Bald

Baldness (synonym: Alopecia) is the state of lacking hair where it usually would grow, especially on the head.

The most common form of baldness seen is male pattern baldness, in which the hair recedes from the lateral sides of the forehead, known as "receding brow". Additionally, a bald patch can develop on top (vertex). The trigger for this type of baldness, which is also known as androgenetic alopecia, is currently believed to be an enzyme, 5-alpha reductase, that converts the hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which inhibits hair growth. The age at which the enzyme appears, if it does at all, is genetically determined. Male pattern baldness is being classified on the Hamilton-Norwood scale I-VIII.

Female pattern baldness, in which the midline parting of the hair appears broadened, is less common. It is believed to result from a decrease in estrogen, a hormone that normally counteracts the balding effect of testosterone, which normally occurs in women's blood. Female pattern baldness is being classified on the Ludwig scale I-III.

Hair loss is a frequent side-effect of chemotherapy, in all ages and both sexes. This is due to the fact the chemotherapy affects all rapidly replicating cells, including the ones in the hair follicle.

Some mycotic infections can cause massive hair loss.

Other forms of baldness:

• Alopecia areata
• Traction alopecia

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.

Eunuchs do not go bald.

Traction alopecia is commonly found in women with ponytails or cornrows that pull on their hair with excessive force.

Baldness is not solely a human affliction. Chimpanzees, stump-tailed macaques, and South American actors, such as Yul Brynner, Telly Savalas and Patrick Stewart, who have been considered handsomely distinctive, virile and epitomizing masculinity, in part, because of their baldness.

Others, however, see hair loss as a devastating event, perhaps due to a perceived loss of youth. For women, there can also be a feeling of loss of femininity. They might feel that baldness will make them unattractive to themselves or others.

Methods of Avoiding and Reversing Hair Loss

Those considering treatment for hair loss should carefully consider the alternatives before proceeding, which may include consulting with a physician.

One method of hiding hair loss is to restyle the remaining hair to cover the balding areas, commonly referred to as the "comb-over." This is usually a temporary solution in cases where the area of hair loss is still small. As the hair loss grows, a comb-over becomes increasingly ineffective.

Another method is to apply a wig, toupee or hairpiece, to a person's head. 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. The best wigs - those that look like real hair - cost up to tens of thousands of dollars. Some organizations 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.

Some drugs are used to avoid hair loss. Rogaine and Propecia are prescription medications that are used to stop baldness and reverse hair loss in hereditary cases. Propecia is a pill that can work against baldness, but if the person stops taking it, the baldness usually returns. Rogaine is a solution that is rubbed directly into the head. The drug regrows hair less than a quarter of the time, however it has been shown to be generally effective in slowing hair loss. There are a number of other products that claim to stop baldness and regrow hair, many of which have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Surgery is another method of reversing hair loss and baldness, although it may be considered an extreme measure. There are various surgical methods used. These include hair transplants, where patches of skin with hair are moved from one part of the head to another. Another is scalp reduction, where parts of the scalp are removed, the skin is stretched over the area that had been removed, and everything is stitched back together.

Hair