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?

Los Angeles, California, March 29th, 2008 – Farrell Hair Replacement... Richard Farrell announced today that he and his Farrell trained hair replacement specialists will be on tour all over the US, over the next few weeks.

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.

Trichotillomania, a psychiatric disorder that drives people to compulsively pull their hair, leaves behind scars worse than bald patches.

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."

Farrell Hair Replacement creates "ultra-custom" nonsurgical hair replacement hair systems for men suffering from the devastating effects of hair loss. Farrell hair systems are virtually undetectable to both sight and touch and are produced with the highest quality human hair available.

A single hair follicle grows its hair strand over a period of four to six years (the anagen phase). It then rests for two to four months (the telogen phase), after which it loses the “old” hair as a new hair shaft grows and pushes out its predecessor.

The therapeutic Komfy Kids doll has been designed by the company’s owner and founder, who has had alopecia for thirty years. Our products help children build self-esteem and confidence while learning to live with their hair loss.

Locks of Love is devoted to helping every child suffering from medical hair loss, thus we do not discriminate as to the cause of hair loss. We list the following information in an attempt to explain types of hair loss and specific needs of individual recipients.

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.

Through Locks of Love, children are able to overcome the social stigma associated with hair loss.

The most common type of hair loss seen in women is androgenetic alopecia, also known as female pattern alopecia. Alopecia means baldness, but just as in men, it does not have to be complete hair loss.

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."

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.

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.

Female pattern baldness involves a typical pattern of loss of hair in women, caused by hormones, aging, and genes.

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.

You might be surprised to learn that many people are unable to untangle fact from fiction when it comes to hair loss. Some of the blame lies with the many companies and individuals exploiting hair loss myths in order to sell bogus hair products.

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.

Minoxidil (Rogaine® or Regaine®) is a vasodilatory medication known for its ability to slow hair loss and promote hair regrowth.

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.

Below the surface of the skin is the hair root, which is enclosed within a hair follicle. At the base of the hair follicle is the dermal papilla.

The Low Laser Therapy (LLT) for hair loss is claimed to work by supplying energy to the body in the form of non-thermal photons of light.

When it comes to hair loss solutions, everyone's situation is different and personal. While heredity is the primary cause of hair loss in most cases, the severity of hair loss, its pattern, and the impact on that person's life is truly unique.

Because of significant surgical advances with improved results, interest in hair replacement surgery has increased significantly during the past decade. Hair loss affects two out of every three men, and one in five women.

There are a number of hair replacement techniques that are available, although hair replacement surgery can not help those who suffer from total baldness.

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.

It begins with receding hairlines, the forehead becomes higher, the hair at the back of the man's head gets thinner and thinner. Every second man suffers from greater or lesser hair loss.

Smoking may be associated with age-related hair loss among Asian men, according to a report in the Archives of Dermatology.

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.

os Angeles, California, March 13th, 2008 – The grand opening event for the newest member of the Farrell Hair Replacement family – Farrell Hair Studio (India) which is now exclusively offering and servicing the Farrell branded line of Hollywood and the Worlds most undetectable ultra custom hair systems, lasted well into the night in the Indian state of Kerala.

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.