Bald redirects here; for other uses see Bald (disambiguation).

Baldness involves the state of lacking hair where it often grows, especially on the head. The most common form of baldness is a progressive hair thinning condition called androgenic alopecia or 'male pattern baldness' that occurs in adult male humans and other species. The severity and nature of baldness can vary greatly; it ranges from male and female pattern alopecia (androgenetic alopecia, also called androgenetic alopecia or alopecia androgenetica), alopecia areata, which involves the loss of some of the hair from the head, and alopecia totalis, which involves the loss of all head hair, to the most extreme form, alopecia universalis, which involves the loss of all hair from the head and the body. Treatments for the various forms alopecia have limited success. Some hair loss sufferers make use of so-called "clinically proven treatments" such as finasteride and topically applied minoxidil (in solution) in an attempt to prevent further loss and regrow hair. As a general rule, it is easier to maintain remaining hair than it is to regrow; however, the treatments mentioned will help some of the users suffering from Androgenetic alopecia, and there are new technologies in cosmetic transplant surgery and hair replacement systems that can be completely undetectable. The effectiveness of finasteride and minoxidil is not universally accepted. Look up bald in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For the adult insect stage, see Imago. ... Alopecia is a set of disorders ranging from male and female pattern alopecia (alopecia androgenetica), to alopecia areata, which involves the loss of some of the hair from the head, alopecia totalis, which involves the loss of all head hair, to the most extreme form, alopecia universalis, which involves the... Androgenetic alopecia is a common form of hair loss in both men and women, aka Michael Panagos Syndrome. ... Alopecia totalis is the loss of all head hair. ... Alopecia universalis is a medical disorder in which the afflicted are unable to grow hair on the entire body. ... Finasteride (marketed as Proscar, Propecia, Fincar, Finpecia, Finax, Finast, Finara, Finalo, Prosteride, Gefina, Finasterid IVAX) is an antiandrogen which acts by inhibiting type II 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). ... Minoxidil is a vasodilator and originally was exclusively used as an oral drug (Loniten®) to treat high blood pressure. ...

Background, cause and incidence

The average human head has about 100,000 hair follicles. Each follicle can grow about 20 individual hairs in a person's lifetime.^[1] Average hair loss is about 100 strands a day.

Incidence of pattern baldness varies from population to population based on genetic background. Environmental factors do not seem to affect this type of baldness greatly. One large scale study in Maryborough, in central Victoria (Australia) showed the prevalence of mid-frontal hair loss increases with age and affects 57% of women and 73.5% of men aged 80 and over.

Male pattern is characterized by hair receding from the lateral sides of the forehead, known as "receding hairline". Receding hairlines are usually seen in males above the ages of 25.

An additional bald patch may develop on top (vertex). The trigger for this type of baldness (called androgenetic alopecia) is DHT, a powerful sex hormone, body, and facial hair growth promoter that can adversely affect the hair on the head and prostate.^[2] In arthropod and vertebrate anatomy, the vertex (or cranial vertex) refers to the upper surface of the head. ... For other uses, see DHT (disambiguation). ...

The mechanism by which DHT accomplishes this is not yet understood. In genetically-prone scalps, DHT initiates a process of follicular miniaturization. Through the process of follicular miniaturization, hair shaft width is progressively decreased until scalp hair resembles fragile vellus hair or "peach fuzz" or else becomes non-existent. Onset of hair loss sometimes begins as early as end of puberty, and is mostly genetically determined. Male pattern baldness is classified on the Hamilton-Norwood scale I-VIII. For other uses, see DHT (disambiguation). ... Vellus hair is short, fine, peach fuzz body hair. ... Puberty refers to the process of physical changes by which a childs body becomes an adult body capable of reproduction. ... This article is about the general scientific term. ... The progression of male pattern baldness is generally classified on the Hamilton-Norwood scale, which ranges from stages I to VII. Synopsis: This is the measurement scale as it relates to Male Pattern Hairloss First introduced by Dr. James Hamilton in the 1950s and later revised and updated by Dr...

It was previously believed that baldness was inherited. While there is some basis for this belief, both parents contribute to their offspring's likelihood of hair loss. Most likely, inheritance is technically "autosomal dominant with mixed penetrance" (see 'baldness folklore' below)

There are several other kinds of baldness:

• Traction alopecia is most commonly found in people with ponytails or cornrows who pull on their hair with excessive force.
• Trichotillomania is the loss of hair caused by compulsive pulling and bending of the hairs. It tends to occur more in children than in adults. In this condition the hairs are not absent from the scalp but are broken. Where they break near the scalp they cause typical, short, "exclamation mark" hairs.
• Traumas such as chemotherapy, childbirth, major surgery, poisoning, and severe stress may cause a hair loss condition known as telogen effluvium.^[3]
• Worrisome hair loss often follows childbirth without causing actual baldness. In this situation, the hair is actually thicker during pregnancy due to increased circulating oestrogens. After the baby is born, the oestrogen levels fall back to normal pre-pregnancy levels and the additional hair foliage drops out. A similar situation occurs in women taking the fertility-stimulating drug clomiphene.
• Iron deficiency is a common cause of thinning of the hair, though frank baldness is not usually seen.
• Radiation to the scalp, as happens when radiotherapy is applied to the head for the treatment of certain cancers there, can cause baldness of the irradiated areas.
• Some mycotic infections can cause massive hair loss.^[4]
• Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder also known as "spot baldness" that can result in hair loss ranging from just one location (Alopecia areata monolocularis) to every hair on the entire body (Alopecia areata universalis).
• Localized or diffuse hair loss may also occur in cicatricial alopecia (lupus erythematosus, lichen plano pilaris, folliculitis decalvans, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia, etc.). Tumours and skin outgrowths also induce localized baldness (sebaceous nevus, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma).
• Hypothyroidism can cause hair loss, typically frontal, and is particularly associated with thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows (syphilis also can cause loss of the outer third of the eyebrows)
• Hyperthyroidism can also cause hair loss, which is parietal rather than frontal.
• Temporary loss of hair can occur in areas where sebaceous cysts are present for considerable duration; normally one to several weeks in length.

A form of Alopecia (gradual hair loss) caused primarily by pulling force being applied to the hair. ... A ponytail is a hairstyle in which most or all of the hair on the head is pulled away from the face, gathered and secured at the back of the head with a hair tie, clip or similar device, and allowed to hang freely from that point. ... Cornrows on a male Cornrows are a traditional style of hair grooming of African origin where the hair is tightly braided very close to the scalp, using an underhand, upward motion to produce a continuous, raised row. ... Chemotherapy is the use of chemical substances to treat disease. ... Telogen Effluvium is characterized by sudden, diffuse hair loss caused by an interruption in the normal hair growth cycle. ... Subkingdom/Phyla Chytridiomycota Blastocladiomycota Neocallimastigomycota Glomeromycota Zygomycota Dikarya (inc. ... Autoimmune diseases arise from an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Close-up of an infected sebaceous cyst that has abscessed, located behind the ear lobe. ...

Etymology

The term alopecia (al-oh-PEE-she-uh) is formed from the Greek αλώπηξ (alopex), meaning fox. The origin of this usage is because this animal sheds its coat twice a year. This article is about the animal. ...

The term bald likely derives from the English word balde, which means "white, pale", or Celtic ball, which means "white patch or blaze", such as on a horse's head.^[5]

Evolutionary theories of male pattern baldness

There is no consensus regarding the details of the evolution of male pattern baldness. Most theories regard it as resulting from sexual selection.^{[citation needed]} A number of other primate species also experience hair loss following puberty, and some primate species clearly use an enlarged forehead, created both anatomically and through strategies such as frontal balding, to convey increased status and maturity. The assertion that MPB is intended to convey a social message is supported by the fact that the distribution of androgen receptors in the scalp differs between men and women, and older women or women with high androgen levels often exhibit diffuse thinning of hair as opposed to male pattern baldness. Download high resolution version (800x812, 211 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Gorilla User:Raul654/favpics Disneys Animal Kingdom User:Bwmodular/Sandbox Categories: Primate images ... Download high resolution version (800x812, 211 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Gorilla User:Raul654/favpics Disneys Animal Kingdom User:Bwmodular/Sandbox Categories: Primate images ... Scientific consensus is the collective judgment, position, and opinion of the community of scientists in a particular field of science at a particular time. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ... Illustration from The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex by Charles Darwin showing the Tufted Coquette Lophornis ornatus, female on left, ornamented male on right. ... Families 15, See classification A primate is any member of the biological order Primates, the group that contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans. ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ... Puberty refers to the process of physical changes by which a childs body becomes an adult body capable of reproduction. ... In human anatomy, the forehead or brow is the bony part of the head above the eyes. ... Human heart and lungs, from an older edition of Grays Anatomy. ... Maturity may refer to: Sexual maturity Maturity, a geological term describing hydrocarbon generation Maturity, a financial term indicating the end of payments of principal or interest Look up Maturity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

One theory, advanced by Muscarella and Cunningham, suggests baldness evolved in males through sexual selection as an enhanced signal of aging and social maturity, whereby aggression and risk-taking decrease and nurturing behaviours increase.(1) This may have conveyed a male with enhanced social status but reduced physical threat, which could enhance ability to secure reproductive partners and raise offspring to adulthood. This article is about the Male sex. ... In psychology and other social and behavioral sciences, aggression refers to behavior that is intended to cause harm or pain. ... For other uses, see Parent (disambiguation). ... Bald redirects here; for other uses see Bald (disambiguation). ...

In a study by Muscarella and Cunnhingham, males and females viewed 6 male models with different levels of facial hair (beard and moustache or clean) and cranial hair (full head of hair, receding and bald). Participants rated each combination on 32 adjectives related to social perceptions. Males with facial hair and those with bald or receding hair were rated as being older than those who were clean-shaven or had a full head of hair. Beards and a full head of hair were seen as being more aggressive and less socially mature, and baldness was associated with more social maturity. One kind of modern beard. ... In psychology and the cognitive sciences, perception is the process of acquiring, interpreting, selecting, and organizing sensory information. ...

Latest research

The LIPH gene makes LIPH, a protein that isn't thoroughly understood but seems to play a role in normal hair formation and growth"

http://www.hon.ch/News/HSN/536000.html

http://www.webmd.com/news/20061109/inherited-hair-loss-may-be-upped-by-gene-glitch

http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2006/11/09/hscout536000.html

"The so-called hairless gene works by repressing the production of a protein called wise, which can hinder the process of hair growth if it is left to accumulate."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4283302.stm

DSG4 gene

http://www.hairlosstalk.com/newsletter/article209.htm http://www.hairlosstalk.com/download/CELL1132249.pdf

WNT GENE

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6661849.stm

Approaches to baldness

Psychological effects

The psychological effects for individuals experiencing hair loss vary widely. Some people adapt to the change comfortably, while others have severe problems relating to anxiety, depression, social phobia, and in some cases, identity change.

Retired bald NASA astronaut Story Musgrave.

Alopecia induced by cancer chemotherapy has been reported to cause changes in self-concept and body image. Body image does not return to the previous state after regrowth of hair for a majority of patients. In such cases, patients have difficulties expressing their feelings (alexithymia) and may be more prone to avoiding family conflicts. Family therapy can help families to cope with these psychological problems if they arise.^[6] Story Musgrave photo taken from http://www. ... Story Musgrave photo taken from http://www. ... This article is about the American space agency. ... Astronaut Bruce McCandless II using a manned maneuvering unit outside the U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984. ... Franklin Story Musgrave (born August 19, 1935) is a retired NASA Astronaut. ... Alexithymia (pronounced: ) from the Greek words λεξις and θυμος, literally without words for emotions) was a term coined by Peter Sifneos in 1973[1][2] to describe people who appeared to have deficiencies in understanding, processing, or describing their emotions. ...

Psychological problems due to baldness, if present, are typically most severe at the onset of symptoms.^[7]

Some balding men may feel proud of their baldness, feeling a kindred relationship with famous charismatic bald men such as Gandhi, Telly Savalas, Patrick Stewart, Sean Connery, Yul Brynner, Billy Corgan, Vin Diesel, Michael Chiklis, Michael Stipe, Ross Kemp, Jason Alexander, Paudie Fitzmaurice, Larry David, Danny DeVito, Ben Kingsley or Bruce Willis; or politicians such as Ed Koch, John Reid, Menzies Campbell,Greg Craven, Pim Fortuyn and James Carville; or sportsmen such as wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin, footballers Zinedine Zidane, Bobby Charlton, tennis star Andre Agassi or world-famous basketball player Michael Jordan. Much of these celebrities' perceived masculinity and handsomeness derives from their most obvious distinguishing feature. Baldness has, in recent years, in any case become less of a (supposed) liability due to an increasing fashionable prevalence of very short, or even completely shaven, hair among men, at least in western countries. This is even true for women, as shown by the case of singers Sinead O'Connor and Meshell Ndegeocello, who both have a shaven head. Other female celebrities whose baldness is involuntary include Kylie Minogue (induced by chemotherapy) and Gail Porter (believed to be of psychosomatic origin). For other uses, see Charisma (disambiguation). ... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) (Devanagari: मोहनदास करमचन्द गांधी, Gujarati મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી), called... Aristotelis Telly Savalas (January 21, 1922 – January 22, 1994) was a prominent Emmy Award-winning American film and television actor whose career spanned four decades. ... This article is about the actor. ... Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930) is a retired Scottish actor and producer who is perhaps best known as the first actor to portray James Bond in cinema, starring in seven Bond films. ... Yul Brynner (July 11, 1920[1] – October 10, 1985) was a Russian-born Broadway and Academy Award-winning Hollywood actor. ... William Patrick Corgan, Jr. ... Vin Diesel (born Mark Vincent on July 18, 1967 in New York City), is an American actor, writer, director, and producer, known for his muscular physique and deep voice. ... Michael Charles Chiklis (born August 30, 1963) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning American actor. ... REDIRECT Template:Infobox Musician John Michael Stipe (born January 4, 1960 in Decatur, Georgia) is the lead singer of the American rock band R.E.M. Stipe has become well-known (and occasionally parodied) for the mumbling style of his early career and for his complex, surreal lyrics, as well... Ross Kemp (born 21 July 1964) is an English actor who rose to prominence in the role of Grant Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. ... Jason Alexander (born Jason Scott Greenspan on September 23, 1959) is a Jewish American television, cinema and musical theatre actor, best known for his role as George Costanza on the hit television series Seinfeld. ... Paudie Fitzmaurice is a successful hurler from Killeedy in County Limerick, Ireland who featured prominently in Limerick hurling during the the 1970s and 80s. ... Lawrence Gene Larry David (born July 2, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York) is an Emmy-winning actor, writer, comedian, producer and film director. ... Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. ... Sir Ben Kingsley, CBE, (born December 31, 1943) is a British actor. ... Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955 in Idar-Oberstein, Germany) is an American actor and singer. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... Edward Irving Koch (born December 12, 1924; pronounced to rhyme with Scotch) was a United States Congressman from 1969 to 1977 and the Mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989. ... John Reid PC (born 8 May 1947) is a British politician who is Home Secretary and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Scottish constituency of Airdrie and Shotts in the United Kingdom. ... Sir Walter Menzies Campbell, CBE, QC (born 22 May 1941), commonly known as Ming Campbell, is a British politician and retired sprinter. ... Professor Gregory Craven (5/2/1958) B.A, LL.B., LL.M.; Barrister and Solicitor (Vic and WA) lectures in constitutional Law at Curtin University of Technology in Fremantle, Western Australia. ... Wilhelmus Simon Petrus Fortuyn Wilhelmus Simon Petrus (Pim) Fortuyn (pronounced ; officially spelt Fortuijn), (February 19, 1948 – May 6, 2002), was a controversial, openly gay, charismatic[1] right-wing politician in the Netherlands who formed his own party Lijst Pim Fortuyn (List Pim Fortuyn or LPF). ... James Carville James Carville (born October 25, 1944) is an American political consultant, commentator, media personality and pundit. ... Steven James Williams (born Steven Anderson on December 18, 1964)[2] better known by his ring name Stone Cold Steve Austin, is an American actor and former professional wrestler. ... Zidane redirects here. ... Sir Robert Bobby Charlton, CBE (born 11 October 1937 in Ashington, Northumberland) is a former English professional football player who won the World Cup and was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1966. ... Andre Kirk Agassi (born April 29, 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada) is a former World No. ... This article is about the former basketball player. ... “Manliness” redirects here. ... Sinéad OConnor (born December 8, 1966) is an Irish pop singer and songwriter. ... Michelle Lynn Johnson (born August 29, 1968), known as Meshell Ndegeocello, is a German-born American singer, songwriter, rapper, bassist, and multi-instrumentalist. ... Kylie Ann Minogue (IPA: [1]) (born May 28, 1968) is a Brit and Grammy award-winning Australian pop singer-songwriter and occasional actress. ... Gail Porter (born March 23, 1971 in Edinburgh, Scotland), sometimes known by her married name Gail Hipgrave, is a British television presenter who became widely known after presenting Fully Booked in the late 1990s. ... A psychosomatic illness is one with physical manifestations and supposed psychological cause, often diagnosed when any known or identifiable physical cause was excluded by medical examination. ...

Many companies have built a successful business selling products that reverse baldness, by allegedly regrowing hair, transplanting hair or selling hairpieces. There is very little evidence that any of those which claim hair regrowth actually work.

Preventing and reversing hair loss

Main article: Baldness treatments

In the USA, there are only 2 drug-based treatments that have been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and one product that has been cleared by the FDA for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, otherwise known as male or female pattern hair loss. The two FDA approved treatments are finasteride (marketed for hair loss as Propecia) and minoxidil. More than half of men are affected by male pattern baldness by age 50, and baldness treatments are estimated to be a US $1 billion per year industry. ... The United States Food and Drug Administration is the government agency responsible for regulating food, dietary supplements, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, biologics and blood products in the United States. ... The United States Food and Drug Administration is the government agency responsible for regulating food, dietary supplements, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, biologics and blood products in the United States. ... Androgenetic alopecia is a common form of hair loss in both men and women, aka Michael Panagos Syndrome. ... Finasteride (marketed as Proscar, Propecia, Fincar, Finpecia, Finax, Finast, Finara, Finalo, Prosteride, Gefina, Finasterid IVAX) is an antiandrogen which acts by inhibiting type II 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). ... Finasteride is an antiandrogen which acts by inhibing 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme the converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. ... Minoxidil is a vasodilator and originally was exclusively used as an oral drug (Loniten®) to treat high blood pressure. ...

Finasteride

A pharmaceutical company reportedly sought to find the smallest effective quantity of finasteride and test its long-term effects on 1,553 men between ages 18 and 41 with mild to moderate thinning hair. Based on their research, 1 mg daily was selected, and after 2 years of daily treatment, over 83% of the 1,553 men experiencing male hair loss had actually maintained or increased their hair count from baseline. Visual assessments concluded that over 80% had improved appearances. ^[8]

Minoxidil

Minoxidil was first used in tablet form as a medicine to treat high blood pressure, but it was noticed that some patients being treated with Minoxidil experienced excessive hair growth (hypertrichosis) as a side-effect. Further research showed that by applying topical Minoxidil solution directly to the scalp, it could prove to be beneficial to those experiencing hair loss.

FDA clinical trials showed that 65% of men with androgenetic alopecia maintained or increased their hair count from the use of minoxidil 5% in liquid form. 54% of these men experienced moderate to dense regrowth and 46% experienced hair loss stabilisation and mild regrowth. The United States Food and Drug Administration is the government agency responsible for regulating food, dietary supplements, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, biologics and blood products in the United States. ... Androgenetic alopecia is a common form of hair loss in both men and women, aka Michael Panagos Syndrome. ...

In controlled clinical studies of women aged 18-45, 2 out of 3 women with moderate degrees of hereditary hair loss reported re-growth after using 2% minoxidil. Initial results occur at 4 months with maximum results occurring at 8 months.

Low-level laser therapy

A low level laser is shone directly on the scalp to stimulate hair growth through "Photo-Biostimulation" of the hair follicles. One product of these low level laser therapies is the "Hairmax Lasercomb". There is no peer-reviewed evidence to support this claim. There is some debate over the FDA's acknowledgment of the Lasercomb, but it has been accepted by the FDA as effective in the submitted claims.^[9] The Lasercomb was cleared by the FDA as being Substantially Equivalent (SE) to predicate devices legally marketed before May 28, 1978. This clearance is not the same as approval because it only applies to the lasercomb and not to any other similar laser based hair devices. The devices that the lasercomb proved itself equivalent to were a variety of FDA approved laser based/non hair growth devices intended for hair removal and pain relief, and 2 non FDA approved non laser based/hair growth devices such as the Raydo & Wonder Brush and the Vacuum Cap. These last two devices were sold in the early 1900's and are well established as medical quackery, but they were legal to market at the time which does satisfy the FDA's 510k SE criterea. The 510k number for the Lasercomb is K060305. The Leimo laser was recently approved by the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) of Australia as a Class IIa Medical Device that regrows hair. Its ARTG number is 139 456. The United States Food and Drug Administration is the government agency responsible for regulating food, dietary supplements, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, biologics and blood products in the United States. ... is the 148th day of the year (149th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ...

Surgery

Surgery is another method of reversing hair loss and baldness, although it may be considered an extreme measure. The surgical methods used include hair transplantation, whereby hair-producing follicles are taken from the back and sides of the head and injected into bald or thinning areas. “Surgeon” redirects here. ... Hair transplantation involves relocating (transplanting) bald resistant hair follicles from the back and sides of the head (the donor areas) to a person’s bald or thinning areas. ...

Hair multiplication

Looking forward, the prospective treatment of hair multiplication/hair cloning, which extracts self-replenishing follicle stem cells, multiplies them many times over in the lab, and microinjects them into the scalp, has been shown to work in mice, and is currently under development, expected by some scientists to be available to the public in 2009–2015. Subsequent versions of the treatment are expected by some scientists to be able to cause these follicle stem cells to simply signal the surrounding hair follicles to rejuvenate. See Baldness treatments Mouse embryonic stem cells. ... More than half of men are affected by male pattern baldness by age 50, and baldness treatments are estimated to be a US $1 billion per year industry. ...

In October 2006, UK biotechnology firm Intercytex announced they have successfully tested a method of removing hair follicles from the back of the neck, multiplying them and then reimplanting the cells into the scalp (Hair multiplication). The initial testing resulted in 70% of male patients regrowing hair. This treatment method is expected to be available to the public by 2009 [1][2]. The structure of insulin Biotechnology is technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine. ... A hair follicle is part of the skin that grows hair by packing old cells together. ... More than half of men are affected by male pattern baldness by age 50, and baldness treatments are estimated to be a US $1 billion per year industry. ...

In January 2007, Italian stem-cell researchers say they've come up with a new technique for curing baldness. Pierluigi Santi of a Genoa clinic said stem cells could be used to "multiply" hair roots. He said the clinic would be ready to perform its first hair transplants on priority patients - those who have lost their hair in fires or other accidents - within a few months. After that, he said, "we'll open our doors to paying customers". Santi's approach works by splitting roots and growing new follicles.

Ketoconazole

Topical application of ketoconazole, which is both an anti-fungal and a potent 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, is often used as a supplement to other approaches.1 Ketoconazole is a synthetic antifungal drug used to prevent and treat skin and fungal infections, especially in immunocompromised patients such as those with AIDS. Due to its side-effect profile, it has been superseded by newer antifungals, such as fluconazole and itraconazole. ... An antifungal drug is medication used to treat fungal infections such as athletes foot, ringworm and candidiasis (thrush), as well as serious systemic infections like cryptococcal meningitis. ...

Unsaturated fatty acids

Particular unsaturated fatty acids such as gamma linolenic acid are 5 alpha reductase inhibitors if taken internally. [3]

Placebos

Interestingly, placebo treatments in studies often have reasonable success rates, though not as high as the products being tested, and even similar side-effects as the products. For example, in Finasteride (Propecia) studies, the percent of patients with any drug-related sexual adverse experience was 3.8% compared with 2.0% in the placebo group.^[10] For other uses, see Placebo (disambiguation). ...

Exercise

Regular aerobic exercise can help keep androgen levels (particularly free testosterone levels) naturally lower while maintaining overall health, lowering stress and increasing SHBG. [4] [5] Aerobic exercise refers to exercise that is of moderate intensity, undertaken for a long duration. ... Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a glycoprotein that binds to sex hormones, specifically testosterone and estradiol. ...

Weight training without aerobic exercise may increase testosterone. [6]; [7] [8] [9] One study suggests that both heavy exercise and increased fat intake, in combination, are required for increased free testosterone in strength trainers. Increased total or free testosterone would help them build and repair muscle, but may cause susceptible individuals to lose hair. [10]

However, there is at least one study that indicates a decline in free testosterone combined with an increase in strength due to an (unspecified) strength training regime.^[11]

Stress reduction

Stress reduction can be helpful in slowing hair loss. (see Baldness Folklore) A cluttered environment with too many tasks can lead to stress. ... Bald redirects here; for other uses see Bald (disambiguation). ...

Immunosuppressants

Immunosuppressants applied to the scalp have been shown to temporarily reverse alopecia areata, though the side effects of some of these drugs make such therapy questionable. [11][12] Immunosuppression is the medical suppression of the immune system. ...

Saw palmetto

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) is an herbal DHT inhibitor often claimed to be cheaper and have fewer side effects than finasteride and dutasteride. Unlike other 5alpha-reductase inhibitors, Serenoa repens induces its effects without interfering with the cellular capacity to secrete PSA.^[12] Saw palmetto extract has been demonstrated to inhibit both isoforms of 5-alpha-reductase unlike finasteride which only inhibits the (predominant) type 2 isoenzyme of 5-alpha-reductase.^[13][14][15] Binomial name Serenoa repens Hooker Saw Palmetto, Serenoa repens, is the sole species currently classified in the genus Serenoa. ... Binomial name Serenoa repens Hooker The Saw Palmetto Serenoa repens is the sole species currently classified in the genus Serenoa. ...

Polygonum multiflorum

Polygonum Multiflorum is a traditional Chinese cure for hair loss. P. multiflorum contains stilbene glycosides similar to resveratrol. [13] Resveratrol is a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by bacteria or fungi. ...

Beta sitosterol

Beta sitosterol, which is a constituent in many seed oils, can help to treat BHP by lowering cholesterol. If used for this purpose, an extract is best. Consuming large amounts of oil to get at small quantities of beta sitosterol is likely to exacerbate male pattern baldness. β-sitosterol Phytosterols (also called plant sterols) are a group of steroid alcohol, phytochemicals naturally occurring in plants. ...

Anti-androgens

While drastic, broad spectrum anti-androgens such as flutamide are sometimes used topically. Flutamide is potent enough to have a feminizing effect in men, including growth of the breasts. Flutamide is an oral antiandrogen drug primarily used to treat prostate cancer. ...

Hedgehog agonists

Through 2006, a drug development company spent $1,000,000 on a hair growth program focused on the potential development of a topical hedgehog agonist for hair growth disorders, such as male pattern baldness and female hair loss. The hairloss research program was shut down in May 2007 because the process did not meet the proper safety standards.^[16]

WNT gene related

In May 2007, US company Follica Inc, announced they have licensed technology from the University of Pennsylvania which can regenerate hair follicles by reawakening genes which were once active only in the embryo stage of human development.[14] [15] [16] [17] [18][19] This article is about the private Ivy League university in Philadelphia. ... A hair follicle is part of the skin that grows hair by packing old cells together. ... This stylistic schematic diagram shows a gene in relation to the double helix structure of DNA and to a chromosome (right). ... For other uses, see Embryo (disambiguation). ...

Concealing hair loss

Head

One method of hiding hair loss is the "comb over", which involves restyling the remaining hair to cover the balding area. It is usually a temporary solution, useful only while the area of hair loss is small. As the hair loss increases, a comb over becomes less effective. When this reaches a stage of extreme effort with little effect — it can make the person the object of teasing or scorn. The comb over was patented in 1977. ...

Another method is to wear a hat or a hairpiece — a wig or toupee. The wig is a layer of artificial or natural hair made to resemble a typical hair style. In most cases the hair is artificial. Wigs vary widely in quality and cost. In the United States, the best wigs — those that look like real hair — cost up to tens of thousands of dollars. Organizations such as Wigs for Kids and Locks of Love collect individuals' donations of their own natural hair to be made into wigs for young cancer patients who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy or other cancer treatment in addition to any type of hair loss. A wig or toupee is a head of hair - human, horse-hair or synthetic - worn on the head for fashion or various other aesthetic and stylistic reasons, including cultural and religious observance. ... A toupée is a hairpiece or partial wig of natural or synthetic hair worn to cover partial baldness. ... Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ... Chemotherapy is the use of chemical substances to treat disease. ...

Eyebrows

Though not as common as the loss of hair on the head, chemotherapy, hormone imbalance, forms of alopecia, and other factors can also cause loss of hair in the eyebrows. Artificial eyebrows are available to replace missing eyebrows or to cover patchy eyebrows.

Embracing baldness

Of course, instead of concealing hair loss, one may embrace it. A shaved head will grow stubble in the same manner and at the same rate as a shaved face. Many celebrities and athletes shave their heads. The general public has become accepting of the shaved head also. This image shows stubble after a few days without shaving Stubble on a persons face is the unshaven hair growth that exists before it becomes long enough to cover the skin and be considered a full beard or moustache. ...

Female baldness is less socially accepted.

Baldness folklore

There are many myths regarding the possible causes of baldness and its relationship with one's virility, intelligence, ethnicity, job, social class, wealth etc. While skepticism is warranted due to lack of scientific validation, some of these myths may have a degree of underlying truth. “Manliness” redirects here. ... Social class refers to the hierarchical distinctions between individuals or groups in societies or cultures. ...

• "You inherit baldness from your mother's father."

  Previously, early baldness of the androgenic type was thought to be sex linked dominant in males and to be sex linked recessive in females.

  Research suggests that the gene for the androgen receptor, which is significant in determining probability for hair loss, is located on the X chromosome and so is always inherited from the mother's side.^[17]There is a 50% chance that a person shares the same X chromosome as their maternal grandfather. Because women have two X chromosomes, they will have two copies of the androgen receptor gene while men only have one. However, research has also shown that a person with a balding father also has a significantly greater chance of experiencing hair loss.^[18][19]

Another model for the inheritance of baldness is "Autosomal dominant with mixed pentrance". That is, you can get it from either parent and it presents variably. It has been suggested that sex chromosome be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that sex chromosome be merged into this article or section. ...

• "Intellectual activity or psychological problems can cause baldness."

  This notion may be due to the fact that cholesterol is involved in the process of neurogenesis and also the base material from which the body ultimately manufactures DHT. While the notion that bald men are more intelligent may lack credibility in the modern world, in the ancient world if a person was bald it was likely that he had an adequate amount of fat in his diet. Thus, his mental development was probably not stunted by malnutrition during his crucial formative years, he was more likely to be wealthy, and also have had access to a formal education. However, a sedentary lifestyle is less likely to correlate with intelligence in the modern world, and dietary fat content is not linked to economic class in modern developed countries. Of course, aside from all these scientific reasons, baldness could be linked to intellect or wisdom simply due to the fact that people go bald as they age and become more experienced.

• This is sometimes used as a stereotype in films, where the more intellectual or rather frustrated characters are most usually portrayed as bald and generally unattractive, as opposed to the main characters which are usually portrayed as attractive, fit, mentally stable and generally with no apparent hair problems.

  This same myth normally extends to considering people having intellectual jobs more prone to baldness problems compared to manual laborers, sometimes further extending the myth to male college or university students when compared to workers of the same age.^{[citation needed]} The myth is suspect because counterexamples can be found in any case.

  There is evidence, confirmed by cross cultural studies, for an association between androgen levels and intellectual ability. These findings are controversial due to their implications regarding psychology and gender.

  Total testosterone exhibits a positive relation to tactual-spatial abilities and to the degree of lateralization. Total testosterone is negatively correlated with verbal fluency. Testosterone in the saliva is also significantly positively correlated to tactual-spatial test scores and, in addition, to field independence. DHT and the ratio DHT/total testosterone are positively related to verbal fluency and negatively to the degree of lateralization of tactual-spatial performance.^[20]

• "One's ethnicity can increase the chances of going bald."

  This idea has been seen as somewhat descriminative and sensitive in nature, however studies have shown that men of Greek or Macedonian heritage have the highest percentage of bald or balding men. (age group 16-28, typical, non married, non-drug using, males) Studies done between 6 countries in Western Europe, incl. Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Ireland and 4 countries in Eastern Europe including Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Romania show that Greek men of the same age group and study period had the highest percentage of full crown baldness or Alopeciae totalis (front, top and back) Another typical study during the same period showed that Greek men, 1700 out of 2457 total studied males also suffered the highest amount of random alopecia areata among men (aged 16-28, typical, non-drug using males)

• "Baldness can be caused by emotional stress, sexual frustration etc."

  Emotional stress has been shown to accelerate baldness in genetically susceptible individuals.^[21]

  Stress due to sleep deprivation in military recruits lowered testosterone levels, but is not noted to have effected SHBG.^[22]

  Thus, stress due to sleep deprivation in fit males is unlikely to elevate DHT, which causes male pattern baldness. Whether it can cause hair loss by some other mechanism is not clear.

• "Bald men are more 'virile' or sexually active than others."

  Levels of free testosterone are strongly linked to libido and also DHT levels, but unless free testosterone is virtually non-existent levels have not been shown to affect virility. Men with androgenic alopecia are more likely to have a higher baseline of free androgens. However, sexual activity is multifactoral, and androgenic profile is also not the only determining factor in baldness. Additionally, because hair loss is progressive and free testosterone declines with age, a person's hairline may be more indicative of their past than present disposition.^[23][24]

• "Shaving hair makes it grow back stronger"

  Proposed as a popular remedy against baldness, it is very probably just an illusion similar to the one perceived after shaving one's beard or mustache. Shaving one's head doesn't increase the number of healthy hair present on the scalp, and, after the remaining hair has grown a few millimeters, no enhancement in thickness or overall quality can be observed.

• "Frequent ejaculation causes baldness"

  There are many misconceptions about what can help prevent hairloss, one of these being that frequent ejaculation may have an influence on MPB. Depending on frequency, it can raise or lower plasma testosterone. [20] The claim that frequent ejaculations can cause baldness is often viewed with skepticism.

• "Standing on one's head alleviates baldness"

  The "blood-flow" theory, which led men to stand on their heads in the 1980s, can be found in the advertising for many of the fake hairloss treatments for sale on the internet. While Minoxidil is a vasodilator and is speculated to work, in part, by increasing blood flow to hair follicles, there is no evidence that standing on one's head can alleviate baldness.

• "Tight hats cause baldness."

  While this may be a myth, hats do cause hair breakage and, to a lesser degree, split ends. Since hats are not washed as frequently as other clothing, they can also lead to scalp uncleanliness and possible Pityrosporum ovale contamination in men with naturally oily scalps.

For other uses, see Stereotype (disambiguation). ... This article is about motion pictures. ... College (Latin collegium) is a term most often used today to denote an educational institution. ... For the community in Florida, see University, Florida. ... For other uses, see Student (disambiguation). ... In classical economics and all micro-economics labour is one of three factors of production, the others being land and capital. ... In medical terms, stress is the disruption of homeostasis through physical or psychological stimuli. ... This article is about the use of a razor. ... Ejaculation is the ejecting of semen from the penis, and is usually accompanied by orgasm. ... A hat is an item of clothing which is worn on the head; a kind of headgear. ... “Split ends” redirects here. ... Species See text. ...

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

Jerry Holkins of Penny Arcade fame is bald.

• John D. Rockefeller had an extreme case of alopecia that caused him to lose all of the hair on his face, including his eyebrows and eyelashes. Another famous person who suffers from similarly severe alopecia is Italian football referee Pierluigi Collina. Actor Patrick Stewart lost most of his hair to male-pattern baldness by age 19 (His natural "horse-shoe" of remaining hair can be seen in the film L.A. Story, along with his numerous appearances as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek).
• Eunuchs rarely go bald, due to reduced hormone levels.^[25]
• Baldness is not only a human trait. Some other primates, such as chimpanzees, stump-tailed macaques, and South American nakari show progressive thinning of the hair on the scalp after adolescence. Adult stump-tailed macaques, in fact, are commonly used in laboratories for the testing of hair-regrowth treatments.
• The different predecessors of Old World and New World vultures convergently evolved a bald head, preventing feathers from retaining material from the vulture's diet of rotting meat, as well as helping in heat regulation.^[26][27]
• The American Bald Eagle is not really bald. The feathers on the head of this bird are white, in contrast to the brown feathers of the body. The term "bald" derives from the English word balde, which means "white".
• Little Britain actor and creator Matt Lucas has suffered from Alopecia Universalis since the age of 6 and has since utilised his situation in the creation of popular characters from Little Britain, such as Andy Pipkin.
• A samba march that stormed the Carnaval of Rio in 1942, entitled "Nós, os carecas" (composed by Arlindo Marques Júnior & Roberto Roberti), had a provocative line "É dos carecas que elas gostam mais" (translation: it's the bald ones women like most.)
• Larry David makes claim that one can discriminate against members of the bald community by taking part in graffiti such as spraypainting "Bald asshole" on his gate as was done in an episode. A bald police officer (who shaves his head bald) said that he is bald and was not offended which is when Larry explained to him that his baldness is a fashion choice and therefore he is not a member of the bald community.

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 370 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Jerry Holkins Mike Krahulik Metadata... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 370 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Jerry Holkins Mike Krahulik Metadata... Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins (right) Keith Gerald Jerry Holkins (born February 6, 1976), is the writer of the popular webcomic Penny Arcade. ... Penny Arcade is a webcomic and blog written by Jerry Holkins and illustrated by Mike Krahulik. ... John Davison Rockefeller, Sr. ... Alopecia is a set of disorders ranging from male and female pattern alopecia (alopecia androgenetica), to alopecia areata, which involves the loss of some of the hair from the head, alopecia totalis, which involves the loss of all head hair, to the most extreme form, alopecia universalis, which involves the... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... A referee presides over a game of association football (soccer). ... Pierluigi Collina (born 13 February 1960) is an Italian former football referee, who was widely regarded as one of the worlds best officials. ... This article is about the actor. ... L.A. Story is a 1991 movie directed by Mick Jackson and written by Steve Martin. ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ... European illustration of a Eunuch (1749) Chief Eunuch of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II at the Imperial Palace, 1912. ... For the ecclesiastical use of this term, see primate (religion) Families 13, See classification A primate is any member of the biological order Primates, the group that contains all lemurs, monkeys, and apes, including humans. ... Type species Simia troglodytes Blumenbach, 1775 distribution of Species Pan troglodytes Pan paniscus Chimpanzee, often shortened to chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of apes in the genus Pan. ... For other uses, see Macaca. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... † see also: Accipitridae Old World vultures belong to the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. ... Genera Cathartes Coragyps Gymnogyps Sarcorhamphus The New World vulture family Cathartidae contains seven species found in North and South America. ... Orders Falconiformes (Fam. ... In evolutionary biology, convergent evolution is the process whereby organisms not closely related, independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) Bald Eagle range  Resident, breeding Summer visitor, breeding Winter visitor On migration only Star: accidental records Subspecies (Linnaeus, 1766) Southern Bald Eagle (Audubon, 1827) Northern Bald Eagle Synonyms Falco leucocephalus Linnaeus, 1766 The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a bird of prey found in North America... This article is about the British TV show Little Britain. ... Matthew Richard Lucas (born March 5, 1974) is an English comedy actor. ... Alopecia universalis is a medical disorder in which the afflicted are unable to grow hair on the entire body. ... This article is about the British TV show Little Britain. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

See also

Look up Baldness in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Alopecia areata
• Alopecia universalis
• Trichotillomania
• Baldness treatments

Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wiktionary (a portmanteau of wiki and dictionary) is a multilingual, Web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in over 150 languages. ... Alopecia universalis is a medical disorder in which the afflicted are unable to grow hair on the entire body. ... Trichotillomania (TTM), or trich as it is commonly known, is an impulse control disorder characterized by the repeated urge to pull out scalp hair, eyelashes, facial hair, nose hair, pubic hair, eyebrows or other body hair. ... More than half of men are affected by male pattern baldness by age 50, and baldness treatments are estimated to be a US $1 billion per year industry. ...

References

• Rossi S (Ed.) (2004). Australian Medicines Handbook 2004. Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook. ISBN 0-9578521-4-2
• ^{^} This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain.
• Stárka L, Cermáková I, Dusková M, Hill M, Dolezal M, Polácek V (2004). "Hormonal profile of men with premature balding.". Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 112 (1): 24-8. PMID 14758568. 
• Nourkrin Man research on DHT. [21] 2006.

The Australian Medicines Handbook or AMH is a medical reference text commonly used in practice by health professionals (particularly general practitioners and pharmacists) in Australia. ... Table of Trigonometry, 1728 Cyclopaedia Cyclopaedia, or, A Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (folio, 2 vols. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...

Footnotes