Alopecia

Alopecia areata ("baldness in spots") is a form of hair loss from areas of the body, usually from the scalp. Because it causes bald spots on the head especially in the first stages, it is also called spot baldness. Hair loss can extend to eyebrows, eyelashes and facial and nasal hair and create more bald spots elsewhere in the body. (Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alopecia_areata)

Signs:

• Broken hairs, or hairs easily removed
• Female diffuse baldness. A gradual thinning of hair, especially on the top of the head. Hairline generally remains intact.
• One or more round or oval bald patches

What are the main causes

• Androgenetic alopecia is caused by a genetic tendency for certain hair follicles to produce a substance that reacts with male hormones. As you get older, this reaction eventually causes the follicle to shut down.
• Pulling from curlers or hairstyles that are too tight
• A hereditary form of hair loss in which women progressively thin at the top of the head
• Temporary hair loss may result from any shock to the body's systems, including starvation, systemic infection, childbirth, thyroid or immunologic disorders, drugs (especially chemotherapy for cancer), or stress.

Treatments:

• Topical medication such as minoxidil lotion,
• Alopecia areata— Cortisone injections
• Hair transplants are a feasible option.

 

Hair Loss

Baldness , includes a set of disorders which involve the state of lacking hair where it would normally grow, 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 human males and some primate species. The severity and nature of baldness can vary greatly; it ranges from male and female pattern alopecia (androgenetic alopecia, also called androgenic 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. Treatment for alopecia has limited success. The more hair lost, the less successful the treatment will be. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldness).

Signs

• Thinning of hair
• Breakage
• No re/growth
• Patches

Possible Causes:

• Too much heat from hair dryers, hot rollers, and curling or flat irons
• Trichotillomania
• Hair braids/weaves
• Medication
• Too frequently applied hair relaxers

Treatments:

• Stress reduction techniques can increase blood flow to the scalp
• Thin Hair Formula by Organic Root Stimulator's
• There are other very expensive products on the market like Rogaine and Tricomin, however I am not 100% sure how well they work with Afro/Kinky hair. However you can find out more information here http://www.tricomin.com/
• Exotic Allure has a range of Vitamins and Shampoos for fast and healthy hair growth. See here for more info http://www.exoticallure.com/
• Biotin (300 mcg per day) and trace minerals, such as those found in blue-green algae (2 to 6 tablets per day), help hair growth
• Scalp massage using essential oils of rosemary, lavender, sage, thyme, and cedarwood may be helpful in increasing circulation. Add 3 to 6 drops of essential oil to 1 tbsp. of jojoba or grapeseed oil. Massage into scalp daily.

 

Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania (TTM) or "trich" is an impulse control disorder characterised by the repeated urge to pull out scalp hair, eyelashes, beard hair, nose hair, pubic hair, eyebrows or other body hair. It may be distantly related to obsessive-compulsive disorder, with which it shares both similarities and differences. Trichotillomania has been mentioned as a disorder in very early historical records. Onset generally occurs at puberty. There is a strong stress-related component, that is, in low-stress environments some stop pulling altogether. Pulling resumes when one leaves this environment. 80% of those afflicted are female. Evidence is now starting to accumulate pointing to TTM as being genetic in origin. ( Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichotillomania).

Signs:

• A behavioural problem or a bad habit that is often done unconsciously.
• P laying with your hair by pulling on it or twisting it.
• Feeling of pleasure or gratification, immediately following hair-pulling

Possible Causes:

There are many theories Psychoanalytic and Biological, but neither draws a concrete solution to its cause. For example, hair-pulling may begin as a response to stress and then develop into a habit.

Treatments:

• Psychoanalysis focuses on childhood experiences
• Medications such as antidepressants with serotonergic properties
• Hypnotherapy

 

Sunny’s Trich Story

"Once upon a time, there was a little girl who picked out her hair"

Before I even knew what 'trichotillomania' was, I can remember my mother yelling at me to take my hand out of my hair. As long as I've known myself, I've had this compulsive 'habit' of pulling my hair out. Between the ages of 8 and 10, I barely had anything at the sides of my head, a Mohawk of sorts. All through high school, I went through cycles of pick, pick hard, cut off, regrow, pick, not understanding what I was doing or why. Eyebrows and eyelashes were also a target, but not often. Half the time, i'd be reading and look down and there was a clod of hair I'd pulled from the roots without even knowing. I wish I could say that was only one occurrence. Sadly It was one of many. I picked hardest when i was stressed or felt out of control. At my worst, i picked 6 HUGE patches into my hair (which was relaxed at the time) and had to go almost bald.

It wasn't until university and constant contact with the Internet that I discovered that (i) there was a name for what I was going through and (ii) I wasn't alone. I joined an online chat room to share my experience and started to keep a log of my feelings when i pulled so I could understand what triggers an "attack". And little by little, I took responsibility and control for and over my actions and what brought them about.

I still live with this little condition, and from time to time I still pick when i'm VERY stressed , but I'm sooooooo far from where i used to be. I have a funky auburn 5-inch empress Afro now, which i'm in love with and I'm getting to a place where I won't need to pull at all. That will be a "happily ever after" for real

Sunny (she who weaves words)