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Causes of Alopecia

Alopecia, the loss of hair from the head or body, sometimes to the extent of baldness can be caused by any of the following;
  • Androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness)
  • Fungal infection such as "black dot" tinea or tinea capitis
  • Chemical breakage such as over processing or frequent use of chemical relaxer
  • Heat damage as from repeated hot comb use
  • Chronic exposure to traction on hair shaft such as Traction alopecia
  • Compulsive hair pulling such as trichotillomania
  • Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
  • Iron deficiency
  • Telogen effluvium resulting from physical or psychological stress
  • Hereditary disorder of the hair shaft or genodermatoses
  • Secondary syphilis can cause "moth-eaten" hairloss
  • Discoid lupus erythematosus or chronic cutanous lupus erythematosus
  • Lichenplanopilaris
  • Pseudopelade of Brocq
  • Tufted folliculitis
  • Dissecting cellulitis
  • Alopecia mucinosa
  • Keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans
  • Adverse effect from certain drugs such as chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy or other radiation exposure
  • Hypervitaminosis A

Further Reading


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