Archive for the 'Info' Category

the psychology of it

As I alluded to in a previous post, the biggest problem with this hair loss situation is the psychological effect. I mean really, physically, hair loss isn’t harming the body. I mean maybe heat escapes you easily – no head insulation. Haha. But seriously, that isn’t very harmful. The real harm comes from your mind and the stress you feel because your hair (and therefore your appearance) is changing drastically and not being able to do anything to control it.

Needless to say, hair loss is stressful.

Men feel a little funny about losing their hair. Heck, some seem to be in some sort of denial and try to hold on to the few strands they have left. I don’t mean this harshly. I can empathize because, as I mentioned before, I know what it’s like to lose hair. But the point is, if men can feel funny, imagine how women feel!!!!!

First of all, for better or for worse a bald man is not perceived in the same way as a bald woman. It’s almost considered normal that some men will be bald. It’s just perceived as an accepted fact. Not so much with women. So the psychological effects are certainly more severe with women than they are with men. Woman have a great deal invested in their hair as it relates to their appearance. Perhaps this goes back to the biblical reference that a woman’s hair is her crowning glory.

I think people suffering from hair loss first try to hide it. Now this is probably easier for a woman to do but I have seen some men try – unsuccessfully. So, yeah, the first thing is to try to find hair styles that disguise this hair loss. I did it.

I think maybe you can fool people who didn’t know you, but people who knew you prior to hair loss probably won’t be fooled by your attempts at disguise.

The next thing we do is try to modify some other aspect of our appearance. Now, if you decide to devote more time to being in great physical shape, and start working out often, this could be great! You can look and feel great. Exercise certainly helps when dealing with stress!

Basically, if this is greatly affecting your stress levels do things to take action in order to feel more in control. As I said to you guys before, get the right diagnosis first. This will create a plan of action. Don’t attempt any treatment before you figure out what is causing this to begin with. Once you’ve consulted with someone qualified to treat and advise, follow the course you’ve decided on. Take up a hobby, focus on getting in great physical shape. Remember that reducing your stress will only help when it comes to the hormones involved in hair regrowth.

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what exactly is alopecia?

Alright, so you’ve checked with the doctor and it doesn’t seem like your hair loss is caused by any of things mentioned in the last post: medicines, chronic illness, hormones.  Unfortunately, your hair loss could be a new medical condition for you.  That condition’s main symptom IS hair loss and that condition is named alopecia.  To me this is a scaaarrry word.  Who wants to even say this word – alopecia?  It sounds like bad news.  I’m not trying to scare you, maybe it’s just me that thinks this word is so unfortunate.     So what is alopecia? 

Our friendly online encyclopedia tells us there are a couple of different kinds of alopecia:

 The most common type of alopecia areata involves hair loss in one or more round spots on the scalp.[2][5]

  • Hair may also be lost more diffusely over the whole scalp, in which case the condition is called diffuse alopecia areata.[2]
  • Alopecia areata monolocularis describes baldness in only one spot. It may occur anywhere on the head.
  • Alopecia areata multilocularis refers to multiple areas of hair loss.
  • The disease may be limited only to the beard, in which case it is called Alopecia areata barbae.[2]
  • If the patient loses all the hair on his/her scalp, the disease is then called Alopecia areata totalis.
  • If all body hair, including pubic hair, is lost, the diagnosis then becomes Alopecia areata universalis.[6]

Alopecia areata totalis and universalis are rare.[6]

 Alopecia areata (AA) is a condition affecting humans, in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body, usually from the scalp.[1][2]. Because it causes bald spots on the scalp, especially in the first stages, it is sometimes called spot baldness. In 1%–2% of cases, the condition can spread to the entire scalp (Alopecia totalis) or to the entire epidermis (Alopecia universalis). Conditions resembling AA, and having a similar cause, occur also in other species.[3]

 Alopecia seems to be hereditary because you are more likely to have it if you have family members who have it as well.   Doctors think that it is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks itself, in this case it’s hair follicles.  However, I’ve seen cases myself,  among friends, where emotional stress, or scalp damage has caused a form of alopecia.

The good news is there can be hope if your hair loss is caused by alopecia. We’ll discuss that next.

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