CONDITIONS

What are hair disorders?

Hair disorders are a range of hair conditions which affect the texture, appearance and growth rate of hair such as hair loss and baldness, as well as excessive hair loss involving the hair shaft.

There are different types of hair disorders, namely:

• Common balding, also known as Androgenetic Alopecia
  This is a common hair disorder that affects both men and women. People who experience abnormal hair loss may have the inherited tendency to common baldness. Male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men, where men have a receding hairline and baldness on their heads. Women may also develop female pattern baldness where their hair becomes thin over the entire scalp.
• Alopecia areata
  A chronic, relapsing disorder that presents with clean patches of hair loss. This is postulated to be hair-specific autoimmune (your systemic immune attacks your own hair follicles) disease with genetic (or inherited) predisposition. This condition can present with few patches of hair loss to total loss of hair in the scalp and even your entire body.
• Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia
  This is a slowly progressive hair disorder that often begins with hair loss around the crown of the scalp and is common in African middle-aged women. If noticed and treated early by your dermatologist, treatment can be effective.
• Lichen Planopilaris
  This type of hair disorder presents with inflammation around the hair follicles. One may experience itching and tenderness of the scalp with scattered areas of hair loss or may present with hair loss limited to the frontal hairline (called frontal fibrosing alopecia)
• Other hair disorders: Seborrheic dermatitis(dandruff), scalp psoriasis
  Seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff is a skin condition which affects the scalp. It causes scaly patches, red skin and stubborn dandruff. Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder that may present with whitish scaly, raised patches on the scalp.

What causes hair disorders?

Various types of hair disorders have different causes, and it all depends on the type of hair disorder one suffers from. This is why it is important to see your dermatologist when you experience hair loss or other hair related complaints to have a comprehensive dermatologic evaluation.

What are the related symptoms?

Symptoms for hair disorders include itchiness or burning sensation, red skin and skin flakes or dandruff on your scalp, hair, eyebrows, beard or moustache. Others may experience no symptoms at all, and some may present with patches of hair loss and reduced hair density.

What are the possible treatment options?

After proper evaluation of the cause of the hair disorder, Dr Ndongeni may recommend the following for each hair disorder:

• Androgenetic alopecia
  Topical formulations such as minoxidil are important for stimulating hair regrowth. 
• Alopecia areata
  Dr Ndongeni may prescribe corticosteroids, which are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs to suppress your immune system. These may be administered through local injections, topical ointment or orally.
• Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia
  A combination of an antibiotic (e.g. doxycycline) and topical steroids, is usually effective to halt progression in most cases.
• Lichen Planopilaris
  Oral medication such as chloroquine and corticosteroids (topical, injections and oral) may be prescribed.
• Seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff, Scalp Psoriasis
  Dr Ndongeni may prescribe corticosteroids such as ointments or gels. She may also recommend a shampoo to use to help with dandruff.

Treatment for hair disorders varies in each case and may involve light therapy, injections, medications and, in extreme cases, hair transplantation.  

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