticed that in lab tests, adult mice grew new hair follicles in skin healing from wounds.

In an image conscious society a high premium is attached to youthful appearance. Baldness is unfashionable. Publicity and intrigue surrounding the alleged treatment of famous heads and extensive advertising by some private clinics have heightened public interest.

Over the years, I’ve had many different hair styles and not a year goes by without me wondering if it would just be easier to shave it off. But I’m being facetious. Readers of Baldiness and its author, Laura Bzowy, certainly care about hair loss and its effect on all aspects of life. And so, apparently, do the folks at HairDX.

“Why me?” can be a question that men may ask themselves when they first notice that they have male pattern hair loss--a condition that affects two out of three men. Despite the fact that male pattern baldness is very common, many men who are faced with hair loss feel embarrassment and have low self-esteem. According to Phillip Ginsberg, D.O., J.D., an osteopathic physician who practices in Philadelphia, Pa. when a male is experiencing hair loss it is important to know what is causing the hair loss and become educated about the available treatment options.

On average, there are 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on the human scalp. The hairs grow from hair roots, or follicles (saclike structures under the skin). Blood vessels at the base of each follicle provide the nourishment necessary for hair growth. Hair growth in each root occurs in a cycle independent of the other roots. At any time about 90 percent of the hairs on the scalp are in the growth phase, while the other 10 percent are in the resting phase. The growth phase lasts an average of four to five years, after which the follicle enters the resting phase, which lasts about two months to four months. At the end of the resting phase, the hair falls out naturally and is replaced by a new hair. Consequently, some hair loss is a normal part of the hair growth cycle. In fact, on a typical day, about 50 to 150 scalp hairs are lost. Baldness (or alopecia) results when hair loss occurs at an abnormally high rate; when hair replacement occurs at an abnormally slow rate; or when normal hairs are replaced by thinner, shorter ones.

A team of scientists, including a research at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, has discovered that a little-known molecule created in the intestine when soy is digested is a natural and powerful blocker of a potent male hormone involved in prostate cancer and male pattern baldness. In fact, the molecule, equol, completely stops in its tracks the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which normally stimulates prostate growth and causes male pattern baldness.

A simple, 60-second hair count test may help men tell the difference between normal hair loss and problem hair loss that may be a sign of male pattern baldness. A new study suggests that counting the hairs lost after 60 seconds of combing or brushing is a reliable method for assessing hair loss. "Currently, there is no widely accepted or standard method for assessing the number of hairs shed daily," write researcher Carina A. Wasko, M.D., of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and colleagues in the Archives of Dermatology.

Until now, Female Hair Loss has been difficult to predict and diagnose. That changes with today's announcement that HairDX, LLC (www.hairdx.com), pioneers of consumer-friendly genetic tests for hair loss, has introduced a screening test using genetic markers strongly associated with Female Hair Loss (Female Androgenetic Alopecia). The easy to understand test provides an accurate and understandable genetic analysis of a woman's likelihood of developing this common type of hair loss.

Baldness can be classified into various types, depending on the cause. Several of the many different types of baldness include the following: female-pattern baldness although less common, female-pattern baldness differs from that of male-pattern baldness in that the hair generally thins all over the head, but the frontal hairline is maintained. Female-pattern baldness rarely results in total hair loss.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Hair grows from its follicle at an average rate of a 1/2 inch per month. Each hair grows for 2 to 6 years, then rests, and then falls out. A new hair soon begins growing in its place. At any one time, about 85% of the hair is growing and 15% is resting. Baldness occurs when hair falls out but new hair does not grow in its place. The cause of the failure to grow new hair in female pattern baldness is not well understood, but it is associated with genetic predisposition, aging, and levels of endocrine hormones (particulary androgens, the male sex hormones).

The most common type of hair loss in women is androgenetic alopecia or hereditary baldness. It accounts for approximately two thirds of female visits to dermatologists for hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia is the same type of hereditary hair loss that men suffer from, except that women tend to lose hair in different areas of the scalp. Men usually experience receding of the frontal hair line and baldness on the top of the scalp, whereas women's hair thins over the front and top of the scalp, with the frontal hair line usually remaining intact. Androgenetic alopecia occurs gradually but can fluctuate from periods of accelerated hair loss to periods of little or no hair loss. It often begins as early as puberty but may not be noticeable until the middle years.

For most people, hair loss is mild and occurs later in life. However, when hair loss is premature or severe, it can be a source of distress. Although there is no cure, a number of treatments are available that can effectively slow or reduce hair loss and stimulate partial regrowth. Surgical treatment involving hair transplantation is available from some specialist dermatologists and can be helpful for some men with advanced balding.

If the Alopecia Areata disorder results in the loss of the eyebrows and the eyelashes medical tattoo also known as cosmetic tattooing, semi permanent make up, permanent makeup or micropigmentation can provides a long term answer to the problem.Realistic looking eyebrows can be constructed by creating the illusion of ultra fine hair strokes through the implantation of pigments into the skin.

The greater the hair loss on the top of a man's head, the higher his risk of having heart problems, according to researchers who say they've confirmed previous studies linking baldness with heart disease. The new report, published Monday, says men who are losing hair on the crown of their heads have up to a 36 percent greater risk of heart problems, including heart attacks and bypass surgery. Men with a receding hairline are not at increased risk, but those going bald at the crown should pay special attention to their blood pressure and cholesterol levels and lead a healthy lifestyle, researchers said.

Baldness may be more than just a cosmetic indignity: it could be a marker of heart disease risk, especially in men with other risk factors such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Heart attacks, chest pain due to blocked arteries (called angina), and the need for balloon angioplasty or bypass surgery all are forms of heart disease, the researchers explained. In men with high cholesterol and severe baldness at the vertex, or crown of the head, heart disease risk was increased nearly threefold compared to men who had high cholesterol but were not bald, senior author JoAnn E. Manson, MD, DrPH, tells WebMD.

Research into young people’s experiences of hair loss during cancer treatment has found it is a mistake to assume women will be more affected than men. Scientists analysing interviews with recovered young adult cancer patients enrolled in the DIPEx project found that young men were just as affected by chemotherapy-induced hair loss as young women. However until now, men’s experiences of hair loss have been largely ignored.

The association of androgenic alopecia (AGA) with insulin resistance, coronary artery disease and hypercholesterolemia has been previously reported in men, but no such association has been reported in women with female androgenic alopecia (AGA). Female AGA has usually been linked with hyper-androgenism and hirsutism and, most recently, also with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), even though epidemiological documentation of the latter association is scanty. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is quite common among Caucasian women, and its association with insulin resistance is well documented.

Alopecia, the excessive or abnormal loss of hair, can occur in both men and women. Many men experience androgenetic alopecia (AGA), known to the general public as male pattern hair loss or baldness. Women can develop a similar condition, known as hereditary thinning or female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Since the influence of androgens may be only one of several paths leading to patterned hair loss in women, FPHL may be a more accurately descriptive term until other mechanisms involved in normal aging and hair cycle disruption are clarified.

People with the condition called trichotillomania feel compelled to pull out their hair. The effects are seen on both the scalp and the upper eyelids. In the affected areas there are hairs of different lengths. When looked at under the microscope they show fractures.

The hair follicle is a structure that encases the lower part of the hair shaft. Each follicle contains blood vessels that nurture new hair growth. All hair follicles are present at birth; throughout the lifetime each follicle grows and sheds single hairs in a repetitive cycle (show figure 1). The growth phase for a single new hair lasts two to three years. At the end of this time, growth ceases and the follicle enters a resting phase. After three to four months in the resting phase, the hair is shed and the next growth cycle begins. On a normal scalp, approximately 80 to 90 percent of follicles are growing at any time. Each day, about 75 follicles shed their hair while the same number enter a new growth phase.

Folliculitis decalvans, also known as alopecia folliculitis or acne decalvans, is an inflammatory reaction in hair follicles on the scalp that causes redness (erythema) and pus-filled blisters (pustules). It leads to scarring and permanent hair loss. Traction alopecia occurs as a result of improper hair care and prolonged use of certain hair-styling techniques. Cosmetic treatments (e.g., dyes, tints, bleaches, permanents) are generally safe; however, if treatments are done incorrectly, or if the chemicals are used for too long, the hair becomes brittle and breaks easily. Hairstyles that pull the hair tightly, and excessive shampooing or brushing can also cause hair loss. Braiding, permanents, excessive heat, and hair straightening cause hair shaft weakness. Hair styling techniques such as hair weaving, corn rowing, and the use of hot combs to straighten hair can cause permanent hair thinning and scarring.

Some fashion models with beautifully shaped heads may choose baldness as part of their look. But for most women, loss of hair -- or even thinning of it -- is highly upsetting, often much more so than for men. The relatively extensive hair loss that often occurs after pregnancy frightens many a new mother. And women commonly describe hair loss as the most devastating aspect of chemotherapy, even though they know their hair will grow back after the treatments are over.

Hair loss can occur as thinning hair or complete baldness. The hair loss may be on the head or any other part of the body that normally has hair, such as the eyebrows. What is going on in the body? There are many causes of hair loss. The most common form of hair loss is due to male pattern baldness, in which hair is lost from the front and top of the scalp. Other types of hair loss can create different patterns. Treatment depends on the type and cause of baldness. What are the signs and symptoms of the condition? The primary symptom is hair loss. Other symptoms can vary widely depending on the cause of the hair loss. Those with male pattern baldness have no other symptoms. The location of the hair loss also differs depending on the cause.

Hair Restoration Surgery encompasses numerous Procedures & Terms: ALOPECIA: The medical term for baldness. ANDROGENIC ALOPECIA: The most typical pattern of balding whereby the balding pattern is controlled by hormones and passed along via heredity. ALOPECIA REDUCTION: A procedure that involves removal of a strip of balding upper scalp in the crown and vertex areas. The natural flexibility of the scalp is used to stretch the surrounding hairy scalp into place. It can be repeated in certain cases. See also "Scalp Reduction."

A Japanese medical team has found that a form of antibiotic could prevent cancer patients from losing hair during chemotherapy, a doctor involved in the research said Monday . Toshiyuki Sakai said his team had found "alopestatin" reduced hair loss by 70 percent when used on rats also given etoposide anti-cancer drugs. Etoposide is widely used to treat lung and other cancers but can cause hair loss. Sakai, professor at Kyoto Prefectural university of Medicine, said his team was hoping to to put the agent to practical use in the future. "I want people to know that few studies have been made on reducing side-effects of anti-cancer drugs," he said.

About 90 percent of hair on the scalp grows continually. The other 10 percent of scalp hair is in a resting phase that lasts two to three months. At the end of the resting stage, this hair is shed. Shedding 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. When a hair is shed, it is replaced by a new hair from the same follicle and the growing cycle starts again. Scalp hair grows about one-half inch a month. As people age, the rate of hair growth slows. What causes excessive hair loss? Most hair shedding is due to the normal growth-rest cycle, and losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is no cause for alarm. When concerned about excessive loss of hair or dramatic thinning, consult a dermatologist.

There is a close relationship between infection outbreaks on teeth and the presence of alopecia areata or localized alopecia, a type of hair loss which has an unknown origin. Alopecia areata starts with bald patches on the scalp, and sometimes elsewhere on the body. The disease occurs in males and females of all ages, and experts believe that it affects 1 out 1000 people. Research by professors José Antonio Gil Montoya and Antonio Cutando Soriano, of the Department of Stomatology of the University of Granada, advises going to the dentist when patients notice localized hair loss, in order to receive a careful examination of their oral health. “Alopecia areata is a dermatitis which presents the following signs: The typical pattern is for one or more round bald patches to appear on the scalp, in the beard, or in the eyebrows, or to undergo a loss of eyelashes. Alopecia areata is thought to be an auto-immune disease”, stated the researchers. Hair re-grows in most patients after several months. However, in a quarter of all patients the condition recurs once or more. According to professors at the UGR, the affected hair follicles are not totally destroyed. Therefore, hair can grow back, although patients who have already suffered from alopecia areata may have recurrences.

"It's one of the leading ways people can establish their individuality and express their style," says Jerome Shupack, M.D., professor of clinical dermatology at New York University Medical Center in New York City. "Hair has had sociological importance throughout the ages." Because of its importance, anything that happens to our hair that we can't control--falling out or turning gray, for instance--can be the source of much anxiety. In the United States, some 35 million men are losing or have lost their hair from male-pattern baldness, according to the American Hair Loss Council. Approximately 20 million women have experienced a similar loss of hair (from female-pattern hair loss), and an estimated 2.5 million Americans have lost their hair due to other causes.

If clumps of your hair start to fall out from a common form of baldness, a new review of existing research unfortunately offers little comfort. Patients who are afflicted by the condition known as alopecia areata -- patchy hair loss -- should understand that there is "no reliable, safe, effective, long-term treatment," said review co-author Dr. Mike Sladden, a dermatologist and senior lecturer at the University of Tasmania in Australia. Alopecia areata accounts for an estimated one in every 50 dermatologist visits in the United States and the United Kingdom, and one study suggests that 1.7 percent of people will be afflicted by it during their lives. The condition often causes patchy hair loss; meaning hair in some parts of the body falls out while remaining in others. In some cases, however, affected patients can lose all of their scalp hair or even all of their body hair. Most affected people begin developing bald spots before the age of 20. Many cases of alopecia areata get better over time, although hair loss often returns.

We normally have, on average, 100,000 hairs on our scalp. And as evinced by our changing hair lengths, roots and visits to our hairdressers, those hairs grow; in fact, 90 percent of our hair is actively growing at any given time. Hair is the second fastest growing tissue in our body after (I'd love for you to guess) ... bone marrow. To keep its place on your head, your hair needs the right conditions. (Note I didn't say conditioner.) You may find that you're unexpectedly losing hair if you impose restrictions on hair growth or if your genes are such that continued hair growth is not in your destiny. There's a simple test you can do to help determine whether you are losing hair, it's just thinning or you are damaging it by abusive hair products or pulling it too tight (which can occur with braiding). Pull on several strands of your hair - do they come out easily at the root? If so, it suggests that the hairs are indeed "shedding" and have gone into what we call an excess telogen phase.

Hair loss and baldness, which doctors call alopecia, is a common problem for both men and women and has many causes. People's reaction to hair loss is a very personal issue - different people react differently. Some people become very distressed as they believe it makes them look older and less attractive, affecting their body image and self-esteem. Others are not as concerned. However, treatments are available for many of the different types of hair loss.

Recent evidence indicates that male-pattern baldness is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Since most people reading this book suffer from androgenic alopecia, it's a good idea to review what the current medical literature has to say about the association between male pattern baldness and heart disease. In addition, what we can do to lower the risk of heart disease will also be discussed. I would like to clarify one thing before proceeding. As an author, my primary goal in the process of writing this book was to provide the reader with as much information as possible on the subject of hair loss. As a physician, I cannot ignore the association between heart disease and androgenic alopecia. Although this chapter does not directly discuss hair loss, I strongly urge you to read it. In many ways, it just might be the most important chapter in this book.

People whose skin has been scarred by burns, certain diseases, radiation therapy, or other injuries may develop cicatricial alopecia. Scar tissue forms when some part of the dermis is destroyed. The dermis is the second layer of the skin, and contains the hair follicles. In addition to burns and other injuries, cicatricial alopecia can be caused by certain types of infections, called granulomas; lupus erythematosus; recurring bacterial or fungal infections; a skin disease called lichen planus; and scalp ringworm.

Results released today from an informal investigation conducted over the last four years indicates that individuals who suffer from hair loss believe their appearance negatively impacts virtually every part of their lives. Conducted by Farrell Hair, an international company with salons that specialize in custom, non-surgical hair replacement systems, the study reinforces the trend which Richard Farrell, President of Farrell Hair, has been witnessing first-hand. "The pain of hair loss knows no age limits, no ethnic or gender exemptions," said Farrell. "Imagine waking up one day and realizing you are drastically losing your hair, or worse, that you are bald? These people feel disfigured and devastated!

Eyebrows frame the face. Your entire appearance can change if you lose your beautiful brows. Have you been told that you lost your eyebrows because you over-plucked? While over-plucking may certainly lead to diminished growth of the brows, did you know there are a variety of conditions that can result in the temporary or permanent loss of eyebrows? Hair will be lost by a variety of situations that affect its growth cycle, or the area from which it grows. Should you take medication that stops hair growth, such as chemotherapy, you can lose hair. Or if you have a skin condition that causes significant inflammation within the area, the hair can fall out in response to the problem. A skin disease in which foreign tissue or cells come into the area may push the hair out in attempt to overtake the area. Certain hormonal or endocrine conditions can also wreak havoc on the hair follicles in this area. Autoimmune disease in which the body turns on itself may also lead to a loss of hair. So too, can some infections.

Dr. Robert Leonard, Founder and Chief Surgeon of Leonard Hair Transplant Associates with offices in MA, RI and NH, announced today the availability of a new genetic test for male pattern baldness. Dr. Leonard is the only hair surgeon in New England to offer this to patients. Dr. Robert Leonard stated, "Fifty percent of men in America will be affected by genetic male pattern baldness. This exciting new tool enables young people who may be concerned about hair loss to genetically view their 'family tree'. Then we can make informed decisions and be proactive in treating male pattern baldness."

It appears that balding men have more to worry about than their vanity. The largest study to date concludes that male pattern baldness is associated with an increased risk for heart disease. The more the hair loss, the higher the possible risk, according to researchers from the Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Age seems to make no difference.

Our hair is not just an aesthetic accessory, a style and colour which creates our identity. It’s also a barometer of health and lifestyle. Illness, poor nutrition, lack of regular exercise, smoking, alcohol and adverse reactions to stress or allergies can all interrupt the growth cycle and cause it to fall out. Changes in hormones, the body's chemical messengers, are also big protagonists when it comes to hair loss. Especially Oestrogens and Androgens (female and male) the sex-related ones. Hair is also at risk from external damage caused by chemicals, excessive traction or pulling either as an effect of hairstyling or a self-inflicted and damaging habit which is called trichotillomania, compulsive hair pulling.

The reason for the increase is Traction Alopecia, a hair loss condition caused by damage to the dermal papilla and hair follicle by constant pulling or tension over a long period. It often occurs in persons who wears tight braids, especially "cornrows" that lead to high tension, pulling and breakage of hair. This condition is most common in African-American women and men who braid their hair too tightly. It is also common in Sikh men of India and Japanese women whose traditional hair styles also pull and damage hair. Traction alopecia occurs more frequently in children, teenagers and young adults then it does in older women and men.

The British government is reportedly spending 1.85 million pounds ($3.5 million) for a Cambridge-based company that is building a robot to help treat baldness. The company, Biosciences firm Intercytex is developing a treatment where hair follicles from the back of the neck would be multiplied and replaced when they are needed. On Friday Intercytex announced the news the funds from the government's Technology Program, would be used in their efforts to develop a robotic system to speed up the process of multiplying the hair cells before they are replanted.

Bald spots occur when an isolated spot on the scalp loses hair. This can be caused by a number of factors. For example, hair loss can occur as a result of repeatedly pulling, tugging, or twistingthe hair into tight braids or pony tails. The kinds of bald spots that are created generally show no inflammation of the skin and are occasionally temporary. If you notice bald spots without scalp irritation and think it may be linked to your hair style, you might consider changing the style so your hair isn’t being pulled in a certain direction.

Alopecia is the medical term for baldness or hair loss. It can affect the entire scalp or smaller localised areas and may be temporary or permanent. Other parts of the body where hair normally grows can also be affected. Alopecia may have an underlying cause or may simply be part of the natural ageing process. The commonest form of alopecia is male-pattern baldness (also known as androgenic alopecia or common baldness). Male pattern baldness tends to run in families. It usually starts in the late 20s or early 30s. Initially there may be just some thinning of the hair and a receding hairline. Gradual hair loss occurs at the temples and crown of the head. Eventually, the bald spots increase in size until the entire top of the head is bald and hair remains on the back and sides of the head only. In some men, total baldness can occur. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness.

How many times had I reassured patients about to undergo chemotherapy that their hair would grow back? Probably hundreds. In the meantime, fabulous wigs were available. "No one will ever know you're wearing a wig." Occasionally, I would secretly wonder why they were so inconsolable about losing renewable hair when they could potentially lose their lives. I had absolutely no comprehension of how devastating the physical changes associated with even early-stage cancer can be. There I was, engaged in a battle for my life, and weeping on day 21 of the first cycle of chemotherapy because my hair — which would grow back — was slithering away down the drain. Losing my hair was more upsetting than any of the other physical consequences of cancer therapy.

Researchers say the more hair men lose, the greater their cardiac risk. So, a middle-aged man is talking to his doctor, and the doctor says, "You're bald." The patient says, "If you don't mind, I'd like a second opinion." The doctor says, "OK, you've got a bad heart, too." What sounds like a joke from a Rodney Dangerfield routine actually is one of the findings published today from the ongoing Physicians' Health Study, conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School. The study found that men with male pattern baldness may be at increased risk for heart disease. Published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association, the study analyzed baldness and heart disease among 22,071 men ages 40 to 84.

A popular hair-growth drug may alter the accuracy of prostate cancer screening, say researchers. Propecia, a drug commonly used to regrow thinning hair, appears to alter levels of a hormone that alerts doctors to an increased risk of prostate cancer in middle-aged men, possibly hiding the presence of the disease. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a hormone always present in men, but it tends to become elevated if prostate disorders including cancer develop. Therefore, PSA testing has become a routine cancer screening, recommended to begin around age 40, when the risk of prostate cancer begins to grow.

On average, there are 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on the human scalp. The hairs grow from hair roots, or follicles (saclike structures under the skin). Blood vessels at the base of each follicle provide the nourishment necessary for hair growth. Hair growth in each root occurs in a cycle independent of the other roots. At any time about 90 percent of the hairs on the scalp are in the growth phase, while the other 10 percent are in the resting phase. The growth phase lasts an average of four to five years, after which the follicle enters the resting phase, which lasts about two months to four months. At the end of the resting phase, the hair falls out naturally and is replaced by a new hair. Consequently, some hair loss is a normal part of the hair growth cycle. In fact, on a typical day, about 50 to 150 scalp hairs are lost. Baldness (or alopecia) results when hair loss occurs at an abnormally high rate; when hair replacement occurs at an abnormally slow rate; or when normal hairs are replaced by thinner, shorter ones.

Two women with Parkinson's disease who developed alopecia (baldness) while being treated with the dopamine agonists pramipexole or ropinirole found that the hair loss stopped after the drugs were discontinued and replaced with a new treatment. The study is published in the current issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Parkinson's disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that may be caused when a small group of brain cells that control body movement die. These cells, the subtantia nigra, normally produce a chemical called dopamine. Loss of dopamine causes the nerve cells to fire out of control, leaving people unable to control their movements normally.

Alopecia falls in between specialties. Hair is part of the skin so is included in dermatology. Yet the cause of the most common form, androgenic alopecia, is internal: the actions of hormones which are the focus of a different specialty – endocrinology. Yet few endocrinologists are trained to diagnose or treat hair loss in women. This is unfortunately because bridging the gap between specialties has made it possible to apply new knowledge about hormones to understanding and treating androgenic alopecia. The ignorance among health professionals about the all too common and distressing condition of alopecia is truly astounding.

Since several decades iron deficiency has been suspected of representing one of the possible causes of severe hair loss in women. The aim of our study was to verify this relationship in a very large sample of population, which have not been performed before. 5019 women aged between 34 and 61 years forming part of SUVIMAX national French epidemiological study, were involved. Hair loss was evaluated with the help of standardized questionnaires sent to all volunteers just after inclusion in the study.

Chemotherapy: Hair loss, alopecia, will start approximately 2-3 weeks after your first dose of chemotherapy, but won't be total until 1-2 months have elapsed. Hair loss is reversible and will be back totally about 3-4 months after the last chemotherapy dose. Your hair may even grow while you're on chemotherapy. This doesn't mean that the chemotherapy isn't working. Unfortunately, some of this regrown hair may also fall out. Hair on the head is most commonly affected, but hair loss may also occur on the face, arms, legs, underarms, and pubic area. The scalp may become tender and hair that is still growing may become dull and dry.

The most common cause of hair loss during cancer treatment is from some type of chemotherapy. Not all chemotherapies cause hair loss; however, some always cause hair loss. Chemotherapies that are toxic to rapidly dividing cells are the most likely to cause hair loss. The hair follicle is composed of rapidly dividing cells, and therefore, is often affected as a side effect of chemotherapy. The hair loss can be on the head, chest, arms, legs, pelvic region and face. Hair loss is sometimes only partial. It may occur in only some regions of the body or may be a thinning of the hair. Hair thinning can make hair look "raggedy". Different people make different choices about how to handle partial hair loss. Some people prefer to have their head shaved to avoid the "raggedy" look. This also allows their hair to grow back evenly. Others want to maintain what ever hair they have. This is a personal choice. People who receive radiation to the brain also will experience hair loss as the radiation damages the rapidly dividing hair follicles.

The idea of HairSite Blog grew out of frustration, the frustration of searching for a simple hair loss solution on the Internet that was, well… impossible. So to help sort out all of the confusion that seems to invade ones browser when trying to research hair loss on the Internet, HairSiteBlog.com has added specific hair loss categories or tags such as “Alopecia Areata”, “Female Pattern Baldness”, “Hair Loss Diseases” and even “Eyebrow & Eyelash Transplants”. Combined with a powerful search tool (located at the top of every page) that highlights the words you searched for, making your search for any type of hair loss information easier and more accurate.

Hair has many useful biologic functions, including protection from the elements and dispersion of sweat-gland products (e.g., pheromones). It also has psychosocial importance in our society, and patients with hair loss (alopecia) or excessive hair growth often suffer tremendously. Not surprisingly, the demand for drugs that alter hair growth and appearance has led to a multibillion-dollar industry, yet few drugs that are effective for these purposes are available. However, recent progress in our understanding of the biology and pathology of hair follicles should lead to more effective therapies for disorders of hair growth.

The term "cicatricial alopecia" refers to a diverse group of rare disorders that destroy the hair follicle, replace it with scar tissue, and cause permanent hair loss. In some cases, hair loss is gradual, without symptoms, and is unnoticed for long periods. In other cases, hair loss is associated with severe itching, burning and pain and is rapidly progressive. The inflammation that destroys the follicle is below the skin surface and there is usually no "scar" seen on the scalp. Affected areas of the scalp may show little signs of inflammation, or have redness, scaling, increased or decreased pigmentation, pustules, or draining sinuses. Cicatricial alopecia occurs in otherwise healthy men and women of all ages and is seen worldwide.

45-year-old white woman presents with a 1-year history of scalp-hair loss. She was hospitalized with appendicitis 14 months ago. She has been a vegetarian for 20 years. She takes no medications. Her father was bald. On physical examination, she has diffuse, nonscarring hair thinning with a widened part over the central portion of the scalp. How should this problem be evaluated and treated?

Hormones have a great effect on hair, which is why many women notice changes during and after pregnancy and around menopause. After menopause, the ovaries may produce more androgens (male hormones) than estrogen and this can result in hair loss.

Scientists have discovered another downside to smoking: it may increase the risk of baldness for some men.

"It's just so common, about 60 to 70 per cent of the world's population experiences pattern baldness, it affects women as well — 40 per cent of women to some extent."

There is a close relationship between infection outbreaks on teeth and the presence of alopecia areata or localized alopecia, a type of hair loss which has an unknown origin.

Hereditary-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss. Hereditary-pattern baldness is not really a disease, but a natural condition caused by some combination of genetics, hormone levels and the aging process.

"I have tearful patients in my office many times a day," she said. "When they lose their hair, they feel like they've lost their identity."

Millions of women have unexplained hair loss. Here's what may be at the root of the problem

In the United States, some 35 million men are losing or have lost their hair from male-pattern baldness, according to the American Hair Loss Council. Approximately 20 million women have experienced a similar loss of hair (from female-pattern hair loss), and an estimated 2.5 million Americans have lost their hair due to other causes.

Male pattern baldness is genetically inherited, but may also be related to slightly elevated levels of male hormones.

Balding or hair loss in both men and women is sometimes due to disease. Hair loss can occur with excessive weight gain or loss in a short period of time or when recovering from a high fever.

Androgenetic alopecia is a genetic predisposition to hair loss activated by the presence of male hormones, or androgens. In men it expresses itself in frontal, central and crown balding or combinations of the three.

Alopecia areata is a skin disorder that causes hair loss, usually in patches, most often on the scalp. Usually, the bald patches appear suddenly and affect only a limited area. The hair grows back within 12 months or less.

The advertisements for treatment of balding, and hair loss in men can't be missed. These ads might lead one to believe that hair loss is generally a men's issue. However the fact is that as many as two-thirds of all women experience hair loss at some point.

Excessive shedding of normal club hairs can be brought about by a number of stresses: parturition, febrile illness, psychological stress, crash diets, drugs.

Alopecia areata (al-oh-PEE-shah air-ee-AH-tah) is a highly unpredictable, autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body.

Your hair loss may have started with a few extra hairs in the sink or in your comb. But now you can't look in the mirror without seeing more of your scalp.

Androgenetic alopecia is a common form of hair loss in both men and women. In men, this condition is also known as male-pattern baldness. Hair is lost in a well-defined pattern, beginning above both temples.

Currently the field of surgical hair restoration is not regulated by either the U.S. government or the medical community. Any licensed physician can legally perform hair transplant surgery without any prior surgical training or accreditation of any kind.

Many factors contribute to hair loss. Some of them are hormonal changes, nutritional deficiency, mental and physical stress and various types medical conditions. One major cause of hair loss is problems with the thyroid.

The normal scalp contains approximately 100,000 hairs. They are constantly growing, with old hairs falling out and being replaced by new ones. Some cancer treatments will cause some people to lose some or all of their hair (alopecia).

A healthy individual loses around a hundred hairs a day. Nothing to worry about as long as they are constantly replaced and the losses occur evenly around the whole scalp. But when hair loss goes well beyond this level it can become quite a problem for those affected - not only superficially in terms of looks but also psychologically.

Hair loss is probably the one thing that causes men more anxiety than anything else in their lives. A receding hairline or the arrival of a bald patch can have a dramatic effect on men's confidence and self-image.

Hair loss occurs for a great many reasons--from pulling it out to having it killed off by cancerchemotherapy. Some causes are considered natural, while others signal serious health problems.

Alopecia Areata is a hair loss condition characterized by the rapid onset of hair loss in a sharply defined area.

The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. Pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), the most common type of alopecia, affects roughly one-third of men and women.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of the male hormone testosterone, is the enemy of hair follicles on your head.

The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 6 years.

Your hair goes through a cycle of growth and rest. The course of each cycle varies by individual. But in general, the growth phase of scalp hair, known as anagen, typically lasts two to three years.

Scientists believe manipulating genes within hair cells can reverse baldness.

Plugged or grafted hair falls out within a month or two after surgery, which is normal and almost always temporary.